There were chances galore at either end in a game that never let up from start to finish, but it was Sergio Aguero’s first-half goal that proved enough to give the buoyant Blues all three points.
The victory was City’s third win on the bounce and it underlined the character of the dethroned champions, particularly as a title party was just getting underway just a few miles away at Stamford Bridge.
United’s surprise defeat to West Brom meant City went into this game knowing seven points from the final four matches would almost certainly guarantee a top three finish – and automatic progress to the Champions League group stage.
Standing in the Blues’ way were a Spurs side who knew a victory would leave them just four points behind United and still in with a sniff of fourth spot themselves.
Manuel Pellegrini, without injured duo Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, recalled James Milner and Fernandinho to the starting eleven. Joe Hart took the captain’s armband in the absence of Yaya and Kompany.
The hosts had shipped five goals in two of City’s last three visits and their record of 49 Premier League goals conceded to date was on par with the relegation strugglers QPR, Newcastle, Sunderland, Leicester and Burnley
...Spurs v City...
With White Hart Lane bathed in sunshine, the Blues were looking for a positive start as they looked to end a run of five defeats on the road in all competitions but the hosts came close to opening the scoring in the opening three minutes.
Aleks Kolarov’s superb interception resulted in a corner that Eric Dier headed inches wide from point-blank range and the Harry Kane whistled a shot inches wide a minute later with the Blues looking a little dazed and generally second-best in every department.
But City settled down having survived the initial onslaught and started to create chances with Aguero’s sumptuous volley whistling a foot or so wide from Kolarov’s deep cross and then Frank Lampard shot over from 10 yards as the open nature of the game continued.
City had strong appeals for a penalty after 23 minutes as Milner’s long ball was missed by Hugo Lloris as he came out to clear and as Aguero chased the ball into the box, he was clipped by Fazio with an empty net beckoning.
Replays proved he’d been fouled and while a red card and spot-kick should have followed, instead referee Andre Marriner waved play on.
Justice was done five minutes later when the Blues finally opened the scoring with a counter-attack goal that started with Hart’s excellent long throw to David Silva and the Spaniard drove forward before slipping the ball into the path of Aguero who thumped home his 28th of the campaign.
The move had taken no more than a matter of seconds and it was City at their very best and Fernandinho’s low shot almost doubled the lead three minutes later as Pellegrini’s men warmed to the task.
City again came close to scoring after 42 minutes when Aguero broke forward and fed Silva in the Spurs box, but his pass to Fernandinho saw the Brazilian drag his shot well wide.
The half ended with Ryan Mason finding himself with just Hart to beat from Harry Kane’s cross but he dithered long enough for Hart to smother the attempt and ensure the Blues went into the break with their lead intact
...Spurs v City...
It was as you were after the break with both teams playing expansive, attacking football and as the game passed the hour-mark, the only surprise was that there had been only one goal scored and only terrific work by Hart kept Kane out on 61 minutes after he’d wrestled clear of Martin Demichelis.
Moments later Aguero came close to scoring again as he worked an opportunity for himself, playing a one-two with Fernandinho before taking the ball away from Lloris and volleying the ball wide – it would have been quite a goal!
And Kolarov’s howitzer from 30-yards ten minutes later forced Lloris into a fine save as City chased the goal that would surely seal all three points.
Samir Nasri appeared from the bench shortly after but appeared to injure his groin inside a minute and in turn, had to be replaced by Wilfried Bony.
The frenetic pace of the game wouldn’t let up and Kolarov made a superb block from Roberto Soldado’s shot and moments after that, Zabaleta went down in the box under a crunching challenge from Danny Rose – it looked clumsy at best and his glance at the ref suggested the Spurs man was expecting the worst.
Hart again saved well from Paulinho and Erik Lamela in the closing staged as the Blues clung on at times, but had the hosts found a way through, it would have been harsh on City who had done more than enough to deserve all three points.
