Manchester City vs Tottenham a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
February 14, 2016
1,703 Views
- The title was never going to be won or lost this Afternoon but the league table was certainly going to take shape after this encounter
- And how it has, Tottenham threw down a huge marker with their win at The Etihad
- It seems as if this win has put them right in the mix for the title and they must be legit contenders now in what seems like a 3 horse race
- Tottenham controlled possession for the first 15 minutes and were relentless in the high pressing game. Danny Rose had a lot of joy down the left but it didn’t really create any end product
- But after that City came in to the game and arguably had the better of the few chances in the first half
- It was almost as if both sides were just feeling each other out in the opening half with neither side wanting to give away too much
- Then early in the Second Half the turning point of the game happened when Raheem Sterling was adjudged to have handled Danny Rose’s cross. It was an extremely harsh decision one that is rarely given but Spurs certainly wouldn’t have any complaints
- Harry Kane duly stepped up and slotted away the spot kick to put Spurs in front
- Apart from the Goal, Kane didn’t have too many chances but he did not stop running for the 89 Minutes that he was on the pitch
- As for his advisory Sergio Aguero, it was a particularly frustrating day for the Argentine especially in the battle with him and the Assistant Referees. All too often he was caught out by Spurs’ offside trap.
- City then nearly equalised soon after as Yaya Toure’s free kick cannoned off the bar, at this point you just had the feeling that they were starting to edge their way back into the game
- Spurs were just getting caught in possession more than they were in the first half and Manuel Pellegrini had to make a tactical change if they were to have any chance of getting back into the game
- He decided to bring Kelechi Iheanacho on and go two up top to try and break down Tottenham’s resolve
- Pellegrini’s decision looked an assured one as the Nigerian leveled the scores with 15 minutes to go and you felt the balance of play was swinging into City’s favour
- Wave after wave of City pressure came as they tried to go for the win in a game they really couldn’t afford to drop any points in
- Erik Lamela was bought on for Dele Alli to replace tired legs and just see out the game but Lamela had other ideas
- Within minutes of coming on, his perfectly weighted pass found Christian Eriksen and he slotted the ball past the on rushing Joe Hart with just 7 minutes to go. On the Danes 24th Birthday the celebrations had certainly started as the traveling fans were in a state of delirium
- City had the wind knocked out of them but still they went in search of another equaliser to try and salvage something from the game
- They very nearly had it right at the death when a cross was teed up for Nicolas Otamendi to head home but Hugo Lloris got the most crucial of touches to change the balls direction, still the danger wasn’t over as the ball fell to David Silva who blazed over from 3 yards.
- You couldn’t take any more tension as a Spurs fan but thankfully Mark Clattenburg blew his whistle in a game that may just have finished City’s title aspirations but firmly solidifies Tottenham
- The North London Derby in 3 weeks time, is going to be massive. It could be the most important one ever.
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