Sir Alex Ferguson will have even more reason to smile on his 20th anniversary in charge of Manchester United after Tottenham stunned 10-man Chelsea with their first home league victory over the champions since 1987.

In a pulsating clash at White Hart Lane, which saw Chelsea's England captain John Terry sent off in the second half, Spurs produced a fine comeback to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games.

The victory left Chelsea three points adrift of United at the top of the Barclays Premiership and facing the prospect of more disciplinary action after collecting six bookings for the second successive game.

France midfielder Claude Makelele had put the Blues ahead in the 14th minute but Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson levelled 10 minutes later with a deft header.

Teenage England winger Aaron Lennon earned Spurs a deserved victory when he controlled a cross from Robbie Keane and calmly slotted the ball beyond Hilario for the winner in the 51st minute.

Tottenham's hopes of such an outcome had looked distinctly unlikely in the opening 20 minutes as Jose Mourinho's side took full control.

They should have been in front in the 13th minute but Spurs captain Ledley King made a last-ditch tackle to thwart Arjen Robben.

However, it was only a temporary reprieve for Spurs as they failed to clear the resulting corner and Makelele beat Paul Robinson with a 25-yard volley.

Three minutes later Robinson made two superb saves in as many minutes. First he kept out Michael Ballack's free-kick and then tipped Frank Lampard's drive over the bar as the champions threatened to over-run their hosts.

But Spurs were level in the 24th minute when Dawson glanced Jermaine Jenas' free-kick into the net after Paulo Ferreira had been booked for bringing down Dimitar Berbatov.

Dawson's strike put an extra zip into an already pulsating encounter between two attack-minded sides and five minutes later Berbatov forced Hilario to turn his right-footed drive for a corner as the ball threatened to creep in at the near post.

But Chelsea were still dangerous and Didier Drogba, who signed a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge on Friday, was inches away from restoring Chelsea's lead when he turned spectacularly to unleash an overhead kick which flashed wide of Robinson's left-hand post.

Spurs full-back Pascal Chimbonda was at the centre of controversy before when he appeared to stamp on John Terry inside the six-yard box. But referee Graham Poll did not punish the Spurs defender much to the chagrin of Terry.

In the 37th minute Robbie Keane squandered the simplest of chances when Aaron Lennon's cross found him unmarked at the far post. The Republic of Ireland striker had time and space to pick his spot, but headed the ball over the crossbar with only Hilario to beat.

Chelsea coach Mourinho opted to replace Ferreira with Khalid Boulahrouz at the start of the second half and the visitors were quickly into their stride.

But in the 51st minute it was Tottenham who took the lead for the first time in the game.

Boulahrouz inexplicably allowed Keane to make 50 yards on the left flank despite challenging him twice and when the Irishman's eventual cross arrived it was deflected into the path of the lurking Lennon.

The winger controlled the ball superbly with his right foot before calmly slotting it beyond Hilario to put the home side in front.

Lennon's goal, in front of watching England boss Steve McClaren, gave Spurs the impetus to try an increase their advantage. The tricky Berbatov was felled by Terry in the 61st minute and the Blues skipper was yellow-carded for his trouble.

In the 65th minute Michael Ballack was booked for dissent as Chelsea were clearly rattled by Tottenham's fightback.

It got worse for the Blues when Mourinho chose to replace his half-time substitute Boulahrouz with Salomon Kalou in the 68th minute and the departing defender stormed down the tunnel in disgust.

Terry was then sent off three minutes later for a second bookable offence to leave Chelsea with 10 men and in danger of incurring an FA charge as their booking count reached six for the second successive game.

In a frantic finish it was the woodwork which came to Tottenham's rescue four minutes from time when Arjen Robben sent his curling shot against Robinson's right-hand post.