This isn't another false dawn - Tottenham can win the Premier League

Mauricio Pochettino wanted his team to fight like lions, and he got his wish as Tottenham won a key battle with one of the top flight's main predators to suggest they could yet be the side most likely to end the season as the king of the Premier League jungle.

The Spurs boss came up with the analogy in response to Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores's comments that the Lilywhites are like “animals” - and it proved to be an apt foreshadowing for his side's performance here at the Etihad as they bore their manes and fought valiantly to make it five straight league victories to move within two points of leaders Leicester City.

The Foxes remain this season's fairytale story and they continue to top the table, despite the last-gasp heartache of defeat at Arsenal. But Spurs are beginning to challenge the pecking order, timing their charge for the final straight. And this time the challenge does not look like wavering.

There have been many false dawns for Spurs fans, perhaps too many given the talent that the club has had at its disposal over the years. They have not won the title since 1961 and have so often flattered to deceive, failing to back up flowing football with a winning mentality when the heat cranks up.

The north Londoners have again played some scintillating stuff this term - but this tactically astute showing at the Etihad was their biggest test so far, and it could yet be a watershed moment in their history.

Pochettino appears to be succeeding where so many have failed, transforming the dynamic of a trophyless changing room and instilling a hard-working, winning mentality.

The Argentine was linked with Manchester United recently and such a rumour pays real testament to just how much he has changed Spurs from an attractive side with a fragile shell into a tough nut to crack. The ex-Southampton boss has done a magnificent job moulding a team capable of playing vibrant attacking football, but adding that all-important missing ingredient. There is now an extra layer of steel and mental toughness that means Spurs can grind out a result under an intense spotlight too.

A 2-1 victory at the Etihad secured a league double over Manchester City and those two victories highlight the dual personalities that are so often attributed with title-winning teams. One is the capacity to demolish a top-class opponent such as in the 4-1 win over City back in September, while this Valentine's Day triumph at one of the league's most difficult grounds epitomised their togetherness and mental toughness.

It's easy to look at Manchester City and suggest they have fallen apart following the announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over from Manuel Pellegrini in the summer. City have suffered back-to-back league defeats against title rivals within the space of a week and are now six points off the pace. But what makes Tottenham's victory here all the more impressive is that City were expected to give a reaction and had their talismanic captain, Vincent Kompany, back in their starting XI.

City are a different team with the Belgian defender marshalling the defence. Prior to Tottenham's visit, they had won six of the eight Premier League matches their injury-hit skipper had started, conceding just one in that time.

But Tottenham, led by the tireless Harry Kane, changed all of that. Spurs may have had a spark of fortune via the harsh refereeing decision to award the visitors a spot kick, but Kane showed his appetite for the big occasion by notching his 15th goal in his last 17 Premier League appearances to set Spurs on the path to victory. After a slow start to the campaign, the England forward is in red-hot form at just the right time - good news for both club and country.

But Pochettino will continue to shrug off the media's obsession with highlighting the contribution of individuals, and rightly so. There is a growing credence to suggestions that the Spurs boss has the best starting XI in the league and this performance exemplified that.

Man for man, Tottenham's players know their roles within the team unit and they have as strong a spine as any other side, stretching from the outstanding Hugo Lloris right through to Kane. Their detractors claim an injury to the forward would curtail their challenge, but moments of inspiration from the likes of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Erik Lamela suggest they are far more than a one-man show in attack.

Hark back to the champions of yesteryear and while they all have superstars, they are often crowned as a result of a great team ethic and spirit, whether it be Alex Ferguson's Manchester United or Arsenal's Invincibles.

Spurs may not be of that ilk just yet, but they appear to be the best unit in what is an underwhelming Premier League in terms of overall quality. It is no coincidence that Tottenham boast the best goal difference in the league, with the best defence and the third-best attack. Given that stat, it is no surprise that they have not lost on their league travels since their last visit to Manchester, a narrow opening day loss at United.

This victory will further bolster the belief Pochettino and co have nurtured over the past six months and it all bodes well for the rest of the season.

Spurs will now turn their attention to a Europa League tie against Fiorentina before very winnable home matches against Crystal Palace and Swansea take them into March, where a stand-out fixture sees them entertain neighbours and title rivals Arsenal.

That could be a very significant landmark in their quest. And yet it will likely be in April that Spurs' new found mental toughness is put to the ultimate test. The run of fixtures suggests they should be well in the title mix when they visit Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as playing host to Manchester United.

Should Spurs come through those stern examinations on paper with the same flying colours that saw them outmuscle another major rival here, then Pochettino and his team could well be on course to completely banish the psychological flaws that have damaged the winning DNA of the club.

After so many years of false dawns it seems Tottenham finally have the stomach for the fight, and with Pochettino at the helm they look capable of challenging the hierarchy right through to the bitter end.