City mustered 23 attempts at goal during a one-sided clash, but couldn't find a route to goal.
Tottenham's American goalkeeper Kasey Keller made a series of crucial saves, though overall it was a case of City being found wanting in front of goal.
City manager Keegan reflected: "I wouldn't say our finishing was woeful, but it was not what it should have been.
"We created a lot of chances and to our credit never stopped trying to get a goal.
"Had we been able to finish you would have been talking about a fantastic performance, about us being fourth in the league and the Premiership's top scorers.
"When I look back it was the most unlikely 0-0 I have seen."
City created a number of gilt-edged chances in the first half with Paulo Wanchope twice clean through on goal only to be thwarted by Keller.
The Spurs keeper also pulled off another wonderful save to deny Steve McManaman and when the keeper was beaten by Nicolas Anelka, Stephen Carr came to the rescue with a goal-line clearance.
City continued to dominate in the second half but the chances were not so clear cut.
And right at the death Robbie Keane might have won the game for Spurs.
The striker failed to connect properly with an acrobatic overhead kick in front of goal and the chance went straight to goalkeeper David Seaman.
Man City: Seaman, Jihai, Sommeil, Distin, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, McManaman, Sinclair, Wanchope, Anelka. Subs: Weaver, Bischoff, Reyna, Sibierski, Fowler.
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Richards, Gardner, Taricco, Anderton, Bunjevcevic, Poyet, Konchesky, Kanoute, Keane. Subs: Burch, Postiga, Doherty, Dalmat, Ricketts.
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire)
Attendance: 46,842