Premier League 2, First Division 2016-17
          City Development Stadium, Manchester 
             Friday 13th January 2017, 7pm.

               MANCHESTER    v     SPURS
                  CITY
               (All Blue)       (All Yellow)
                 4-2-3-1           4-2-3-1

                  2(0)               2(0)

                Angus Gunn   1  Thomas Glover
            Charlie Oliver   2  Kyle Walker-Peters
       Cameron Humphreys(C)  3  Connor Ogilvie
          Tosin Adarabioyo   4  Luke Amos(C)
                Ed Francis   5  Christian Maghoma
              Saduo Diallo   6  Anton Walkes
           Demeaco Duhaney   7  Joseph Pritchard
             Denzeil Boadu   8  Charlie Owens
    Isaac Buckley-Ricketts   9  Shayon Harrison
           Paolo Fernandes  10  Shilow Tracey
              Jaden Sancho  11  Nathan Oduwa

            Rodney Kongolo  12  Cy Goddard
                 (8)66Mins
               Kjetil Haug  13  Thomas McDermott
             Will Patching  14  Joseph Muscatt
                                (8)65Mins
               Brahim Diaz  15  Zenon Stylianides
                 (9)77Mins      (7)65Mins
              Lukas Nmecha  16
                (11)61Mins

Scorers-
                 Sancho 47      Oduwa 76
              Fernandes 58      Tracey 85

Booked:-
                Duhaney 60      Walker-Peters 90+4

Coaches:-
                 S. Davies      U. Ehiogu 

Ref:– M. Coy
Assistants:- J. Madine & D. Fisher

Spurs travelled north on a cold wintry evening to play second-placed Manchester City at their lovely Development Stadium. City beat their city rivals United 3-1 in the last match while Spurs had a good 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Spurs have drawn 3-3 over the last two seasons at this mini stadium with both sides taking two goal leads before being pulled back. The only complaint I have with the City stadium is the lack of a good Wi-Fi signal which I am sure they can fix.

Spurs lined up with Glover in goal behind Maghoma and Walkes with Walker-Peters at right back and Ogilvie on the left. Amos was joined by Owens in defensive midfield. In front of them, Harrison was flanked by Pritchard on the right and Oduwa on the left in support of Tracey up front.

Spurs defended the South end in the first half which saw both sides move the ball around looking for openings against strong defences. City began with four minutes of possession before Spurs got the ball take saw Owens fire over. A free kick by Pritchard to Walker-Peters produced a cross for Tracey that won a corner. Walker-Peters had a shot turned wide for another corner before Oliver headed wide following a City corner.

Buckley-Ricketts was played in to fire wide before Ogilvie sent Oduwa away to shoot into the side netting. Oduwa was finding it hard staying on his feet under challenges from Humphreys but gradually got the better of him. Buckley-Ricketts got through again only to fire wide. Fernandes drew a save from Glover with a snap shot and was then played in on the left by Sancho but Glover was able to save.

Fernandes had another chance when played in by Oliver but Glover was equal to his effort. Harrison played in Tracey for a chance that hit the near post and when it came out Pritchard fired over. A good run and cross from Walker-Peters was fired in by Harrison on the turn. City had two more chances before the break when Sancho and the Fernandes had shots saved.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw both teams continue to play open attacking football. City went in front when Maghoma gave the ball away in midfield leaving Spurs short at the back. Buckley-Ricketts could not beat Glover but the rebound was driven home by Sancho. With the lead ontained City raised their game looking to take advantage with Duhaney playing in Buckley-Ricketts to fire wide. Sancho drew a save and Fernandes won a corner from Glovers save.

City got a second after a corner from which Fernandes played a one-two with Sancho before smashing a shot into the far corner. Spurs reacted by stepping up a gear themselves despite Nmecha firing wide soon after coming on.

Spurs made a double change with Muscatt coming on for Owens going to right back to allow Walker-Peters to move forward. Stylianides replaced Pritchard in midfield and Spurs switched to a 4-1-4-1 formation. Harrison set up Stylianides for a chance that was saved. Maghoma fired wide at the near post from a corner. Muscatt drove through the right channel before the ball went to Tracey who crossed to the far post where Oduwa arrived to slot home.

Nmecha drew a save from Glover but Harrison was played in by Stylianides for a chance saved by Gunn with Stylianides getting to the rebound but his header was also saved by the keeper. The game continued to move from end to end. Duhaney won a corner before Spurs equalised. Oduwa got to the line and crossed into a crowded box where the ball went in off Tracey's knee.

Fernandes drew another save before Walker-Peters was booked for a tackle. Walker-Peters played in Amos for a chance from distance that was saved. The last chance fell to Harrison when his effort was blocked for a corner.

This was another good draw against one of the better sides in the league that shows that Spurs are in a false position at the bottom of the table. They did move up a place with this point and play Southampton next at Stevenage. In an open game they matched the home side with skill and effort and deserved the draw.

Ray

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