- Crouch (82)
- Date:2010-05-05
- Kick-off:20:00
- Venue:City of Manchester Stadium
- Attendance:47370
- Referee:Bennett, S
Live Commentary
90mins
The whistle goes for full-time and Spurs have guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish.
90mins
Emmanuel Adebayor is offside and Spurs are in no rush to take the free-kick.
90mins
There are four minutes of injury time.
89mins
Fans are starting to leave Eastlands as Spurs are looking comfortable at the back and City are out of ideas.
88mins
Wilson Palacios comes on for Luka Modric.
86mins
City are all over the place and don't look like they will be getting back into this game.
84mins
Craig Bellamy is replaced by Roque Santa Cruz.
82mins
MAN CITY 0-1 TOTTENHAM. Kaboul's cross is deflected by Bridge and saved by Fulop but only into the path of CROUCH who heads in from five yards out.
81mins
Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Jermain Defoe.
79mins
Carlos Tevez lashes an effort goalwards but Ledley King stands firm and blocks the ball.
78mins
Peter Crouch should make it 1-0 but his shot is saved by Marton Fulop and then Jermain Defoe is penalised for handball.
76mins
Luka Modric shoots wide as play switches from end to end.
76mins
Craig Bellamy's corner isn't great but he gets another chance to send the ball in but Spurs clear and can break.
75mins
Shaun Wright-Phillips wins City a corner.
75mins
Shaun Wright-Phillips is penalised for pulling back Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
73mins
Gareth Bale's cross is too deep and finds David Bentley whose ball is easily caught by Marton Fulop.
71mins
Shaun Wright-Phillips comes on for Adam Johnson.
71mins
David Bentley replaces Aaron Lennon.
68mins
The ball goes out for another corner but Spurs aren't able to make the most of these set-pieces.
67mins
Aaron Lennon crosses towards Peter Crouch but the ball is cleared for a corner.
66mins
Benoit Assou-Ekotto goes into the book for deliberate handball.
65mins
City need to show a little more urgency and Roberto Mancini is urging his players on.
63mins
The game is opening up a little as we enter the final half hour.
61mins
Adam Johnson curls a corner into the box and Emmanuel Adebayor makes a great leap but can't get his header on target.
59mins
Tom Huddlestone is booked for his reaction to a bad challenge from Nigel de Jong.
58mins
Tom Huddlestone is fouled by a couple of City players and the Spurs bench are not happy.
56mins
Patrick Vieira comes on for Gareth Barry.
55mins
Gareth Bale finds Jermain Defoe who instinctively lets fly but the ball is somehow kept out by Marton Fulop.
53mins
Gareth Barry hobbles off the pitch and can't continue.
52mins
Aaron Lennon is on his way but can't find a team-mate and there is a break in play as Gareth Barry is down injured.
51mins
Benoit Assou-Ekotto sends an effort wide.
50mins
Gareth Barry hits a ball across goal but there's no-one in the six-yard box for City and Spurs can clear.
49mins
Craig Bellamy hits a ball over the top and Carlos Tevez is on his way but stumbles and the chance is gone.
47mins
Craig Bellamy's corner is easily cleared by Spurs who try to break but City are soon back in numbers.
47mins
Carlos Tevez mishits his shot but Spurs can't clear and City have a corner.
46mins
The second half gets underway.
45mins
Half Time: MAN CITY 0-0 TOTTENHAM. Harry Redknapp will be the happier of the two managers.
45mins
The corner comes to nothing.
45mins
Emmanuel Adebayor does well to win City a corner deep into injury time.
45mins
We're into injury time and Spurs have edged the first half but City have missed some great chances.
44mins
Carlos Tevez shoots wide as Ledley King stands his ground.
42mins
Kolo Toure has another free header from a Craig Bellamy corner but directs it straight at the keeper.
39mins
Great play from Aaron Lennon who crosses to Peter Crouch, he nods the ball down to Gareth Bale who volleys wide when he should have at least hit the target.
38mins
Emmanuel Adebayor is offside now for City.
36mins
Adam Johnson is flagged offside to the frustration of the home fans.
34mins
Kolo Toure has a free header from the corner but heads over the bar.
33mins
Gareth Barry sends in a cross which is headed on and deflected goalwards by Gareth Bale but Heurelho Gomes again makes a good save to concede a corner.
31mins
Now Pablo Zabaleta is penalised for a foul on Jermain Defoe and Spurs have a free-kick.
30mins
Younes Kaboul goes into the book for a foul on Craig Bellamy.
29mins
Now Spurs have a corner which is swung in by Gareth Bale and headed goalwards by Michael Dawson but City manage to clear.
27mins
Adam Johnson forces a great save from Heurelho Gomes after the corner was half-cleared.
27mins
Carlos Tevez takes a shot from long range which is deflected wide by Ledley King and City have a corner.
26mins
Gareth Bale takes a free-kick but it's too far ahead of Peter Crouch and Marton Fulop makes the catch.
24mins
Adam Johnson is switching from left to right and sends in a cross which is claimed by Heurelho Gomes.
23mins
Spurs are in the ascendancy and should be in front if Peter Crouch had found the target.
21mins
Gareth Bale sends in the corner and it's headed into the back of the net by Ledley King but referee Steve Bennett disallows the goal for a push.
20mins
Aaron Lennon does well against Wayne Bridge and wins Spurs a corner.
18mins
The free-kick comes to nothing but Spurs are awarded another and Gareth Bale finds Peter Crouch who heads against the post.
17mins
Spurs have a free-kick and will look to test Marton Fulop.
15mins
Emmanuel Adebayor is offside again and it's all City so far.
14mins
Luka Modric swings in the corner which is cleared but not very far and there's a bit of a scramble before City eventualy manage to get the ball away.
13mins
Spurs win a corner thanks to Gareth Bale .
12mins
Emmanuel Adebayor is flagged offside as City come forward again.
10mins
Adam Johnson swings in the corner which is cleared by the Spurs defence.
9mins
Carlos Tevez attempts a cross which is blocked and City win their first corner.
8mins
Carlos Tevez powers his way through the Spurs defence and forces Heurelho Gomes into action.
6mins
Adam Johnson curls a ball towards the near post but it's cleared by Younes Kaboul.
5mins
Craig Bellamy is down after a challenge from Younes Kaboul but looks as if he should be okay to continue.
3mins
Gareth Barry takes a first-time shot after a darting run from Craig Bellamy but it goes wide.
2mins
City are immediately on the attack and this feels like a cup match.
1mins
The game gets underway amid a terrific atmosphere at Eastlands.
0mins
The players are out in what equates to a play-off for the final Champions League spot.
0mins
Harry Redknapp brings in Aaron Lennon in for David Bentley and Peter Crouch for Roman Pavlyuchenko.
0mins
Roberto Mancini makes one change to the City starting line-up as Gareth Barry replaces Patrick Vieira.
0mins
Man City face Tottenham at 8pm on Wednesday, May 5th.
Match Preview
It's D-Day for Manchester City and Tottenham as a 38-game Premier League season effectively comes down to this one showdown at Eastlands.
Victory for either would almost guarantee them fourth place in the Premier League and a lucrative spot in next season's Champions League.
Just one point separates current incumbents Spurs from City, so this is a must-win game for both clubs at a vital point in the season.
City warmed up for this massive game with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday which ended the sixth-placed Midlands club's hopes of fourth spot.
Their attacking trio of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy were all on the mark as City followed up a meek goalless draw with Arsenal and derby defeat to Manchester United in successive weekends with a performance to silence their doubters.
Immediately afterwards, manager Roberto Mancini set his sights on Spurs and it is no surprise with rumours continuing to circle that his stay at Eastlands will last just half a season should he fail to secure Champions League football for an ambitious board.
Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira produced his best performance since joining in January and the former Arsenal skipper will be hoping to put one over Tottenham on Wednesday night.
However, Mancini is fighting the tide of a lengthy injury list with the likes of Shay Given (shoulder), Joleon Lescott (hamstring) and Martin Petrov (knee) all out and England midfielder Gareth Barry struggling to shake off a hamstring problem.
Tottenham also have a major injury concern of their own ahead of the trip to Manchester as number one goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes picked up a worrying groin knock in the closing stages of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
Youngster Ben Alnwick may have to be thrown into the fray of Spurs' biggest game in years should the Brazilian not recover in time.
Spurs though will certainly arrive in good form having defeated Arsenal and league leaders Chelsea before losing 3-1 at Manchester United ten days ago.
Most pundits had written off the chances of Harry Redknapp's side emerging from a horrendous run of fixtures still in the running for fourth place so confidence is certainly high at White Hart Lane.
Niko Kranjcar (ankle), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (broken wrist) all definitely miss out with season-ending injuries while Vedran Corluka is a doubt with a sprained ankle.
Tottenham were comfortable 3-0 winners earlier in the season after two goals from Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe separated the sides in mid-December.
The defeat at White Hart Lane was also the final straw for the City board as they sacked Mark Hughes as manager just three days later - with rumours of impending firing coming during the following 4-3 home win over Sunderland.
Spurs won both encounters between these two clubs by 2-1 scorelines last season, while both won their home game by the same margin during the 2007-08 campaign.
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Match Report
Tottenham Hotspur emerged triumphant in the decider against Manchester City for the final Champions League place after earning a 1-0 victory at Eastlands.
Peter Crouch's late goal completed a remarkable turnabout in the fortunes of Spurs who were battling relegation from the Premier League when Harry Redknapp became manager 18 months ago.
But while Spurs were jubilant, City were left crest-fallen as they must wait for another season at least before they can mix it with Europe's elite as they found that all the money in the world cannot buy success.
Spurs also maintained their remarkable hold over City as this was their 12th victory in their last 13 meetings.
Carlos Tevez made a couple of dangerous early breaks for City, forcing keeper Heurelho Gomes into one decent save.
But it was Spurs that were left cursing their luck after twice going close in quick succession to taking the lead.
Crouch headed against the upright and then Ledley King had a header ruled out for a foul, though replays suggested it was a fair leap.
Spurs were then indebted to Gomes who made two super saves to each time turn away shots from Adam Johnson while at the opposite end Gareth Bale fired narrowly wide after a Crouch knockdown.
The start to the second half was equally frenetic and City were rescued by on-loan keeper Marton Fulop who pulled off a fabulous save low to his left to keep out Jermain Defoe's goalbound shot.
Crouch had another great chance to make the vital breakthrough in the 77th minutes when Fulop somehow managed to keep out his close-range header.
It was somehow inevitable that Crouch, Spurs' most dangerous player, should have the last word as he came up with the all-important goal in the 82nd minute.
Right-back Younes Kaboul made a barn-storming run down the right and fired over a low cross which Fulop could only parry into the air to present Crouch with a relatively easy header into the roof of the net from six yards.
Manchester City Team
Tottenham Hotspur Team
Manchester City | Tottenham Hotspur |
Corners
| 9 | 8 |
Fouls
| 13 | 20 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 6 |
Offsides
| 6 | 3 |




90mins
Roman Pavlyuchenko curls an effort towards the far corner but it's well saved by Marton Fulop.