Gundogan brace inspires comfortable victory over Spurs

The German scored twice for the second game in succession after Rodrigo’s penalty had given Pep Guardiola’s side a 23^rd minute lead.

It was a deserved victory against the last team to beat us, but Spurs might have taken gone in front when Harry Kane cracked the post with a 20-yard free-kick, before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s clumsy challenge on Gundogan allowed Rodrigo to convert the first penalty of his club career.

Hugo Lloris got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out and he allowed Gundogan’s toe poke to squirm under his body as the midfielder added a second four minutes after the break following good combination play with Raheem Sterling.

The in-form midfielder all but wrapped up the three points shortly after the hour mark and it came from an unlikely source in Ederson.

Spotting Gundogan’s forward run, the goalkeeper’s long punt evaded Davinson Sanchez, who was outmuscled and left on the seat of his pants before City’s No.8 fired into the bottom corner to score his 11^th goal in his last 12 Premier League games.

Jose Mourinho’s side offered little in attack, though Gareth Bale’s jinking run and shot forced a good save from Ederson, whilst Sterling would have added gloss to the scoreline in the closing minutes but for Lloris’ outstretched leg.

Challenge accepted

Guardiola had no complaints about Spurs’ 2-0 victory in November but said he wanted to see more from his players this time out and he certainly got it.

Set-pieces aside, goalmouth action was at a premium in the first half, but it was City who were on the front foot.

But for a last ditch block from Sanchez, Gundogan might have doubled our lead before the break after Sterling motored clear of Ben Davies, who struggled to contain the winger throughout the game.

Gabriel Jesus went close immediately after, clipping the top of the bar from 12-yards, but it mattered not as Gundogan’s goals took the game away from visitors.

The home side’s superiority was clear to see as we extended our unbeaten run to 23 matches and if there was a negative, it was the sight of the man of the match holding his groin as he was substituted in the 69^th minute.

Defending to win

In Kane and Heung-Min Son, Spurs boast one of the deadliest attacking duos in the country, but they did little to trouble City’s much lauded defence as we equalled the club record of seven consecutive home clean sheets in all competitions, which was originally achieved between December 1946 and March 1947.

The back four have rightly earned plaudits this season, but Guardiola says we defend as a team and it was particularly evident in this performance.

City’s control of possession reduced Spurs’ attacking threat and when chances did present themselves, the back five thwarted any danger.

John Stones intercepted an Eric Lamela pass before Son could run clear in the first half and made a good block from Tanguy Ndombele’s effort following his surging run through midfield.

Ederson was rarely troubled and when he was called into action by Ndombele, Stones stuck out a leg to take the pace off the strike and the Brazilian saved comfortably, whilst Bale’s late drive, though fierce, was too close to the goalkeeper to seriously trouble him.

Pep Guardiola - we have to be patient

“Well deserved, they hit the post and that can turn the game but the way we wanted to play was there. Tottenham have special quality, we have played well against them in the past and lost 2-0.

“They don’t need anything to create chances. It is the quality and the approach of their manager. We have a special way to play and we will continue, you have to be patient, patient. Calm.”

Man of the Match - Ilkay Gundogan

Who else, but the Premier League’s in-form player?

There is so much more to the 30-year-old’s game than goals, but it’s hard to talk about anything else right now as it’s his form in in the final third which has proved so instrumental to City’s superb winning streak.

STATZONE

This was City’s ninth win since the start of 2021, which sees us equal the English top-flight record for consecutive games won since the beginning of a calendar year.

Bolton (1906) and Manchester United (2009) are the other two teams to have achieved the feat.

WHAT IT MEANS

City are seven points clear of second placed Leicester City, but our lead at the top of the table could be reduced to five points if United beat West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

We have a game in hand on all of the top four teams.

What’s next

City travel to Goodison Park to play Everton in the Premier League on Wednesday 17 February. Kick-off is at 20:15 (UK).

TEAMS

CITY: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan (Torres 69’), Bernardo, Foden, Sterling (C), Jesus (Mahrez 79’).