Hit ‘em for six. AVB: We're in control

UP FOUR IT ... Andre Villas-Boas celebrates Tottenham's win against Man City

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS watched Spurs’ stunning six-minute comeback and warned Arsenal and Chelsea: We’re in control of fourth spot.

Tottenham were trailing 1-0 to Roberto Mancini’s second-placed side with just 15 minutes to go.

But quick-fire strikes from Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale capped a fantastic fightback by the hosts.

They remain fifth in the Prem but this victory leaves them just a point behind Chelsea and two behind third-placed Arsenal.

And boss AVB said: “It was very important for us to come back. It means we are now in control because we have a game in hand on Arsenal — and that game in hand is against Chelsea.

“So we are now in control of our own destiny again.”

Spurs fell behind to Samir Nasri’s fifth-minute strike.

But Villas-Boas inspired the revival by sending on subs Defoe, Tom Huddlestone and Lewis Holtby in a bid to stave off a defeat that would have rocked their Champions League hopes.

He added: “I don’t want to look at it as an individual.

“In the first half we couldn’t play as we wanted to. The setback we suffered so early and it affected our confidence.

“Credit to the players because they denied them the second goal that would have been a killer.

“Then in the second half we started to find our rhythm, to find more space and better passing.

“The impact from the boys who came off the bench was tremendous. That really helped our game improve and we managed to find the spaces to unlock them and score the goals we needed.”

Defoe returned from injury to make it 2-1 — just four minutes after Dempsey’s leveller — with his first goal of 2013.

Bale netted the third two minutes later in his first game since straining ankle ligaments against Basel less than three weeks ago.

AVB added: “How fit was he? Fitness levels in football are very difficult to understand.

“We had the green light from the player, he felt well enough to approach the game. The impact of having him in the team is also important.”

Bale, who also set up Dempsey’s equaliser, said: “Our opening goal gave us and the crowd belief and we showed our character. The club is moving forward every year.

“We all want to play in the Champions League and that showed today.”