Spurs on the spot to sting City

City suffered a second consecutive Premier League defeat as Tottenham broke Blue

hearts at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs took the lead in controversial fashion through Harry Kane´s penalty, and

although substitute Kelechi Iheanacho drew City level with a clinical strike, Christian

Eriksen´s calm finish late on won the points.

A major talking point from the game will doubtless be Spurs’ first goal, with referee

Mark Clattenburg pointing to the spot after Raheem Sterling charged down Danny

Rose´s cross.

Handball was the decision - despite Sterling´s protestations that the ball had struck his

back - and Kane was in no mood for mercy, dispatching his 16th league goal of the

season.

The one bright spot for City was skipper Vincent Kompany, who came through the

game unscathed and added undoubted steel to City´s play despite the final result.

The Blues will surely need their skipper during the run-in. City trail leaders Leicester

by six points, and today’s opponents by four.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini made three changes to the side that lost against Leicester, with

Kompany back for the first time since Boxing Day, and Gael Clichy and Fernando

coming in for Martin Demichelis, Aleks Kolarov and Fabian Delph.

A youthful looking bench contained Manu and Aleix Garcia, Iheanacho and Bersant

Celina, and City started the contest hungrily, with Aguero and Toure looking lively

early on.

Kompany was snapping into tackles and the team looked desperate to atone for last

week’s reverse against Leicester.

Aguero hooked one left-footed effort over in that bright start, before Sterling crashed

a volleyed effort at Rose from close range leaving the Spurs man floored.

Kompany was barking out orders from central defence, and he needed to as Spurs

fought their way back into the contest.

Rose was providing a threat down City´s right flank, while midfielder Heung-Min Son

was dropping into space to link the play effectively.

City keeper Joe Hart was called into action just before the half hour mark, parrying

Eriksen´s strike away, while shortly after Eric Dier blasted a shot high over the bar.

City regained their composure as the half wore on, with Toure, in a more advanced

midfield position, linking well with Toure but shortly after the restart they fell behind.

Sterling turned and jumped as Rose sent in the cross, and there was a moment of

confusion before it became clear Clattenburg had awarded the penalty.

Kane sent it straight down the middle and Spurs were ahead, much to the ire of the

majority of the 54,551 crowd.

City responded, with Fernandinho heading narrowly over and then Yaya Toure´s free-

kick thudding against the crossbar.

Aguero was next to threaten, raiding down the right only to be well blocked by Toby

Alderweireld.

Pellegrini sent on strike starlet Iheancho, and the young Nigerian produced within

minutes.

Clichy raced down the right, exchanged precise passes with David Silva, before

pulling the ball back for Iheancho to crash the ball into the top corner and send the

home fans wild.

At that point a home win seemed the more likely result, but Spurs proved just why

they are in the thick of the title race by finding the winner.

Substitute Erik Lamela broke through the middle and found Eriksen, who calmly

slotted the ball past Hart.

City threw everyone forward to find another leveller but, despite a desperate effort by

Silva deep into injury time, Spurs held on.

MATCH DETAILS:

Manchester City (1): Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy (Kolarov, 75),

Fernandinho, Fernando (Iheanacho, 66), Silva, Toure, Sterling, Aguero

Spurs (2): Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dembele, Dier, Eriksen,

Alli (Lamela, 81), Son (Carroll, 72), Kane (Chadli, 89)

Goals: Kane 53, Ihenacho 74, Eriksen 83

Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Bookings: Dier, Wimmer, Carroll, Kompany