MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Juande Ramos has hailed Tottenham's League Cup quarter-final victory over Manchester City as the most impressive performance of his brief spell in charge at White Hart Lane.

An early goal from Jermain Defoe put Spurs ahead at the City of Manchester Stadium and Ramos's side survived the 20th-minute dismissal of Didier Zokora before Steed Malbranque sealed victory seven minutes from time.

Former Seville coach Ramos has had an immediate impact since succeeding Martin Jol in October and now stands just 90 minutes away from a Wembley cup final.

And he believes the win over City - who had boasted a 100 percent home record this season going into the match - will have a lasting impact on his side's fortunes as the campaign progresses.

"It was the best performance since I came to the club and it sets us up for the rest of the season," Ramos said.

"To beat a team like Manchester City who are on a good run at home and win 2-0 after going a man down will set us in good stead for the rest of the season.

"We had to work extra hard to make up for the extra man for 70 minutes. But certainly our efforts gained the reward they deserved.

"I thought the sending off was undeserved and it was unfair to have to play the rest for the game with one man down. It was a cup tie and the referee has to be more flexible."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's disappointment at his side's failure to reach a first semi-final since 1981 was tempered by the arrival of Mexico striker Nery Castillo on a year-long loan from Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk.

Castillo, 23, joined Shakhtar in a 20-million-euro deal from Olympiacos of Greece last summer and City officials revealed the player had facilitated the move by agreeing to pay a significant portion of the loan fee -- thought to be around three million pounds -- himself.

"It's a very good gesture and is very much appreciated by me and everyone at the club," Eriksson said. "I have never heard of this before and it shows just how much he wants to come to the club."

The City manager believed his side had been unfortunate not to win a second-half penalty when Richard Dunne appeared to be brought down but his concern quickly switched towards the weekend visit to Aston Villa.

"I am disappointed, the players are disappointed and everyone is disappointed," the manager said.

"In the second half we did what we had to do tactically but we just couldn't score.

"I thought we were unlucky with some decisions and we possibly should have had a penalty.

"But now we will see how the players pick themselves up for Saturday. This will be a good test for them."

Defoe has endured a frustrating season on the fringes of the Spurs starting line-up and this was only the England striker's second start since Ramos arrived.

And while the forward lasted just 20 minutes before being sacrificed as Tottenham re-organised following the dismissal of Zakora for a two-footed tackle on Brazilian midfielder Elano, he provided Ramos with a timely reminder of his talents.

A neat, incisive passing move stretched the City defence and when Jermaine Jenas slid the ball inside home left-back Javier Garrido, Aaron Lennon had time to pick out Defoe.

Having found space between the centre-backs, the England striker slid the ball past keeper Joe Hart for his fifth goal of the season.

Despite their numerical advantage, City struggled to generate openings and when they did they found England goalkeeper Paul Robinson in superb form.

Any doubt about the outcome was removed seven minutes from the end when Malbranque rounded off a breakaway move with a neat finish.