Tottenham 0-1 Man City: Erling Haaland nets only goal of game as Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrog Chelsea into fourth in Premier League table
Back on the turf where the first wounds of this season were inflicted and Manchester City set about cleansing some of the scars.
It was here in Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, back in October, that Pep Guardiola’s team were beaten for the first time, and it proved to be the first of five defeats in a row.
The last of those five was a 4-0 hammering by Spurs at the Etihad Stadium. That sequence was extended to just one win in a dozen. That in turn appears to have heralded the end of an era. And perhaps a few careers.
What happens between now and the end of the season will determine the extent of the damage, but this would have been the source of relief for Pep Guardiola, three days after losing to Liverpool, the team who look set to succeed his as champions.
Erling Haaland settled it. Back in the team and back in the goals, taking him to 28 for the season in all competitions. He thought he had number 29 in stoppage time, but it was ruled out for handball as Haaland barrelled through challenges from Archie Gray and Kevin Danso with the ball bouncing around at chest height.
For an hour it was all incredibly comfortable. Like an old-school City command performance and Guardiola must have been cursing the chances missed in the first half when Spurs improved and finally found a little rhythm in possession.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game as Manchester City beat Tottenham 1-0
Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrogged Chelsea back into fourth in their hunt for Champions League
Tottenham, meanwhile, were unable to find the back of the net after beating City 4-0 in the reverse fixture
The search for an equaliser went right to the wire. Ederson made a fine late save from Son Heung-min and Pape Matar Sarr headed the final chance of the game over from close range.
When City won here in May, they were cheered on by some Spurs fans who could not bear the idea of Arsenal winning the title, which in turn prompted anger from Ange Postecoglou who complained about ‘fragile foundations’ inside the club and caused something of a stir in N17.
This time, there was no such consolation on offer as Haaland struck early to give City the lead. Back after missing two games with a knee problem, he looked hungry from the outset, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into early saves.
Out on City’s left, Jeremy Doku caused Spurs problems, up against Pedro Porro, who could not work out whether to stand off or engage his winger. Whichever Porro chose to do seemed like the wrong option as Doku skipped past or shaped crosses around him.
Djed Spence was among those given a rest by Postecoglou. Spence has been a revelation in recent weeks since finally getting a chance, mainly thanks to a defensive injury crisis after 18 months failing to convince various managers to trust him.
By the time Doku came dancing inside once again and created the opener in the 12th minute with a low cross deflected to the feet of Haaland, who finished with a simple side footer at the near post, Tottenham supporters were lamenting Spence’s absence.
Postecoglou had taken the rare opportunity to rest some of those who have played most regularly, including Son and Dejan Kulusevski. Instead, he went with youth and pace up front but his team were overrun for the first half hour.
Vicario made further saves from Doku, low from the edge of the box, and Haaland, at close range. Savinho swept in from the right, unmarked onto another Doku cross, but his effort skidded into the turf and over.
Pape Matar Sarr missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the final few moments of the game
Haaland thought he had scored a second for City, but for it to be ruled out for a handball
The forward was, though, back in the team after missing the Liverpool defeat through injury
Spurs struggled to get out of their own half at times and could have done with more from their front three, either stretching City with runs behind or holding up the ball and dragging their team up the pitch.
The home team mustered just two efforts at goal in the first half. A speculative flick from Mathys Tel in the opening minutes which did not trouble Ederson and a looping header by Danso from a set piece just before the interval, which the goalkeeper easily tipped over.
The half time whistle was met with groans, but Postecoglou resisted the urge to make substitutions at half time and City came out carrying similar levels of threat at the start of the second half.
Doku flashed one wide on an angle and Savinho saw a shot strike Danso and swerve out for a corner, before Spurs found a change of gear. Porro sparked it with a charge forward and a wonderful fizzing cross.
Wilson Odobert, who came sliding in at the back post, could not turn it on target but the moment lifted the home crowd, changed the mood and Postecoglou’s team found a brisker tempo and more intensity.
City came under sustained pressure for the first time in the game and had to defend. With spirits lifted, Postecoglou sent on the cavalry. Four changes including Spence and Brennan Johnson moved to centre forward. Guardiola responded by sending on Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, regained control and almost had a second. One was enough.
