Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp accused Manchester City match-winner Mario Balotelli of deliberately kicking Scott Parker in the head during Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash.

Italian striker Balotelli came off the bench in the second half to provide both controversy and heroics, as his late penalty secured a 3-2 home win for the league leaders.

Redknapp accepted Ledley King had fouled Balotelli in the penalty area in stoppage time, to give away the decisive spot-kick.

But Redknapp also insisted the City man should not have been on the pitch to decide the game.

Balotelli, already on a yellow card, appeared lucky to escape at least the same punishment again before his goal when his studs made contact with the head of Parker, who had thrown himself in front of the Italian's shot.

Redknapp said "It looked like a penalty, I've not seen a replay - but the boy who scored the penalty shouldn't have been on the pitch.

"He kicked Scott Parker in the head. He does it a lot, he backheeled him in the face and cut his head. No-one can make excuses that he didn't do it, anyone can see he did do it."

Redknapp was delighted with his team's performance in defeat - and, indeed, was frustrated they had not won the game late on themselves when Gareth Bale's cross was met by the sliding Jermain Defoe, who poked the ball wide.

"We had a great chance when Gareth laid it across to Jermain, we were all up on our seats thinking it was 3-2," he said.

"It proves we're as good as anyone, they weren't better than us today but they nicked it in the 94th minute.

"We had a bad two or three minutes and conceded the two goals but we showed great character to come back and I could see us winning from there."

James Milner admitted City were sloppy to let Tottenham back into the game.

After a goalless first half, Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott put City 2-0 up in a storming start to the second period.

But Defoe and Bale drew Tottenham level and City needed the late penalty from Balotelli to earn victory.

The three points lift City eight clear of third-placed Spurs and Milner told Sky Sports 1: "It's massive, we knew how big a game it was.

"They've been playing really well and they had the incentive with how we played at their place (winning 5-1 in August).

"It was an exciting game for the neutral but we'd like it a bit more boring next time!

"We took our foot off the gas, gave them one sloppy goal and they're a good team, if you give them a sniff it gives them the momentum to go on.

"We were well on top, scored the two goals and probably should have controlled the game better than we did."

Substitute Balotelli insisted he felt no nerves as he stepped up for the match-winning spot-kick.

"Nothing," he said. "I was calm, like every time I take a penalty."