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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: White Hart Lane
  • Attendance: 35646
  • Referee: Halsey, M

Live Commentary

90 mins

The full time whistle goes and brings to an end a frantic final 15 minutes of the game. Spurs deserved their late winner but it's a bad away day for Man City, who also had Ireland sent off for a nasty tackle on Lee.

90 mins

Defoe almost gets a second but his shot is punched away by Isaksson.

90 mins

Tainio comes on for Berbatov. The Bulgarian's had a good game.

89 mins

Berbatov races onto a ball over the Man City defence - but he's offside.

86 mins

Referee Mark Halsey must be getting cramp in his hand - it's Jenas who goes into the book this time.

85 mins

It's Defoe's turn to pick up a booking for kicking the ball away at a Man City free kick.

82 mins

Sven-Goran Eriksson reacts quickly to going behind by bringing on Geovanni for Vassell.

82 mins

Defoe tucks away Malbranque's cross shot after the ball rebounded off the post and into the striker's path.

81 mins

Fernandes is booked for complaining about Ireland's dismissal.

81 mins

Mark Halsey does send off a Man City player - but it's Ireland not Garrido for a two-footed lunge on Lee.

79 mins

Garrido is lucky not to get his marching orders after a bad challenge on Defoe. The Man City full back has already been booked but ref Halsey just awards a free kick to Spurs.

77 mins

Defoe comes on for Bent - the former Charlton striker's miserable Spurs career continues. He missed two good chances in the first half.

75 mins

Dunne is booked for a late hack at Zokora.

73 mins

Lovely build up play by Spurs' Prince Boateng and Zokora. The pair combine well to release Jenas but the midfielder leans back and sends his shot high over the bar.

72 mins

Kaboul comes back on but he's not endeared himself to home supporters.

70 mins

Spurs are playing with ten man as Kaboul is off the field changing his boots.

67 mins

Lennon looks like he might be carrying a knock and is replaced by Prince Boateng

65 mins

Petrov sends a dipping 30 yard left-foot drive just wide of the target.

64 mins

Spurs are all over the place - City's equaliser has shattered their confidence. It looks like Juande Ramos is ready to bring on Kevin-Prince Boateng.

62 mins

Man City have got their tails up now and Kaboul only just clears from Vassell who had beaten three Spurs defenders on his way to goal.

60 mins

No chance for Robinson as sub Bianchi heads home from Petrov's corner.

58 mins

Petrov tries to bring Man City back into the game with a snapshot but Chimbonda blocks the effort out for a corner.

57 mins

Sven-Goran Eriksson decides to bring youngster Etuhu off for the more experienced Bianchi. It's also an attack move by the former England manager.

54 mins

Brilliant save by Isaksson who flings himself to his right to push out Berbatov's shot on the turn.

52 mins

First chance for Man City but Jenas just manages to rob Ireland as the midfielder steadied himself for a shot 8 yards out.

50 mins

Man City are living dangerously with some of their defending. Lennon is the latest to be brought down on the edge of the area.

48 mins

The second 45 has begun in a more leisurely fashion after a frantic first half.

46 mins

The second half gets underway amidst suggestions Chimbonda was offside when he scored. TV replays aren't conclusive.

45 mins

Spurs take a late but deserved first half lead through Chimbonda's goal in an end-to-end tussle. Bent had two good chances for the home side while Man City have been limited to long range efforts.

44 mins

The deadlock is finally broken as Lennon's free kick into the Man City box is flicked on by Berbatov for Chimbonda to prod home.

43 mins

Spurs fans scream for a freekick on the edge of the Man City box after Richards tripped Bent - but ref Halsey waves play on.

41 mins

Etuhu turns Lee inside and out but his ball in is headed clear by Kaboul. Perhaps the centre back should stick to defending.

40 mins

More groans from the Spurs faithful as Kaboul over hits another angled pass.

38 mins

Johnson tries his luck from 20 yards out but Dawson does well to get across and block the effort.

36 mins

Berbatov almost wriggles free with a lovely turn but Dunne stays on his feet and clears the danger.

33 mins

Lennon and Richards have sprinting contest but although the impish Spurs winger beats his man, his cross is headed clear by Corluka.

31 mins

Kaboul does well to clear from Ireland who was through on goal. The centre half isn't a crowd favourite but he's playing well today.

29 mins

The game settles down after a frantic start. It's been more like a cup tie than a league match so far.

26 mins

And City are straight on the counter attack but Etuhu's effort goes harmlessly into the side netting.

26 mins

Jenas makes a lung busting run from his own penalty area but his final shot is easily gathered by Isaksson.

24 mins

Petrov smashes a 25 yard free kick straight at the Spurs wall.

22 mins

Kaboul steps out of defence to try and make a clever pass but his effort is way over hit. Goal kick to Man City.

20 mins

Bent should have made Isaksson work but the Spurs hitman blazes an angled drive over the bar.

19 mins

Lennon's blue boots must have dazzled Garrido, who brings down the Spurs winger and is the first into ref Halsey's book.

18 mins

Berbatov is in the mood today - another great pass from the Bulgarian finds Malbranque but his shot is deflected wide for a corner. Good move.

16 mins

It's end-to-end stuff as Man City now get a chance to take the lead - but Petrov blazes over.

14 mins

First real chance of the game as Berbatov releases Bent with a clever pass but Isaksson comes off his line to smother the ball.

12 mins

Petrov beats Chimbonda in a one-on-one but he can't find Vassell with his pass.

10 mins

Lee whips a swinging delivery across the Man City box but it just eludes Bent.

8 mins

A cheer goes around White Hart Lane as news of Middlesbrough's second goal against rivals Arsenal is flashed on the big screen.

5 mins

Ireland goes on a mazy run but gets disposed by Zokora who releases Bent but the £16.5m striker can't collect.

3 mins

Petrov puts over a great cross. Lee hesitated to clear but just got in ahead of Vassell to prod the ball out for a corner.

2 mins

Referee Mark Halsey gets the game underway and Man City go straight on the attack.

0 mins

Manchester City midfielder Elano again misses out with a hamstring injury but Michael Johnson returns to the starting line up.

0 mins

For Spurs, striker Darren Bent comes in for the suspended Robbie Keane while Younes Kaboul starts at centre back.

Match Report

Tottenham anxiously await the return to competitive football of inspirational centre-back Ledley King as they prepare for this weekend's tough home tie against fifth-placed Manchester City.

Having conceded 28 goals in 15 league games this season - the fourth worst defensive record in the Premiership - the eventual return of King can't be downplayed.

Despite his importance, King and manager Juande Ramos insist that the England international won't be rushed back into the first team.

"I am now just thinking about trying to get as many minutes under my belt as I can before trying to get back into the first-team squad," King explained after playing for the reserves on Tuesday.

Ramos also confirmed that King's return will be a long-term one, saying: "It's a slow recovery."

Spurs' defence continues to look patched up as they wait for King, with Gareth Bale, Anthony Gardner and Ricardo Rocha all likely to be out for this weekend.

This could leave Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul to continue their shaky central defensive pairing, with Lee Young-Pyo and Pascal Chimbonda filling out the back four.

Their options in attack have been limited with the news that captain Robbie Keane will remain banned for three matches.

The Irishman was sent off in the 3-2 defeat by Birmingham last weekend and, despite a confident appeal from Spurs, he will be out until the December 22 derby against Arsenal.

City fans would do well to ignore recent fixtures between the two sides - Spurs have won six games in a row, including two 2-1 wins last term.

They could also be without their star midfielder Elano who has a hamstring problem, although some long-term absentees have returned to training.

"Darius Vassell, Emile Mpenza, and Michael Johnson all trained but we must wait another couple of days to see if Elano will make it or not," manager Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted earlier in week.

Eriksson is confident that City can function without the creative midfielder and admitted that his absence is a good test for the squad.

The former England boss said: "We have a lot of other good players and we cannot afford to stand or fall by whether Elano is there."

Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester City

Corners

2 6

Fouls

7 13

Goal attempts

12 7

Shots off target

3 5

Offsides

3 0

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