JOIN USCrouch nets Spurs' winner
Crouch, with England manager Fabio Capello watching on, nodded in a rebound after 82 minutes to spark wild celebrations among fans who had travelled up from north London to see their team book a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
City would have leapfrogged Tottenham with a victory but could have no complaints as the visitors carved out the better chances in a match of gut-wrenching tension at Eastlands.
Tottenham have 70 points from 37 matches and could still finish above north London rivals Arsenal who have 72 points in third spot. Victory at relegated Burnley on Sunday and defeat for Arsenal at home to Fulham would mean Tottenham going straight into the Champions League group stages.
The north London club, who like City have lived in the shadow of their neighbours for so long, have not appeared in Europe's top club competition since 1962, a year after they last won the English title.
The fact that they have broken into the established top-four at the expense of Liverpool and big-spending City marks an amazing transformation since Harry Redknapp took over as manager in 2008 with the club bottom of the Premier League.
But just when it seemed Tottenham might be made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal Younes Kaboul fired over a fizzing cross which deflected off City left back Wayne Bridge and Fulop could only parry it on to the head of the lurking Crouch.
In another match, Stoke City defeated Europa League finalists Fulham 1-0 through an 83rd minute Matthew Etherington goal.