Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has backed Hugo Lloris to help Spurs stay calm during the title race.

The 29-year-old captained his side to victory over Manchester City on Sunday to climb to second place in the Premier League table.

Spurs are now just two points adrift of leaders Leicester with 12 top-flight games left to play and are firmly in the hunt for their first title since 1961.

The inexperience within Mauricio Pochettino's squad is often cited as a reason why the north Londoners could struggle to deal with mounting pressure during the run-in but Friedel is adamant Lloris will help his teammates to take it in their stride.

"Hugo's a humble, hard-working guy who doesn't have too many emotional days," Friedel told the Sun.

"He has such a level head - even at the most nervous times he seems very calm.

"People can look to him and see how he's acting and, as long as he's calm, then everything's fine."

Pochettino and his players have stayed coy about the possibility of a tilt at the title and Fridel has echoed such sentimaents as he believes going under the radar will suit his former club.

Manchester City vs Tottenham: Player Ratings 23 show all Manchester City vs Tottenham: Player Ratings 1/23 Etihad title clash Who performed in Manchester, and who had a day to forget? 2/23 Joe Hart: 6 Alert to Christian Eriksen's early strike but rarely called into action. Commanded his area well. 3/23 Pablo Zabaleta: 5 Looked off the pace at times. Fortunate not to receive punishment for a nasty foul on Kane. 4/23 Vincent Kompany: 6 Assured and composed. It was no fluke City looked far more organised than they have done in recent weeks with him restored to the side. 5/23 Nicolas Otamendi: 6 The Argentine defender clearly benefited from Kompany's presence alongside him. Still has a big job on to restore his reputation after a poor start to his Premier League career. 6/23 Gael Clichy: 6 More like the Clichy of old. The Frenchman defended well and claimed an assist when his measured pull back found Iheanacho on the edge of the area. 7/23 Fernandinho: 5 Struggled to get into the game for long periods. Outshone by Tottenham's midfield duo but improved as City turned the screw late on. 8/23 Fernando: 5 Did little of note other than produce a rash challenge on Dele Alli. It was no surprise to see him hooked for Kelechi Iheanacho after City fell behind.



Iheanacho: 7



The Nigerian made an instant impact and tucked home Clichy's cross with aplomb. 9/23 Yaya Toure: 6 Fortunate not to be booked for a foolish lunge on Dembele early on, the Ivorian also produced a nasty challenge on Wimmer. But he escaped punishment and made a nuisance of himself when he looked like he could be bothered. 10/23 Raheem Sterling: 6 Conceded the penalty for raising his arm but was extremely unfortunate. Threatened going forward on occasion but is yet to sparkle as much as his price tag suggests he should. 11/23 David Silva: 6 The Spaniard's passing was superb but he could not find a way through a resolute Spurs backline. 12/23 Sergio Aguero: 6 Cut an isolated figure at times. City tend to rely on him too much. He can't do it all on his own, all the time. 13/23 Hugo Lloris: 7 The Frenchman was rarely called into action but did superbly well to get a fingertip on the ball to clear Nicolas Otamendi's late header. 14/23 Kyle Walker: 6 Good defensively but not up to scratch in the final third of the pitch when he made it that far forward. 15/23 Toby Alderweireld: 7 Provided a solid presence in the centre of defence and also exhibited his superb range of passing. 16/23 Kevin Wimmer: 7 Coped well with the threat of Sergio Aguero. Passed the biggest test which has been asked of him since Jan Vertonghen's injury with flying colours. 17/23 Danny Rose: 7 The full-back was often Tottenham's brightest spark. Excellent in his own third and defended bravely but struggled to provide quality delivery in attack. 18/23 Mousa Dembele: 7 Passed brilliantly. Strutted about the centre of the park with real authority and all but nullified City's midfielders. 19/23 Eric Dier: 7 His contribution was not eye catching but it was crucial; solid, if not spectacular. Helped to keep Toure on the fringes of the game. 20/23 Christian Eriksen: 8 Kept his nerve late home to score what could be a huge goal in the title race. The perfect way to cap his 24th birthday. 21/23 Dele Alli: 6 Somewhat subdued. Given rough treatment by the City midfield and although he passed well, could not provide a moment of magic.



Erik Lamela: 7



The Argentine made a big impact when he nutmegged Nicolas Otamendi and set up Christian Eriksen. 22/23 Son Heung-min: The South Korean provided several smart touches and flicks. Never afraid to receive the ball in difficult or congested areas of the pitch.



Tom Carroll: 6



Helped to firm things up in the closing stages. 23/23 Harry Kane: 7 Starved of clear-cut chances but kept his nerve went it counted most and stroked the ball home from 12 yards. 1/23 Etihad title clash Who performed in Manchester, and who had a day to forget? 2/23 Joe Hart: 6 Alert to Christian Eriksen's early strike but rarely called into action. Commanded his area well. 3/23 Pablo Zabaleta: 5 Looked off the pace at times. Fortunate not to receive punishment for a nasty foul on Kane. 4/23 Vincent Kompany: 6 Assured and composed. It was no fluke City looked far more organised than they have done in recent weeks with him restored to the side. 5/23 Nicolas Otamendi: 6 The Argentine defender clearly benefited from Kompany's presence alongside him. Still has a big job on to restore his reputation after a poor start to his Premier League career. 6/23 Gael Clichy: 6 More like the Clichy of old. The Frenchman defended well and claimed an assist when his measured pull back found Iheanacho on the edge of the area. 7/23 Fernandinho: 5 Struggled to get into the game for long periods. Outshone by Tottenham's midfield duo but improved as City turned the screw late on. 8/23 Fernando: 5 Did little of note other than produce a rash challenge on Dele Alli. It was no surprise to see him hooked for Kelechi Iheanacho after City fell behind.



Iheanacho: 7



The Nigerian made an instant impact and tucked home Clichy's cross with aplomb. 9/23 Yaya Toure: 6 Fortunate not to be booked for a foolish lunge on Dembele early on, the Ivorian also produced a nasty challenge on Wimmer. But he escaped punishment and made a nuisance of himself when he looked like he could be bothered. 10/23 Raheem Sterling: 6 Conceded the penalty for raising his arm but was extremely unfortunate. Threatened going forward on occasion but is yet to sparkle as much as his price tag suggests he should. 11/23 David Silva: 6 The Spaniard's passing was superb but he could not find a way through a resolute Spurs backline. 12/23 Sergio Aguero: 6 Cut an isolated figure at times. City tend to rely on him too much. He can't do it all on his own, all the time. 13/23 Hugo Lloris: 7 The Frenchman was rarely called into action but did superbly well to get a fingertip on the ball to clear Nicolas Otamendi's late header. 14/23 Kyle Walker: 6 Good defensively but not up to scratch in the final third of the pitch when he made it that far forward. 15/23 Toby Alderweireld: 7 Provided a solid presence in the centre of defence and also exhibited his superb range of passing. 16/23 Kevin Wimmer: 7 Coped well with the threat of Sergio Aguero. Passed the biggest test which has been asked of him since Jan Vertonghen's injury with flying colours. 17/23 Danny Rose: 7 The full-back was often Tottenham's brightest spark. Excellent in his own third and defended bravely but struggled to provide quality delivery in attack. 18/23 Mousa Dembele: 7 Passed brilliantly. Strutted about the centre of the park with real authority and all but nullified City's midfielders. 19/23 Eric Dier: 7 His contribution was not eye catching but it was crucial; solid, if not spectacular. Helped to keep Toure on the fringes of the game. 20/23 Christian Eriksen: 8 Kept his nerve late home to score what could be a huge goal in the title race. The perfect way to cap his 24th birthday. 21/23 Dele Alli: 6 Somewhat subdued. Given rough treatment by the City midfield and although he passed well, could not provide a moment of magic.



Erik Lamela: 7



The Argentine made a big impact when he nutmegged Nicolas Otamendi and set up Christian Eriksen. 22/23 Son Heung-min: The South Korean provided several smart touches and flicks. Never afraid to receive the ball in difficult or congested areas of the pitch.



Tom Carroll: 6



Helped to firm things up in the closing stages. 23/23 Harry Kane: 7 Starved of clear-cut chances but kept his nerve went it counted most and stroked the ball home from 12 yards.

"Spurs haven't been in this situation in a long time. They have put themselves in a wonderful position where they do have an opportunity.

"I know Mauricio has the mentality for it and the dressing room has, too, but there's no need to start talking about title challenges.

"They know they have the quality, they just need to quietly go about doing it," he added.