overall.
The third meeting of Tottenham and Man City, the space of just over a week, ended in a victory for the hosts but another good performance from Spurs, who deserved more from the game.
This was the sturdy defensive performance of the three Champions League games up until this last one. The two against Dortmund and the first leg of the City tie. With just one error, letting Aguero and Foden get so free in the box, for the only score of the game, just five minutes in.
It was a header from a few feet out, the fact that Foden scored it meant it was met with a Raheem Sterling level of hyperbole. We’ll see, I mean after he scored they put up the two players that have score in the PL when younger than Foden. Where are Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge now? The former is averaging a game a season over the last three seasons at Villa and those three games came three seasons ago.
Spurs could have opened the scoring before that after play that was reminiscent of Wednesday, as City, in the shape of Stones, coughed up the ball very easily passing it to Moura, it bounced off him to Eriksen who played the ball through to Son. One gloriously fast step over and Son had gained a huge amount of space from the suckered Stones. In a similar position on Wednesday, Son went for the far post, his shot just curling away from goal. This time he went near post but the keeper, who was pretty much the man of the match, made the save.
And that was how it went for Spurs attacking. They had good chances but found the keeper, mainly due to taking that extra touch. Son, Eriksen, Moura. Last week Moura hit his shots early, didn’t give the keeper time. This game, that extra touch meant Ederson was on ’em before they could get the ball past him.
It was a much changed Spurs team, unlike City -so changed the lesser spotted Vincent Janssen was on the bench – and they controlled the home side. Yes City had all the ball and yes Gazzaniga – who was in for the injured Lloris – had a save or two to make, one excellent one from Sterling, with his foot but most of it wasn’t stuff that should have troubled him. Sterling was quiet, kept quiet by an excellent display by Foyth at right-back. Silva B was their only real outlet.
He was put in his place by Dele…
https://twitter.com/SteveHaylesALAW/status/1119572538458353664
Who indulged in some classic Dele…
Someone stop Dele Alli immediately pic.twitter.com/a9iDwdBoss
— fan account (@CIinicalTorress) April 20, 2019
Like Poch, you’re disappointed with the result – it’s five straight away defeats in the league now, the most since 2004 apparently, racking up as many losses now this season as the last two combined – but the performance is one that will win games. Just need to be clinical, quicker, when you have those chances. Take those chances and you’re walking away from City overjoyed again. While the hosts are looking like they’re gonna bottle the league. Been saying for a few weeks they’ve been getting away with it but then so have the scouse mob.
Spurs got lucky in that the defeat hasn’t been fully punished, with Man united and Woolwich being embarrassed on Sunday.