BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY MAY 3RD, 2015
(4 pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0) MANCHESTER CITY 1(1)

Man City scorer:-
Aguero, 29

Attendance:- 35,784

Referee:- Andre Marriner
Assistants:- S. Ledger & M. Perry
Fourth official:- N. Swarbrick

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.); Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Mason (sub Paulinho, 70), Bentaleb; Lamela, Eriksen (sub Soldado, 59), Chadli (sub Adebayor, 84); Kane

Subs not used:- Vorm; Yedlin, Chiriches; Stambouli

Booked:- Bentaleb, Mason (foul on Fernandhino), Kane (foul on Silva)

Man City (4-2-3-1):- Hart (Capt.); Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; Milner, Lampard (sub Nasri, 73) sub Bony, 76), Silva; Aguero (sub Boyata, 89)

Subs not used:- Caballero; Sagna, Clichy; Dzeko

Booked:- Milner (foul on Rose), Zabaleta (foul on Chadli), Kolarov (foul on Lamela), Silva (foul on Paulinho)

That Kun Aguero won it!

There was no shame in defeat for Spurs today. They started very, very well, creating several decent scoring chances, having City on the back foot. In the 29th minute, they fell to a sucker punch, as Hart threw the ball clear from a Spurs corner, Silva latched onto the ball, and teed up Kun Aguero as he raced into the right side of the Spurs are, beating Lloris with a fierce shot across his bows.

City never let go, of course. They were missing key players such as club captain Vincent Kompany, and midfield dynamo Yaya Toure, but in Aguero and Silva, City have two genuine world class players, surrounded by a more than average degree of competence. Joe Hart was also called upon to make several excellent saves, particularly from Kane, Paulinho and Lamela in the second half.

Both teams were captained by their goalkeepers, with Hart clad in bright yellow, and Lloris in a fetching lilac jersey. City kicked off in the sunshine, playing towards the Paxton Road stand.

Spurs had half a chance after one minute, when from a throw on the left in their own half, Chadli broke down the left channel, and crossed to Eriksen, whose effort forced a corner. From the corner, Eric Dier, again playing at right back, headed outside Hart's left-hand post.

Spurs were pressing high, and Ryan Mason sent a good ball to Lamela, who quickly sent it on to Harry Kane, who hit a right footed shot wide across the goalmouth. Kane was in direct competition with Aguero for the Premier League golden boot, but Aguero has slipped a further goal ahead today.

Following a Man City corner, and a punch out by Lloris, Kolarov hit a deep cross from the left, and Aguero smacked his shot over the bar. Milner got the better of Danny Rose as he entered the Spurs area, hitting a powerful cross, which Lloris saved, but could not hold. Another City corner ensued, as did another Lloris slapped clearance. Lampard seized the chance to shoot, but was off target.

Danny Rose cleared from his half. Kane challenged for the ball, and Lamela got an important foot in to give Kane another shot on goal. This one was from the left side, but again passed outside the far post.

Another great Spurs build-up finished with Dier's cross, met by Kane at the near post and glanced over goal with a flicked effort. Mason, Lamela and Eriksen were all contributing to the Spurs attacks. Bentaleb was also prominent, winning important midfield challenges.

There was panic for Spurs when Lloris mis-judged a long ball, which went over his head. Lloris had come out too far, and was outside his area. It was Fazio versus Ageuro inside the box, and the Argentine went down under Fazio's close attention, but referee Andre Marriner dismissed Ageuro's claims. I understand that after three replays, the TV observers decreed that it was a penalty.

Spurs' width currently comes from the advances of Dier and Rose. Another Dier cross gave Lamela a battle to try and secure the ball, which he lost on this occasion. A deep cross by Danny Rose led to an effort beyond the back post by Dier, which won another corner. After this corner, from the right, Bentaleb had a header go wide at the back post. It was after this Spurs attack that City broke out and Aguero scored with a vengeance.

Bentaleb had another chance from a corner, which had been won by Kane, but this header went wide across the goal. Fernandinho had a couple of half-chances in the first half. The first was deflected by Danny Rose for a corner. Another was simply off target. In the second half Fernandinho hit an attempted pass to the wing out of play midway between goal and the corner.

Lloris was down comfortably for a Silva effort. Harry Kane had a good effort saved by Hart, and after City failed to clear their lines, Milner brought down Danny Rose to get the first yellow card of the day. Fernandinho's second chance came after another City break by Aguero. He fed the ball to Silva on the left, and it was his final pass to Fernandinho.

Ryan Mason had an excellent chance to score when he collected Kane's pass inside the area on the left. Mason desperately tried to find room to shoot, but left it too long, allowing Hart to close him down and save.

That first half had been quite open and entertaining. The early phases of the second half were more clinical, with City closing Spurs down effectively, and generally happy to make sure they held their lead.

Pochettino's first substitution was Soldado for Eriksen. Kane had an excellent opportunity as he raced into the box to reach Dier's ball. Harry had a defender close at hand, and Spurs once again struggled to get an early shot on goal. Hart made the save for a corner.

At the other end, Aguero cut into the right of the area, and had a one-two with Fernandinho, before hitting his attempt just the wrong side of Lloris's right post. Dier hit another low ball into the City area, and Soldado just failed to make sufficient contact.

After 70 minutes, a poor Spurs clearance fell to the feet of Aleksandar Kolarov, who hit a really powerful shot which Lloris did well to push over the bar.

There was a four minute cameo appearance by former Arsenal player Samir Nasri, who entered the field of play in the 72nd minute, and after a couple of touches, he collapsed in a heap in the centre circle, having to be replaced by Wilfried Bony, who is not getting as much football for City as he did with Swansea. Needless to say, Nasri got a negative send-off from the Spurs fans, as he hobbled off.

Spurs substitute Paulinho got into a dangerous position on the left after Lamela's pass, and fed Kane, who teed up Soldado, whose shot was blocked. Paulinho was called offside when he headed a Lamela free kick just the wrong side of the post. Lamela again had the final pass before Paulinho's shot was saved well by Hart in the centre of goal.

Adebayor actually got cheered on by the home crowd when he replaced Chadli, but he was being booed by City fans. Bony had a shot go wide, after Milner's cross. City were now playing down the clock, as Aguero took an age to go off when he was replaced by an extra defender - Boyata. You have to give credit to Spurs for forcing that strategy.

As we entered 5 minutes of added time, Adebayor and Rose combined on the left, before Rose cross, and Lamela's powerful header required another great save by Hart, when he pushed the ball over his bar.

City have strengthened their position in the top four, and will be seeking a top three place to gain direct access to the group stage of the Champions League. They have had to relinquish to title of Premier League Champions today to Chelsea, who beat Palace 1-0 with a dodgy penalty won by PFA player of the year Hazard, who then took a weak penalty, but scored from the rebound.

As for Spurs, they showed plenty of desire today, suggesting they will do their best to hold onto a place in The Europa League. They do remain above Southampton, but have a tough trip to Stoke next week.

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