Manchester City 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2
Manchester City’s hopes of regaining the Barclays Premier League title were dented as they suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time since 2008.
And Tottenham’s victory at the Etihad Stadium leaves them as genuine championship contenders as they are second in the table after recording five wins in a row, the first time they have done this since December 2011.
Goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, on his 24th birthday, earned Spurs a win that leaves City six points behind leaders Leicester as they chase their first title since 1960/61.
And it was a win that again underlined City’s shortcomings as they have yet to win this season in eight games against top-six teams.
City had scored 15 goals in their last four home Premier League games against Spurs – remember Sergio Aguero scoring all four in last season’s 4-1 win when he also missed a penalty.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was unhappy with the referee Mark Clattenburg for awarding the penalty that gave Spurs the opening goal for a handball by Raheem Sterling.
He said: “It wasn’t unlucky, it was absolutely the wrong decision. It’s the same referee as Spurs away when they got two goals that were offside.
“The shot hit the back of Sterling. I don’t think the referee can decide the game that way. It was absolutely decisive.”
Pellegrini added the penalty proved the pivotal moment as the game was close, but City were playing well at that time.
City’s manager conceded the home defeats against Leicester and Tottenham have been a blow to their title aspirations.
“The last two results have been very bad as they have been against teams fighting for the title, and we were not expecting not to win an important six points,” he said.
Pellegrini added his team will continue to challenge for the title pointing out there are still 36 points to play for and he expects other teams to drop points.
City’s manager added his side must improve adding it is difficult with only 14 fit senior players at his disposal.
And of City’s poor record against top-six teams, Pellegrini was honest saying it is because these teams have been better than his side.
Spurs’ manager Mauricio Pochettino described it as an important victory for his team.
He added it is too early to talk about the title, but conceded his side is in a good position.
Pochettino pointed out Spurs has the youngster squad in the Premier League.
He said: “It is important for confidence and belief to come to a stadium like this and against a team like City and win.
“It is an important victory for the future. We have a lot of young players and some senior ones. The mix is perfect.”
City made three changes from the side that lost at home to Leicester City last weekend.
Vincent Kompany returned and was making his first start since November 8 while there were also recalls for Gael Clichy and Fernando Reges.
The players to lose out were Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov and Fabien Delph.
There was one minute’s applause after five minutes to mark the death of City fan Craig Tarry, the manager of band Viola Beach who died along with all the musicians in a road accident in Sweden.
City had the first chance of the game after 10 minutes when Aguero blazed over from eight yards after Nicolas Otamendi headed on a David Silva corner.
It was a game of few chances as both sides cancelled out the other, though Sterling’s goal bound shot was superbly blocked by Danny Rose who was struck in the chest as he flung himself at the ball.
Spurs had their first glimpse at goal just short of the half hour when Eriksen’s 25-yard drive was beaten out by keeper Joe Hart.
Aguero had a great chance to break the deadlock early in the second half when he volleyed well over from six yards after latching on to Yaya Toure’s deflected cross.
It was Spurs, though, who took the lead eight minutes into the half, but in controversial circumstances.
Referee Mark Clattenburg ruled Sterling handled a cross from Rose with replays showing the ball struck his arm, but his back was turned away from Rose.
Kane beat England team-mate Hart from the spot for his 19th goal of the season.
It provoked a response from City as Toure blazed wide from 25 yards and then was denied by the crossbar from a venomous free kick.
City made their first change midway through the half when Fernando Reges was replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho.
And Iheanacho had only been on the field for eight minutes when he scored the leveller. Clichy cut the ball back from the left and the 19-year-old striker smashed a shot from 12 yards into the top corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season having made only six starts and seventh in his last 11 appearances.
City then made their second switch as Kolarov came on for Clichy.
Suddenly City came alive and sensed they might gain all three points as they had a positivity about their play for the first time.
Toure found a spring in his stride as a fierce shot was beaten out by Hugo Lloris.
Spurs were back ahead in the 83rd minute as substitute Erik Lamela split the City defence as Eriksen ran through to slot the ball low to the left of Hart from 12 yards, his seventh goal of the season and a perfect birthday gift.
City had one chance to draw level in the fourth minute of stoppage time – four were signalled but over six were played.
Aguero crossed from the right, Lloris’ fingertips took the off the head of Nicolas Otamendi and Silva blazed over from six yards as the ball landed at the feet of the Spaniard.