MAN CITY 2, TOTTENHAM 2
Manchester City blew a two-goal lead as they again displayed a flaky character in a home draw against Tottenham.
City, walloped 4-0 at Everton on Sunday, looked to have put their Premier League title back on track when they went two ahead through goals from Leroy Sane and Kevin De Bruyne.
But second-placed Spurs are made of sterner stuff these days and they hit back through goals from Dele Alli and Heung-min Son to snatch a point.
And if Chelsea beat Hull City tomorrow – as they ought to do – fifth-placed City will be 12 points behind the leaders.
City manager Pep Guardiola thought this game mirrored so many others this season.
He said: “We created a lot of chances. How many shots did we have on target against Everton and today.
“We missed a lot of chances, as we have done in many games, but the problem is scoring goals.”
And Guardiola was philosophical when reflecting on a penalty they were denied when 2-1 ahead as Raheem Sterling was clearly shoved in the back as he prepared to shoot.
“If we had not missed a lot of chances, the referee doesn’t matter,” he continued.
And of his side’s display, Guardiola added: “I was happier with the performance for the players. We played with spirit and the way we played, but we didn’t win and I am sad for the players.
“It has been the same in many, many games and that’s why we are where we are. The players didn’t deserve that, but may be these games will make us stronger in the future.”
Spurs’ manager Mauricio Pochettino described it as a “massive point” for his side after admitting his side was second best in the first half.
“Manchester City were better than us, we have to admit that,” he said.
Guardiola made only two changes from the debacle at Everton where they lost 4-0 on Sunday.
Aleksandar Kolarov and Leroy Sane came into the side at the expense of John Stones and Bacary Sagna while new Brazilian signing Gabriel Jesus took his place on the bench for the first time.
Spurs included all their big hitters, including the in-form front pair of Harry Kane and Alli.
City made a bright start and Spurs at times lived dangerously at the back, notably when Pablo Zabaleta was put clear through only for Toby Alderweireld to come to the rescue with a last-gasp tackle.
They had two chances to take the lead in the 20th minutes as David Silva forced a fine save from keeper Hugo Lloris and, from the resulting corner, Zabatela’s drive was agonisingly wide.
Kevin De Bruyne then had a chance after Eric Dier slipped, but pulled his shot wide of the far post from the right of the box.
Sane then saw a diving header fly wide from Gael Clichy’s cross as City continued to carve out chances.
Sergio Aguero had two clear-cut openings within the space of 60 seconds, both well saved by Lloris.
City made the long-awaited breakthrough in the 49th minute through Sane. De Bruyne’s long through ball released the German, Lloris came out of his box to clear, but headed against Sane who found himself clean through to slot home from seven yards for his second goal since his summer signing from Schalke.
And five minutes later it was 2-0 after a howler from Lloris who spilled a low cross from Sterling to leave De Bruyne with a simple tap in from a couple of yards for his fourth goal of the season.
Spurs, left reeling by this double whammy, halved the deficit four minutes later after David Silva failed to cut out a crossfield ball only helping divert the ball to Kyle Walker whose cross deflected off the head of Kolarov to Alli who headed home at the far post.
It was Alli’s eighth goal in seven games and 12th of the season.
City claimed a penalty after Sterling was put clean through and was clearly nudged in the back by Walker as he was about to shoot as he fired straight at Lloris.
It proved a pivotal moment in the match as one minute later Spurs made it 2-2 when it could have been 3-1.
Christian Eriksen crossed from the right, Kane back heeled the ball to substitute Son who shot low past keeper Claudio Bravo from just inside the box.
City made their first change with eight minutes left when Sterling was replaced by Jesus who almost scored twice within two minutes of making his entrance, both from De Bruyne crosses.
His initial header looped inches over while he slide in to find the net on the second occasion only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Stones replaced Clichy with six minutes left and Silva by Fabian Delph in the 90th minute as City went in search of a winner, but they were unable to muster another meaningful goal attempt.