• Date: Sun 16 March 2008
  • Venue: City of Manchester Stadium
  • Ref: Clattenburg, M
  • Attendance: 40,180
Manchester City

Manchester City

Ireland (59)

Onuoha (72)

2 - 1

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Team Lineups

Manchester City

Joe Hart
Vedran Corluka
Nedum Onuoha
Javier Garrido
Richard Dunne
Blumer Elano (Felipe Caicedo, 75)
Stephen Ireland
Gelson Fernandes
Michael Johnson, M
Alberto Nery Castillo (Darius Vassell, 71)
Mwaruwari Benjani (Sun Jihai, 88)

Tottenham Hotspur

Paul Robinson
Jonathan Woodgate
Alan Hutton
Pascal Chimbonda
Michael Dawson
Didier Zokora
Aaron Lennon (Tom Huddlestone, 46)
Jermaine Jenas
Steed Malbranque (Jamie O'Hara, 67)
Robbie Keane (Darren Bent, 67)
Dimitar Berbatov


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's all over, with Man City coming from behind to secure a valuable three points in their chase for Europe.

93

It seems as though the home side are going to do enough to win this one, which will be just their second win in nine games.

92

Caicedo is involved again, this time latching on to a Sun Jihai pass to strike the ball wide from 15 yards out.

91

Caicedo wastes plenty of time by holding the ball in the corner flag for his side, before winning a valuable throw in.

90

A rare attack from Man City, sees Vassell cut inside from the right before unleashing a powerful strike which Robinson does well to hold onto.

89
Substitution
 

Benjani is replaced by Sun Jihai in a time-wasting substitution for Man City.

88

Spurs are running out of time now, they have thrown Dawson forward into a centre forward role to try and shake things up a bit.

88

Huddlestone manages to squeeze the ball through to Berbatov in the box, but the Bulgarian can't get control of the ball and loses possession.

87

It's back to the wall stuff for Man City now, they are letting Tottenham run at them but are standing firm so far.

85

Bent finds the back of the net from O'Hara's free kick, but his effort is ruled out for offside - that may have been a bad decision from the linesman.

84

Man City have Dunne to thank again, as he intercepts Bent's header which seemed destined to find Berbatov in a goalscoring position.

83

If Sven-Goran Eriksson's men manage to see out the final few minutes, they will leap frog Blackburn and move up to 8th position.

81

O'Hara's free kick from the left hand side looking for Woodgate is headed away by City as they look to hold onto their priceless lead.

80

One of the substitutes does threaten though, as Huddlestone works his way to the edge of the box before drilling a shot along the floor into the arms of Joe Hart.

79

Juande Ramos' substitutions have to be questioned today, as they find themselves behind they would love to have Lennon and Keane back on the pitch.

78

A great chance for City to double their lead, sees the lively Vassell cross into the path of Johnson who stabs the ball just wide of the post.

77

If Man City can hold onto the three points here, it will mean they have collected 500 Premier League points in their history.

76
Substitution
 

The hard working Elano is replaced by Felipe Caicedo for the home side.

75

What an impact Vassell has had, this time he bursts down the right hand side before being tackled by Chimbonda - his introduction has certainly lifted the crowd.

74

Spurs will be angry with themselves here, they have thrown away their lead against a side who are far from at their best.

72
Goal
 

Vassell immediately makes an impact, winning a corner for his side - which Nedum Onuoha heads home from six yards to give City the lead.

71
Substitution
 

Vassell is finally introduced for the home side, replacing Castillo.

71

O'Hara's first involvement in the game is to set Jenas away, only for the former Newcastle man to be flagged offside.

69

Bent has still got a lot to prove to the Tottenham fans, the remaining 20 minutes or so present him with a great opportunity to win them over.

68
Substitution
 

It's a double substitution for Spurs, with Jamie O'Hara replacing Malbranque.

67
Substitution
 

Darren Bent is introduced to replace a very unhappy Keane - he doesn't want to come off.

67

Relentless pressure from Keane forces Hart into a poor kick out - Spurs are still looking to win this game.

66

Despite only scoring once since his arrival from Portsmouth, no one can criticise Benjani's work rate for his new side - he's a real fan's favourite.

65

A Jenas corner is emphatically headed away by Dunne for another, Jenas's second attempt is cleared by Benjani.

64

Tottenham have lost four of their last six league away games and they will be concerned things could be heading in a similar direction after that equaliser.

62

It seems that Ireland was all set to be replaced by Darius Vassell before his goal, Sven-Goran Eriksson has put the change on hokd for now though.

61

That goal ends something of a problem for City, it's their first Premier League goal in four games.

59
Goal
 

Man City equalise through Ireland, who manages to get on the end of Elano's header to tap into the corner of the goal.

58

Sloppy play from Jenas and Hutton concedes a corner, which Elano takes into the path of Dunne who fails to find the target with his effort.

57

Excellent skill from Malbranque helps him find Jenas on the right hand side, who sees his pass struck by Huddlestone straight to the keeper.

55

As Man City push forward, you can see Tottenham catching them on the break and finding a second goal. Fair play to City for going for it though.

53

Best chance of the game for Man City falls to Castillo five yards from goal, but he takes too long getting his shot away and his eventual effort is saved by Robinson.

53

Whenever Man City win the ball, they are managing to give it straight back to the away side, much to the crowd's frustration.

51

Another chance for City straight away, with Stephen Ireland setting Benjani away. The shot is crucially blocked by Woodgate though, excellent defending.

50

Elano has a great chance to put through Benjani, but somehow the Brazilian manages to lose the ball and the attack breaks down.

49

Tottenham have started this half very much likey they did the first - on top. Several short passes are brought to an end when Chimbonda's cross is collected by Hart in the Man City goal.

48

Hutton wins an early second half corner for Spurs, which Jenas takes. It is easily cleared by City though.

47

With Tottenham leading at the break, it is worth noting that of the 16 games they have taken the lead they have gone on to win 9 of them.

46
Substitution
 

Spurs make a half time substitution with Lenno being replaced by Tom Huddlestone.

Second half
 

The second half is underway, with Man City looking to get themselves back in the game as soon as possible.

Half time
 

It's half time with Keane's strike seperating the two sides.

45

Castillo has a chance to level things up for Man City before half time, but just as he is about to pull the trigger, Chimbonda intervenes and clears the danger.

44

Lennon is involved again, this time emerging from the centre of midfield before firing the ball wide of the post - that was never going to test Hart.

43

Lennon's trickery helps him find Keane, but the striker runs into trouble in the shape of Dunne and loses the ball.

42

An Elano corner is the result of another City attack, which Dunne rises to header the ball wide of the post - the centre back is still awaiting his first strike of the season.

41

As we move into the last five minutes of the half, Juande Ramos will be happy to get his side in at the break ahead, as Man City are finally starting to play well.

39

Robinson is tested for the first time in the game, diving to his right to save Elano's powerful left footed shot - maybe going behind has kicked the home side into gear.

38

Jenas's ball to Steed Malbranque launches another Tottenham attack, but Keane's through ball just avades Berbatov. They have a great understanding up front.

36

Nery Castillo almost does get them back into it, latching onto Johnson's pass, the Mexican's shot is hit wide of the post from close range.

35

Spurs are growing in confidence and the home crowd are getting restless, as things stand you can't see Man City getting back into the game.

34

Corluka has to take the blame for that goal, he lost the ball to Chimbonda who set up the goal. It was a great finish from Keane though who still had work to do.

32
Goal
 

Tottenham take the lead after Keane converts Chimbonda's pass into the roof of the net.

31

Man City have began to get themselves into the game, but Robinson is yet to make a save and they will want to change that as soon as possible.

29

The ball then falls to Elano, who sees his shot blocked on the line by the busy Dawson. That's the closest the home side have come to opening the scoring.

28

The Man City players appeal for a penalty as Johnson's shot from inside the area seems to strike Michael Dawson's hand.

27

Lennon's cross aiming for Keane eventually falls to Hutton, but his shot is blocked superby by Richard Dunne. Hutton came from nowhere there.

25

Castillo beats Woodgate for pace before laying to ball back to Johnson who can't beat Chimbonda with his cross. They need to improve their final ball into the box.

24

Free kick for Spurs taken by Jenas, is missed by Hart and falls to Berbatov who sees his shot miss the target. Hart was lucky his mistake didn't cost his side.

23

Nice flick from Elano sets up a rare Man City attack, but Tottenham's solid defence stands firm once again and Paul Robinson remains a spectator in the Spurs goal.

21

Despite their post-christmas slump in form, Man City have already gathered more points than they did in the whole of last season, highlighting their improvement under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

19

Lennon gives the ball away too easily in the middle of the park, but equally sloppy play from the home side means they can't capitalise on the mistake with Chimbonda clearing the danger.

18

Spurs are having to be patient with their passing as Man City are happy letting them having the ball in their own half.

16

Juande Ramos will probably be the happier of the two managers so far - his side haven't produced a great deal but have dominated possession.

15

One of Manchester City's main problems this season has been scoring goals, represented by the fact that Elano with just five league goals is their top scorer.

14

The away side threaten again, with Hutton producing a decent through ball into the path of Keane, who is only prevented by good goalkeeping from Hart who smothers the ball.

12

Some nice play from Spurs involving Berbatov, Lennon and Keane results in Jenas blasting a shot over the bar from 25 yards. Good play from the away side though.

10

Benjani does well down the right hand side, beating Pascal Chimbonda before producing a menacing cross which Hutton again manages to clear with Michael Johnson lurking.

8

Dimitar Berbatov wins a suspect free kick for the away side, which Jermaine Jenas overhits straight into the hands of Joe Hart.

7

Man City's first corner of the game is taken by Blumer Elano and seems destined to reach Vedran Corluka before Hutton's excellent intervention.

6

It's been a decent start to the game with both sides playing good passing football, let's hope we have some goals soon as well.

4

Robbie Keane leads a Tottenham counter attack, the striker exchanges a one-two with Alan Hutton before attempting to squeeze the ball into the bottom corner of the net. He failed to find the target though and the attack breaks down.

3

One thing that has let Tottenham down this season is their away form, they have only won twice in the league away from White Hart Lane.

2

Impressive run from Nery Castillo launches Manchester City's attack, but Benjani Mwaruwari's cross is cut out well by Jonathan Woodgate.

1

Tottenham have a fantastic recent record against Manchester City, if they win today it will be the fourth season in a row that they have beaten them.

Kickoff
 

Underway at Eastlands with Manchester City looking to continue their impressive home record against a Tottenham side aiming to bounce back from Thursday's Uefa Cup exit.