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Martin Rickett
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Man City v Tottenham, Premier League

Man City took on Tottenham in a game that was crucial for both sides’ title hopes.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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We’re underway…

Yaya Toure is lucky to get away with a bad challenge.

That’s a classic example of a foul that probably would have been a yellow later in the game.

Spurs have looked sharp in these opening stages.

They’ve found themselves in some promising positions, but haven’t created any clear-cut chances yet.

Half chance as Sterling finds space down the left. The Tottenham defender is well-positioned to clear the cross, however.

From the ensuing corner, the ball falls to Aguero, but he fails to fully get hold of the shot, and his effort goes well over.

Spurs have started this game with their usual tidy passing and intensive work off the ball.

Meanwhile, City, while they haven’t dictated the play as much, have looked threatening on the counter-attack.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Barclays Premier League - Etihad Stadium England manager Roy Hodgson (right) in the stands during the Barclays Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

Wimmer stops Yaya Toure making a run off the ball, with the referee giving a free kick as a result.

City are getting on top of this game now.

Great defending from Danny Rose, as he throws his body in front of Raheem Sterling’s shot.

Tottenham are being made to sweat at the moment.

Eriksen’s shot is parried away by Hart after good build-up play from Spurs.

It’s been an absorbing opening half an hour, with not much between the sides.

Aguero’s shot is deflected away for a corner for City’s fourth corner of the game.

For all Spurs’ possession, City look more threatening when they attack.

As if to prove my point, Dier shoots well off target as I type.

Long, slow build-up play from Tottenham eventually ends with Walker conceding possession to Sterling and giving away a free kick.

Tottenham have had 72% of the possession in the first half so far.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Barclays Premier League - Etihad Stadium Tottenham Hotspur fans display a banner about ticket prices in the stands. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Tottenham continue to dominate possession and territory without really offering much of a threat.

That said, the visitors have been impressive in quietening the home crowd.

HALF-TIME: MAN CITY 0-0 TOTTENHAM

So half-time and Pochettino will probably be the happier of the two managers after a closely fought opening 45.

For Tottenham, Christian Eriksen tested Joe Hart with a pot shot, while Danny Rose made a great block to deny Raheem Sterling, but otherwise, it’s been conspicuously quiet in terms of goalmouth action.

Spurs have had over 60% of the possession and controlled much of the match. That said, there is a liveliness about City’s attack that isn’t evident when Spurs go forward, so this game is very much in the balance with the second period to play.

Britain Soccer Premier League Spectators applaud in memory of British indie band Viola Beach whose members where killed in a car crash Saturday in Sweden. Jon Super Jon Super

The second half is underway…

Rose’s cross hits Sterling’s arm and the ref points to the spot.

That looked harsh.

Another half chance for City.

Yaya Toure’s deflected cross falls to Aguero, but he doesn’t catch it properly and balloons his attempt well over.

Man City are raging, but Tottenham won’t care.

Kane makes no mistake with the penalty — the first Premier League spot kick City have conceded for 13 months, according to Sky.

PENALTY TO TOTTENHAM!

MAN CITY 0-1 TOTTENHAM (KANE 53)

Wimmer gets booked for a bad tackle on Silva, and City get a free kick on the edge of the box. The hosts are playing with greater urgency now.

As I type, Toure’s free kick hits the bar and is then cleared.

City have really upped the tempo now and it’s a completely different game.

The hosts have Tottenham pegged back into their own half currently.

Iheanacho is coming on for City, as they look to boost their attacking threat.

Tellingly, a defensive midfielder, Fernando, makes way.

This time a handball decision goes in City’s favour to ironic cheers.

Son threatens to go through on goal, but the South Korea international is tackled and the ball deflects off the striker’s hand as it rebounds in his direction.

There is anger directed at Danny Rose, as he initially refuses to put the ball out of play with Kane down injured.

Meanwhile, Tom Carroll replaces Son Heung-min, as Tottenham make a defensive change.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Barclays Premier League - Etihad Stadium Manchester City's Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Fernando speak with referee Mark Clattenburg after they concede a first goal. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

MAN CITY 1-1 TOTTENHAM (IHEANACHO)

The substitution pays off, as Iheanacho superbly finishes from Silva’s cross.

You can’t say it hasn’t been coming, as City have been completely dominant since the Spurs goal.

Meanwhile, Kolarov replaces Clichy, as City go in search of a winner.

Toure’s powerful drive is parried away by Lloris.

All the momentum is with City now. Can Tottenham hold out?

Aguero is caught offside, but it looks a poor call judging by replays.

MAN CITY 1-2 TOTTENHAM (ERIKSEN 83)

Dele Alli, who’s had a quiet game today, is replaced by Erik Lamela.

Lamela scored in the earlier league game between these sides at White Hart Lane.

A lovely through ball from Lamela puts Eriksen through on goal, and the Danish midfielder slots home confidently on his birthday.

That’s really silenced the home support, as the visitors hit their opponents with a sucker punch.

Kane has had a quiet game, but he almost scored there, hitting a powerful strike from distance just wide.

Less than five minutes remain.

We’re set for a tense finish. City are pressing, as Tottenham tempt faith by sitting back and inviting on pressure.

Meanwhile, Nacer Chadli is replacing Harry Kane for the final few minutes.

Danger for Spurs as a cross hits Otamendi and deflects away from goal.

This is a very tense climax.

There will be four minutes of time added on…


Incredible stuff!

Lloris does really well to palm away a cross, narrowly preventing Otamendi from heading home in the process.

FULL-TIME: MAN CITY 1-2 TOTTENHAM

Wow! It’s been an excellent weekend for North London, with Arsenal and now Tottenham winning, while Man City’s title aspirations have taken another big setback, following last week’s loss to Leicester.

Spurs retain second place, but they are now just two points behind Leicester. Arsenal are behind them on goal difference only, while Man City are still six points off the lead and will be very frustrated after today’s game.

After a first half in which both sides cancelled each other out, the game came alive when a controversial penalty decision was awarded in Spurs’ favour.

City dominated thereafter, and deservedly equalised, but Tottenham then won it on the counter-attack against the run of play, as Eriksen produced a consummate finish on his birthday, following an intelligent through pass from substitute Erik Lamela.

Right, that’s all from me for now, but we’ll have more reaction to follow.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Relief for Gary Neville as he finally gets first La Liga victory on 10th attempt>

A good day for the Irish boys and the Premier League talking points>

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