Stoke 1 Tottenham 2

MATCH-WINNER ... Emmanuel Adebayor is congratulated by Steven Caulker after netting the winne

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR grabbed a late winner against 10-man Stoke to keep Tottenham's Champions League dream alive.

With Clint Dempsey cancelling out Steven Nzonzi's opener, Spurs were handed a golden opportunity to turn the screw on North London rivals Arsenal in the race for a top-four finish when Charlie Adam was given his marching orders.

But Andre Villas-Boas cut a frustrated figure in the dugout as his side failed to make their numerical advantage count — until Adebayor popped up seven minutes from to time to net the decisive goal.

Tottenham, in need of a victory to maintain their push for a place among European football's elite, were dealt an early blow when Nzonzi broke the deadlock.

With just three minutes on the clock, the former Blackburn man connected with Adam’s free-kick at the near post and his glancing header found the net despite the best efforts of Hugh Lloris to keep it out.

Spurs looked to hit back immediatley and Gareth Bale’s powerful long-range drive was tipped over by Asmir Begovic.

The visitors had the ball in the net in the 16th minute when Dempsey flicked home Kyle Walker’s wayward shot, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

But they did not have to wait long for the equaliser as Dempsey took advantage of a mix-up between Marc Wilson and Begovic to send the ball sailing over the stranded keeper's head just four minutes later.

Tottenham continued to push forward after equalising and Adebayor saw his goalbound shot well blocked by Robert Huth.

With the pressure mounting, Begovic pulled off a fine save to keep out Michael Dawson's header from Bale's free-kick before blocking a low effort to deny the Welshman.

Stoke's task became an uphill struggle just a minute into the second half when Adam was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card.

With his 10-man team pinned in their own half, Potters boss Tony Pulis sent on Andy Wilkinson and Cameron Jerome in place of Matthew Etherington and Peter Crouch.

RAY OF HOPE ... Andre Villas-Boas enjoys Clint Dempsey's equaliser

Spurs continued to push and Bale tested Begovic's handling with a low drive after Tom Huddlestone had shown good feet to dance his way into the penalty area.

For all their possession, the visitors were unable to find a way through as Stoke's players put their bodies on the line to make last-gasp tackles and blocks.

Bale did his best to get Tottenham going with a powerful run but was hacked down by Ryan Shotton, who was booked for the crude challenge, and Villas-Boas sent on Moussa Dembele in place of Scott Parker.

Pulis made his final change 17 minutes from time, hooking Shotton for Geoff Cameron, while Jermain Defoe climbed off the Spurs bench to replace Aaron Lennon.

The visiting fans held their breath just seconds later when Bale sent a right-foot effort just a whisker wide of Begovic's post following some good work from Dembele.

But Tottenham's pressure eventually paid off when Dempsey rolled the ball across the box for Adebayor to tap home from close range and secure three precious points.