And it was back in favour Frederic Kanoute who earned Spurs their third straight Premiership victory with a spectacular match-winning goal.
Kanoute, recently criticised by Jol for giving away the penalty which brought about their Carling Cup exit against Liverpool, went a long way towards finding favour once again with his manager.
Only recalled to the starting line-up because Jermain Defoe was suspended, Kanoute led the line with distinction.
Jol paid tribute to the striker saying: "He is reacting and doing well, and showed he is a good character. You always miss Freddie when he doesn't play but you cannot always play him.
"I have three strikers and want to play two of them whenever I can. A lot of clubs have four strikers and play 4-5-1 with one on the bench and two in the stand."
Jol was delighted with the way his side ground out their victory adding: "Only one or two clubs have a better away record so it is not easy to beat us.
"It is not about playing terrifically, but about getting a result.
"We had three good chances in the first half and it would have been tragic if we hadn't won."
City manager Kevin Keegan was bitterly disappointed with his side's display as they slipped to their third home league defeat of the season and second loss in five days.
He said: "We started the first 15 minutes as brightly as we have done this season without forcing too much pressure.
"As the game went on we passed the ball without any real purpose and in the end Spurs deserved to beat us.
"They had the best two chances in the first half and we were not fluent or inventive and didn't look to have a goal in us.
"Not many of my players gave the level of performance they will be happy with."
City had the same starting line-up which faced Middlesbrough on Monday with fit-again Nicolas Anelka having to settle for a place on the substitute's bench.
Meanwhile, Spurs made three changes from the side that won 1-0 at Ewood Park last week.
Apart from Kanoute replacing Defoe, Noe Pamarot and Rohan Ricketts came in for Stephen Kelly who stepped down to the bench, while Reto Ziegler was ruled out through injury.
City had appeals for a penalty waved away in the opening minute after Robbie Fowler had put Jonathan Macken clean through on goal.
Central defender Ledley King came over to cover with City claming he fouled Macken who went tumbling to the ground.
City had their first attempt on goal in the third minute when a cheeky chip from Shaun Wright-Phillips landed on the roof of the net.
Paul Robinson then showed why he is England's number one by flinging himself low to his right to turn a 25-yard drive from Joey Barton around the post for a corner.
Noureddine Naybet became the first player to be booked for tripping Fowler on the edge of the penalty area, but Antoine Sibierski fired his free-kick into the defensive wall.
Spurs had to wait until the 25th minute before carving out their first clear-cut chance, and what a golden opportunity it was for Ricketts.
The former Arsenal youngster cut in from the left, beat Danny Mills and then arrowed his shot agonisingly wide to the left of goalkeeper James.
City had another let-off in the 39th minute when Robbie Keane raced onto Pedro Mendes' long throughball.
Keane beat defender Richard Dunne and lofted the ball past the advancing James only for it to fly a couple of yards wide of the goal.
City had a great chance shortly before half-time when Antoine Sibierski failed to connect properly with Stephen Jordan's left-wing cross as his diving header drifted harmlessly wide.
Spurs were forced into a double half-time substitution as Naybet and Mendes had to withdraw through injury. The pair were replaced by Anthony Gardner and Kelly.
Neither side looked like breaking the stalemate in a dour opening to the second period in which play became bogged down in midfield.
Then out of nothing Kanoute broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a wonder strike, only his second of the season in the Premiership.
Michael Brown sprayed a terrific cross-field pass to release Kanoute on the left and he charged forward and from the left side of the penalty area unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
Robinson had only his second shot to save midway through the second half when he dived smartly at his near post to keep out an angled drive from Fowler.
Spurs came close to doubling their lead when Keane ran onto a long throughball, rounded James only to see defender Sylvain Distin make a great goal-line clearance.
Keegan made a double substitution in the 71st minute taking off Fowler and Macken and bringing on Anleka and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Spurs substitute Kelly was lucky to escape a red card following a horrific over the top challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips but referee Dermot Gallagher only produced a yellow.
Keane ought to have scored in the 78th minute but blazed over from three yards after being set up by Brown.
But City could make little headway against a well-organised Spurs defence in which England defender King was rock solid.
In a frantic finale City goalkeeper James twice went upfield in a desperate but ultimately forlorn effort to help his side find an equaliser.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) - His spectacular strike earned Spurs their third successive Premiership victory and was the perfect response to recent criticism of his efforts.