Hits and misses for Spurs

Monday, 23/01/2012

by James Willis, Shoot's Tottenham blogger

Tottenham fans arrived at the Etihad stadium full of hope on Sunday, only to leave a matter of hours later feeling well and truly hard done by.

For once, it wasn't a Champions League position at stake, but this time the match looked to have big implications in the title race.

Although Spurs were still a long shot for the title, many pundits, fans and bloggers had included them in the race for top spot with the two Manchester clubs.

With Spurs sitting in third position in the league and no too far behind either of their nearby rivals, the game would have a big impact on the table.

The first half was largely spent with both teams feeling the game out, probing the opposition for weaknesses, waiting for their moment to strike.

Those moments didn't come until the second half when Manchester City made the first breakthrough, thanks to none other than Samir Nasri.

It almost had to be a former Arsenal player to open the scoring against Spurs, just to add to the intensity of the fixture.

Although Spurs looked strong enough to get back into the game, it only took three more minutes for Manchester City to hit the back of the net again though, this time thanks to Joleon Lescott.

A 2-0 lead against a team that hasn't dropped a single point at home this season may seem unassailable to some, but Tottenham weren't going to lose hope.

Just one minute after Lescott's goal, Jermain Defoe forced his way through the City defence to pull a goal back for Spurs.

From that moment on, it seemed like the tide was turning, everything was going in Tottenham's favour. It took just five more minutes for Gareth Bale to receive a pass on the edge of the City area, before curling it in to the top of the net with his first touch.

Tottenham had a chance to clinch the win before the final whistle when Gareth Bale once again went marching free, before sending a low cross right into Defoe's path with only an open goal in front of him.

Tottenham fans could hardly believe it when the pacey England striker failed to make connection with the ball and had to watch it fall wide of the goal.

That seemed to be the final good chance of the game until Ledley King, usually Spurs Mr. Reliable, brought down Mario Balotelli in the penalty area in the final minute of stoppage time, leaving Spurs fans having to watch the Italian tuck away a late winner from the penalty spot.

There was no lack of controversy though as Balotelli could easily have been sent off not too long before for a subtle stamp on Scott Parker's head.

Regardless, the team took the result in their stride and despite significant disappointment, they now look set to pick themselves up in time for Friday night's FA Cup fourth round clash against Watford.

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