PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 2024
(5.30PM)
MANCHESTER CITY 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4(2)

Spurs scorers:-
Maddison, 13, 20
Pedro Porro, 52
Johnson, 90(+3)

Attendance:- 52,478

Referee:- John Brooks
Assistants:- Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth official:- Craig Pawson
VAR:- Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR:- Nick Greenhalgh

Teams:-
Man City (4-2-3-1):- 31. Ederson; 2. Walker (Capt.), 5. Stones (sub 6. Ake, 46), 25. Akanji, 24. Gvardiol; 82. Lewis (sub 10. Grealish, 74), 19. Gundogan; 47. Foden, 26. Savinho (sub 17. De Bruyne, 74), 20.Bernardo Silva; 9. Haaland

Subs not used:- 18. Ortega; 66. Simpson-Pusey; 87. McAtee, 56. Wright, 75. O'Reilly; 27 Nunes

Booked:- Lewis (foul on Maddison), Bernardo Silva (foul on Maddison), De Bruyne (unsporting conduct), Akanji (foul on Bergvall)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 6. Dragusin, 33. Davies, 13. Udogie (sub 24. Spence, 90); 29. Sarr (sub 15. Bergvall, 90), 8. Bissouma; 21. Kulusevksi, 10.Maddison (sub 16. Werner, 89), 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 22. Johnson, 63); 19. Solanke
(Armband to Maddison, then Vicario)

Subs not used:- 20. Forster; 79. Hardy; 14. Gray, 64. Olusesi; 42. Lankshear,

Booked:- Bissouma (foul on Foden), Sarr (Unsporting conduct)

Birthday wizardry by James Maddison

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture.

When I wrote a pessimistic preview and predicted a 3-1 defeat, dear reader, I cannot claim to have used reverse psychology deliberately. In truth very few pundits and travelling fans gave any hope for Spurs, especially after their home defeat to Ipswich two weeks ago.

As you know, we've had some excellent days at The Etihad such as May 2010 and the 2019 Champions League quarter-final. This result will go down in the annals of Spurs and arguably football history. On his 28th birthday, James Maddison set us on the way to an amazing and emphatic victory with two brilliant first half goals. The score was doubled in the second half by Pedro Porro and late substitute Brennan Johnson, who is our top scorer with five league goals, plus three in other competitions.

Pep Guardiola (who this week signed up for an additional two years with City) has never lost to any other team as often as he has to Spurs. Spurs began this current run of five consecutive defeats with their league cup win last month. Spurs were one of the victors the last time City lost five consecutive games in 2006. That became a run of 6 defeats. City hadn't lost at The Etihad in 52 games since 2022.

City hadn't conceded four or more goals at home since September 2020 when James Maddison scored for Leicester in a 5-2 win.

Before the game on "X", I wrote, "Looking for Omens? Craig Pawson is a late change to the published officials and is 4th official. Remember how he got upset a couple of years ago when we scored a late winner? Let's upset him again!" Omen or not, Spurs won, and how! The Etihad was visited by "Storm Bert" and also "Storm Tottenham".

With Bentancur banned, plus Romero, Van de Ven, Odobert, and Richarlison injured, Spurs were so short-handed that they included 16-year old England U-17 captain Malachi Hardy, and 17-year-old England U-18 captain on the bench. Another untried youngster - 19-year-old Maeson King also travelled with the squad. In all, there were five teenagers on our bench.

City have had their injury problems too, and Kovacic, who has been covering Rodri's position, returned this week from international duty injured. Kevin De Bruyne started on the bench, as did Jack Grealish. Another influential wingman - Doku - was absent.

This was Ange Postecoglou's 50th Premier League game in charge of Spurs, and one he'll remember always, I am sure.

Ballon D'or winner Rodri was presented to the crowd along with his trophy before kick-off. Spurs started the game and played away from their fans, who as always occupied three tiers of the stand.

Thanks to Greg Smith for this picture.

Things looked bleak after only 15 seconds when referee John Brooks adjudged Bissouma's foul on Foden to be worthy of sanction. The referee didn't show another card until the second half, despite several unworthy tackles on Maddison. Bissouma survived the remainder of the game and like all of his team-mates, performed exceedingly well.

Pep sprang a little formation surprise with Foden on the right of a midfield three behind Haaland. The City goal-machine scored three for his country last week but couldn't hit the net today.

Spurs matched the City formation with Maddison between Kulusevski and Son. The free kick following Bissouma's foul led to a chance for Akanji, which was put wide. It was a trend with City having plenty of chances, but either off target or confronted with the dogged defence of Dragusin and Davies or the sharp saves of Vicario. The whole Spurs team played their part in sturdy defence.

Left-back Gvardiol was a regular supplier of crosses from the left, but none were converted and Gvardiol was one of City's weaknesses at the back, exposed by the strength, skill and determination of Kulusevski.

Every man in the Spurs team played brilliantly, defending as a team with strength, and attacking with guile and speed. Why can't we have this every game, I hear you say.

Spurs were under the cosh for most of the first 10 minutes. Haaland headed the ball back across goal from another Gvardiol cross, and had another shot deflected wide by Ben Davies.

Spurs emerged after 9 minutes and threatened with a Son cross passing through the City area. Vicario made a great save with an outstretched foot from Savinho's shot after he had been teed up by Haaland.

Spurs pounced in the 13th minute. Dragusin sent an excellent ball down the right wing and Kulusevski was faster and stronger than Gvardiol. "Deki" cut inside and hit an excellent cross to the back post where Maddison had timed his run well to finish with a left-footed strike. Maddison has been in and out of the team this season, but Ange said he had trained hard over the international break and was one of the freshest players in the squad. James certainly proved that today, not only with his goals, but his effort and application on the pitch. He was Sky's man of the match.

City had been stunned. Foden was next to fail after a Gvardiol delivery. Spurs attacked again and Son came in from his left side before hitting a superb right-footed curler which Ederson saved to push the ball around his left post.

Son was involved when we doubled the score in the 20th minute. Maddison had the ball in the middle and fed it to Son while racing around his captain to receive the clever reverse pass. Now Maddison scored again with his left foot. The City defence, including Kyle Walker were almost statue-like in their area!

We all knew that a normal City side was capable of coming back, but that was not to be the case here. Haaland met another Gvardiol cross with his left foot but fired over. Foden hit a shot wide across the goal.

Ederson had to save sharply again when Son teed up Solanke whose shot was tipped over the bar. Vicario saved well from Savinho after another cross from the left, but he had been offside anyway. Savinho failed to connect with a free from the right of the box after Udogie had fouled Walker. Vicario held a Savinho shot after Gundogan and Haaland combined.

The Spurs keeper needed treatment after colliding with Savinho just inside his area when collecting a header back by Pedro Porro. Worryingly the Spurs number one was apparently seen limping after the game.

Slack defending by City led to another Spurs chance. Kulusevski fed Bissouma, but he fired over the target. Foden had one more chance over the target and Spurs managed their way through the three added minutes.

Guardiola replaced John Stones with Nathan Ake at half-time. Maddison was fouled by both Gundogan and Akanji but there were no cards. City became more and more frustrated. Solanke nearly met a free kick taken by Maddison.

Incredibly, Spurs went three up in the 52nd minute. This goal started deep in the Spurs half with Kulusevski's strength and skill. After advancing into the City half Dejan hit an excellent diagonal ball and Solanke took that deep in the City area before passing back for Pedro Porro who hit an unstoppable shot past Ederson. Pedro last scored on day one of the season and now has eight Premier League goals to his name.

"Storm Bert" was chucking it down now, but Spurs were winning in the rain!

A Haaland shot skimmed the bar after a poor back-pass by Sarr. This was a rare mistake in this game by the resilient Spurs side. We were heading for only our third league clean sheet of the season, after an early 4-0 win over Everton and the 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Porro blocked a shot by Gvardiol after Bernardo Silva supplied from the right. Johnson replaced Son and Maddison took the armband. Gvardiol had another chance but was off target after Savinho's cross. The left back has scored four times for City this season.

Kulusevski had a shot saved after strength by Solanke and a good pass. Lewis was next to miss the target after a Gvardiol cross. Vicario got down well to a 20-yard shot by Foden which was City's first shot of the half on target! It was time for De Bruyne and Grealish to enter the fray. De Bruyne was soon supplying a chance when Gundogan's powerful shot was well blocked by Vicario.

Vicario saved again - this time from Haaland, after another De Bruyne cross. Time was moving on, and even City could not come back. Their fans began to desert the stadium.

Johnson hit the post after a pass from Kulusevski but had been offside. Ange made three late substitutions, one of whom was Werner who passed Walker with blistering pace to set up the advancing Johnson who scored to secure this incredible 4-0 win.

Thanks to Andy Park for this picture.

The celebrations of the travelling fans were long and deserved. In that pessimistic preview I wrote that the bottom half beckoned for Spurs. With this win they moved up to sixth within touching distance of the top four and with a goal difference bettered only by top of the table Liverpool, who will also have enjoyed this result.

The Spurs players deserve a hero's welcome when we host Roma on Thursday night. I can't wait!

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. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats