Tottenham secure massive win at Manchester City

City lose ground on league leaders Leicester following defeat

Christian Eriksen’s 83-third minute strike moved Tottenham into second and two points from the top, and condemned Manchester City to back-to-back defeats.

It looked as though City were to take a point from this title showdown, however, Eriksen’s late strike was enough to take three points and put them back in second, following Arsenal’s victory at home over table-toppers Leicester City.

Spurs started the game brightly, but it was Sergio Aguero with the first clear chance of the match. The Argentine hooking the ball over from David Silva’s corner after 10 minutes.

Danny Rose produced a fine block to deny fellow countryman Raheem Sterling’s 12-yard volley, before Eriksen forced Joe Hart into a fine save just before the half-hour mark.

Dominant

Mauricio Pochettino’s men dominated possession in the first-half but were failing to find the net, with Eric Dier and Rose squandering chances.

But following the restart it was the visitors who got the reward for their persistence, as Mark Clattenburg controversially handed Spurs a penalty, after the ball struck Raheem Sterling under the arm inside the box.

Spurs’ top-scorer Harry Kane netted his 19th goal of the season from the spot, but Yaya Toure responded well shortly afterwards, curling the ball over the wall and back off the crossbar.

Kelechi Iheanacho has been the young spark City have needed at times this season, and Manuel Pellegrini got the rewards for his faith to bring him on, as the Nigerian netted the goal that looked like securing City a point.

Momentum

However, despite the home side gaining the momentum in the closing stages of the game, with Hugo Lloris forced into a fine save following Toure’s powerful shot, it was Spurs who had the last laugh.

Erik Lamela produced an inch-perfect pass to Eriksen, who played the ball under Hart to spark a genuine belief that they could clinch the title this campaign.

Leicester remain routed to the top of the league by two points, but after the Foxes dropped three big points at Arsenal earlier in the day, Spurs may be believing that their bitter local rivals may have done them a favour.

But Spurs boss Pochettino is refusing to get too carried away: “I don’t like to speak about the future, it is more important for us to keep working hard and to show we can win in this kind of stadium.

Belief

“The supporters are right to dream, it is one of the key of the club. They show big support from the beginning of the season and I say thank you to them. It is important for our supporters to believe.”

But despite the visitors dominating possession, Pellegrini believes his side deserved to win on an afternoon they slipped six points behind Leicester.

“Yes, disappointed because we played better than Tottenham. They did not have many chances to score until we started to take risks.” Pellegrini said.