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Match of the Day analysis: Spurs' superb second half against Man City

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Match of the Day analysis: Spurs' superb second half against Man City - BBC
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Danny Murphy column: 'Complacent and lost control' - Man City's second-half problem

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'Complacent and lost control' - Man City's second-half problem - BBC
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Manchester City's second-half performances are becoming a concern for them, and might just end up costing them in the Premier League title race.

After Sunday's collapse from 2-0 up to draw 2-2 against Tottenham, City have now failed to see out three of the past four league games where they have been ahead at half-time.

The other times they have been pegged back for draws since the turn of the year, at home to Chelsea and Brighton, did not see the same dramatic drop-off in performance as in the second half against Spurs.

However, in all three matches they will look back and think they had chances to make the points safe.

The turnaround at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was down to what both teams were like after the break - a re-energised and fired-up Spurs, with some new personnel and a different system, against what I think was a complacent City side.

Tactics do matter here, of course, and Tottenham stopped City playing through them the way they had in the first half - but what made more of a difference for Spurs in their fightback was the way their attitude and desire was much greater than City's.

In any game, I always believe that if the team with the better players matches the energy, desire and running power of the team with less quality, and wins the important duels, then they will win the game or maintain their lead.

I do not think City lost their way because Spurs suddenly had more quality than them - it was more that Tottenham just wanted it more in the second half.

That is a concern for Pep Guardiola, especially because his team are trying to put pressure on leaders Arsenal.

There are two reasons why a team's levels can drop in the second half of matches the way City's did against Spurs - mental or physical.

While City played a lot of matches in January, they have got a big squad and Guardiola rotates the team, so I do not see that being the issue - I think the problem was more to do with their mindset.

What happened to them against Spurs happened to me as a player, where a game is so easy and feels so comfortable in the first half, you do not expect what is coming.

Yes, you know the opposition will have a little go at fighting back, especially if you are away somewhere, but you just think you are going to have the same dominance and as many chances.

The irony is that, if the game is a bit more even before the break, you are more fired up for the second half, knowing you have got to kick on.

But because City were 2-0 up and probably should have been three or four goals ahead, they were so dominant they probably switched off a bit.

They should not have done, because they have got enough experience throughout their team to know better - but what was most worrying is this is not the first time it has happened recently.

In the first half, City were dominant, dangerous and looked totally composed - exactly the type of performance I was expecting from them.

It was interesting that Guardiola played Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland together as a split front two, and the midfield four was quite fluid.

At times when they were building up, Bernardo Silva would drop next to Rodri and Nico O'Reilly and Rayan Cherki would come inside, a bit like Aston Villa do. It caused Spurs all sorts of problems.

Another little tweak Guardiola made which I thought was quite clever was how they pressed Tottenham when the home side had the ball.

Silva was the player who left his position, and the other three midfielders behind him, to join the front two to create the press. It actually led to City's first goal.

Because Spurs were down to the bare bones in terms of their personnel, they had some players out of position and in a system they have tried recently but certainly do not use all the time.

They were at sixes and sevens with who they were picking up, and as the first half progressed I thought it was just a case of how many goals City would get. I just did not see a way Tottenham would get back into the game - but I was wrong.

Cristian Romero had to come off at half-time through illness, which forced Thomas Frank to switch to four at the back, and he changed to a more orthodox 4-4-1-1 shape, with Randal Kolo Muani joining Dominic Solanke up front.

Straight away, the four in midfield narrowed up to reduce the space City had. They could not get through as easily and, as Spurs saw more of the ball, the hosts grew in confidence bit by bit and built their way back into the game.

The duels I spoke about earlier were a big part of that - suddenly the Spurs players were anticipating second balls and winning knockdowns, and winning possession high up the pitch. It was City who were now under pressure and looking nervous.

City lost all momentum and control and, if not for a couple of brilliant saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma, they probably would have been beaten.

Normally if you have controlled the first half and the other team comes at you more after the break, you might face more pressure and concede more chances but you will also have more space for breakaways.

That did not happen for City against Spurs, even though Frank had left Joao Palhinha and Radu Dragusin two v two against Semenyo and Haaland as he chased the game. Firstly because Spurs were much more switched on, but also because City's front two were poor.

They did not hold enough balls up, or give enough options in behind. I would expect far more from them in that scenario.

Overall, though, I would not say what happened was down to City being all bad or Spurs becoming brilliant - it was a combination of both.

Spurs did much better but City fell down a few levels. That contrast in performances from them, between the first and second half, was as extreme as I have seen from Guardiola's side in a long time.

City have now only won one of their past six league games, and I think everyone is surprised by their results because they have got so much quality and experience.

The reality about their performances is they are not at the level they should be, with the players they have got.

The reason I can say that is not because of their past title triumphs, it is because in the first half I saw City play like a team trying to catch Arsenal - a team on a mission saying "we're coming after you".

Part of the fall off from them in the second half was self-inflicted - giving the ball away, not winning challenges or second balls. It was very unlike them, because we are used to seeing them manage games so well.

They are not out of the title race yet, because the gap is only six points and Arsenal still have to go to Etihad Stadium.

City are still capable of going on the kind of long winning run that has got them over the line before. But at the moment it looks like there is a mindset issue with some of their players.

Some of them - not all of them - seem to think that, when they go up in games, they are done. That is not how you win the title, and that is not the City we know.

Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

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Premier League Review: Arsenal move six clear as City slip to Spurs

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Premier League Review: Arsenal move six clear as City slip to Spurs - BBC
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Have Arsenal put worries over their mentality to bed? Have Manchester City lost their ruthless edge? Their 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur means Arsenal end the weekend with a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Rick Edwards is joined by Nigel Reo-Coker and Luke Edwards to discuss that and the rest of the weekend’s big talking points.

Manchester United made it 3 wins in a row with a 3-2 win against Fulham, is that the real marker of their progress under Michael Carrick?

And what does Chelsea’s half-time turnaround against West Ham tell us about Liam Rosenior’s managerial pedigree?

TIMECODES:

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Tottenham can create magic together - Thomas Frank after Man City draw

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Tottenham can create magic together - Thomas Frank after Man City draw - BBC
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Dissent was in the air with Manchester City in total control at half-time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The hosts were two goals down and the deficit could and perhaps should have been more.

Yet on a day when campaign group Change for Tottenham called for an open revolt in the stands over the club's perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market and high ticket prices, Thomas Frank's side staged a superb fightback to draw 2-2.

Instead of concluding to half-empty stands, "Oh when the Spurs go marching in" reverberated around the ground at full-time in complete contrast to the chorus of boos only 60 minutes earlier.

"We can create something magic together - the players and the fans - when we are united like we were, especially second half but also the Dortmund game," Frank told BBC Sport.

"That atmosphere, intensity - that's what pushed the players and they really needed it.

"What I like and what I think is truly important is when your back is against the wall as a team and a group you need to fight. You can never give up.

"I love that never-say-die attitude from the players and the fans were massive for us. The mentality is building stronger and stronger."

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Who is in the Premier League relegation fight - and what is needed for survival?

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Who is in the Premier League relegation fight - and what is needed for survival? - BBC
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The Premier League's relegation battle was in danger of looking like a foregone conclusion only a couple of weeks ago.

Earlier this season, West Ham, Wolves and Burnley looked destined to be heading to the Championship.

But only a couple of weeks after all hope looked seemingly lost for the Premier League's worst-performing clubs, the battle for survival has taken several unexpected turns in the early weeks of 2026.

After rolling into the New Year with one win in 10 games, West Ham are a club buoyed since a morale-boosting win against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round on 11 January.

Since then, back-to-back wins for the Hammers against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland have bridged the gap between themselves and 17th-place Nottingham Forest to only six points - despite a late loss at Chelsea last time out.

Nineteenth-place Burnley added to their tally with respectable draws against Liverpool and Tottenham, but a 3-0 defeat by Sunderland on Monday left them 11 points from safety.

While Wolves still look nailed-on for a season in the Championship next term, Rob Edwards' side have at least stopped the rot in recent weeks and are no longer on course to record the lowest points total in Premier League history.

It goes without saying that despite an upturn in form for the Premier League's bottom three sides, it would take a mammoth effort for any of them to beat the drop this season.

In the 33 completed seasons since the Premier League's inception in 1992, only nine teams have overturned a six-point deficit after 23 games or more to survive.

Aston Villa (2019-20), Leicester City (2014-15) and Sunderland (2013-14) - all facing a seven-point deficit - are the most recent sides to have done so.

It means if any of the three clubs were to climb out of the relegation zone and preserve their top-flight status, they would etch their names into the record books.

After this weekend's fixtures, Opta calculated the current chances of Wolves (0.02%) and Burnley (2.02%) achieving survival.

In West Ham's case, despite a gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday night, the numbers make for slightly better reading, with the Hammers' chance of safety rated at 17.06%.

With a game against strugglers Burnley to come next week, West Ham - who looked dead and buried a month ago - are now starting to play with the freedom of a side with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Realistically, there are seven Premier League clubs involved in this season's relegation battle.

In addition to the current bottom three, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Tottenham are likely to be sweating over their Premier League status between now and the end of the season.

Tottenham are the highest positioned of the seven clubs - currently sitting 14th on 29 points after fighting back to earn a point against Manchester City on Sunday.

The point moves Thomas Frank's side nine points ahead of West Ham with 14 games remaining.

But after collecting only three points from a possible 15 ahead of Sunday's game against Pep Guardiola's side - three less than the Hammers (six) - Spurs will know survival is not guaranteed yet.

The good news for West Ham, though, is that if Spurs are able to build on Sunday's spirited draw and fire themselves up the table, there are still several other teams within catching distance.

Perhaps, no more so than Crystal Palace.

The Eagles - who sold captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City last month and will lose manager Oliver Glasner at the end of the season - are winless in their past 12 matches across all competitions.

Meanwhile, it is Nuno Espirito Santo's former side, Nottingham Forest, who sit closest to the drop zone - six points clear of the Hammers and level on points with Leeds United in 16th.

In the Premier League, teams finishing on 36 points or more in each of the past nine seasons have avoided relegation.

In the 20-team era, starting from the 1995-96 season, the average number of points needed for survival, or the number of points the 18th-placed team finished plus one, is 35.53 - rounded up to 36 points.

In the 30 Premier League seasons that have had 38 games a season for each club, 36 points would have ensured survival 60% of the time.

The rate of survival increases to 80% for 38 points, 90% for 40 points and 100% for 43 or more points.

But West Ham have the ignominy of holding the record for the team relegated with the most points in the 20-team era. In the 2002-03 season, the Hammers picked up 42 points but were still relegated.

Sunderland with 40 points in 1996-97 and Bolton with 40 points the following year are the only other sides to have dropped down after touching the 40-point mark.

Tottenham finished 17th last term with 38 points but, because of the weaknesses of the promoted trio, they would still have beaten the drop with just 26.

The season before, 17th-placed Nottingham Forest managed 32 points - a tally which included a four points deduction - but actually only needed 27 to stay up.

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Premier League Highlights: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester City

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Premier League Highlights: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester City - BBC
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Up Next. 'Spurs want to stick with Frank but may have no choice' Video, 00:01:50'Spurs want to stick with Frank but may have no choice'

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Tottenham 2-2 Man City: Loss to Spurs a 'setback' - Pep Guardiola

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Tottenham 2-2 Man City: Loss to Spurs a 'setback' - Pep Guardiola - BBC
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Man City still there despite 'setback' - Guardiola. Video, 00:01:22Man City still there despite 'setback' - Guardiola

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Tottenham 2-2 Man City: Analysis - Spurs show spirit

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Tottenham 2-2 Man City: Analysis - Spurs show spirit - BBC
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Thomas Frank and Tottenham have suffered badly at home this season - and for 45 minutes this looked like another nightmare to add to the list.

Spurs simply could not get near Manchester City, who outclassed and out-passed their opponents with comfort, scoring two goals and offering the promise of many more.

And yet, as has happened before this season, Spurs can be a team of two halves. Once they sensed City had let their intensity and concentration drop, Spurs took the encouragement and ran with it.

Dominic Solanke was the player at the heart of the comeback, hustling City's defence into a mistake before his freakish equaliser.

Was it by accident or design?

Solanke flicked a leg out behind him, perhaps in hope rather than expectation, but it did the job with a connection strong enough to loop over Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It was a tale of the unexpected after the first half, with Spurs even threatening to win.

It was enough for Spurs to hear the rare sound of applause at the final whistle - and it was fully merited after a show of real resilience.

Spurs have won only two of 12 league games at home this season, but Frank can take heart from this one.

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Premier League LIVE: Tottenham vs Manchester City after dramatic win for Manchester United

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Premier League LIVE: Aston Villa v Brentford, Man Utd v Fulham, & Forest v Palace - score, results & updates - BBC
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Guardiola's side must deliver

Tottenham 0-0 Manchester City

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Pep Guardiola has lost more Premier League games against Spurs than any other opponents in his managerial career with eight, a sign of Manchester City's indifferent record against them in recent seasons.

Leaders Arsenal have put the pressure back on City as they bounced back from defeat at home to Manchester United by thrashing Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Road.

This means City can ill-afford any slip-ups here.

'Horrendous terrible decision'

FT: Man Utd 3-2 Fulham

Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva speaking to Sky Sports: "Top performance from ourselves. Second half, our team was better. The way we played and controlled the ball, they wanted to press us high but we never let them. They scored when we switched off but we kept going and scored a goal that was disallowed. It is what it is. Difficult but we have to accept it.

"The story of the game started with a horrendous terrible decision from John Brooks with the penalty he gave. Horrendous decision from that moment, big, big mistake. It was the first time we saw all the Premier League fans and us coaches and players. We have to take all this frustration to win the next one."

On the VAR: "The penalty was given by the tackle. After, because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul."

On Kevin's goal: "Great goal from Kevin and what a moment for him. he deserves these moments and is a big talent."

On decisions going against Fulham: "I feel my players, I feel our fans but we have to respect and the people in charge. I know why the penalty was given. VAR went in a completely different direction to find something to find a free-kick that was not the reason why the penalty was given."

On if he has spoken to John Brooks: "I don't want get more cards because I want to be on the touchline. I don't want to speak more."

'Thiago is selfless in the way he plays'

FT: Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford

Brentford

Brentford manager Keith Andrews speaking to Sky Sports: "This is right up there, with the circumstances going down to 10 men. The pride, performance level and the spirit of the group, it doesn't surprise me. The lads were magnificent."

On the red card for Kevin Schade: "I think we need to learn from that and not react."

On what his half-time message was: "I knew we would have to defend large parts of the game. I wanted to start the second half still being able to attack. The boys still had to dig in deep."

On Igor Thiago: "He is selfless in the way he plays. The work he does for the team and they all do. He was immense today and gave us a platform with his selfless running.

"I feel like it is a result we deserved and what we created in the second half, I thought a clean sheet was deserved."

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FT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to Sky Sports: "I'm really pleased with the first half, especially the reaction after going 1-0 down. We played a fantastic first half. We controlled the game for the first 10-15 minutes in the second half but we lost our nerve. I could see the effort and I learned to respect the point when I came here.

"We would have played more in their final third. We didn't defend the final balls well. The last one or two passes were not accurate enough. You could see the weight on the players' shoulders. After being 1-0 down, it was great the way we played. We are struggling with converting chances.

On the transfer window: "Everyone can contribute. Everyone who plays in the attack can contribute. We need the set plays; we are really good at set plays again, like we were last year. Let's see, I don't know what will happen. We need a striker who scores goals. Mateta is our top scorer.

"The players deserve my full focus and it's challenging for everyone when you have such a tight squad. It was pretty clear that we need great togetherness here.

Will Mateta remain at Palace? "I don't know. It is either him or someone else."

'The work rate is definitely different'

FT: Man Utd 3-2 Fulham

Manchester United

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko, speaking to Sky Sports after scoring the winning goal: "That was unbelievable. Scoring at home and scoring the winner is unbelievable. I've been dreaming about that and dreaming that I can do that. We all know as a team how important these results are. We are on a really great run right now and we are just hoping that we can continue to work hard like that to win games. I'm really happy that I could help the team out. We can continue our streak now."

On Michael Carrick's message to the team about playing with freedom and enjoying playing for Manchester United: "It's true, he has said these things many times to the team. That's exactly what we are doing. But it's not just that, you can see how much we work hard for each other without the ball and that also contributes to good results in the end. The work rate is definitely different. Everyone is on point and covering their spaces. In the end, that's what counts.

"The aim is to continue like this. We want to focus on our work and what we have to do. We have work hard like we are and focus in every moment. All of this is going to lead to great results."

On his team-mate Casemiro: "He is an unbelievable player, a legend. It is nice to play with him and it is also nice to listen to his advice. His work rate is unbelievable and he gives all his teams a boost. We are grateful to have him with us."

'It's an instinctive reaction from Neco'

FT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to Sky Sports: "The half-time changes the whole feeling of the game. We had some real quality play. The mistake forces the corner. I think it's an instinctive reaction from Neco. I'm not going to question him on that.

On Matz Sels: "He's got what we think is a groin. He'll have a scan as soon as possible.

"We changed the shape and went to 4-3-2. We have good strength at the back but we did well to contain it. So many good performances today.

On Neco Williams: "I've not said much to him at all. It's one of those things. He's been terrific here. It's an instinctive reaction, he's thrown his head at it, couldn't reach it and it touched his hand. We all know the rules.

On the transfer window: "We've been linked with so many players. We'll see."

'We were due three points'

FT: Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford

Brentford

Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher speaking to Sky Sports: "It was amazing from the lads and in the second-half especially, we dug in and deserved the three points."

On the half-time message from manager Keith Andrews: "It was a message of we won't get many chances but dig in and we have defended well in the first-half, and to try and put our bodies on the line.

"Some of the blocks and challenges were amazing."

On if they needed the win: "The last two results weren't great but performance wise we were good so I think we were due three points."

'It felt like some decisions didn't go our way'

FT: Man Utd 3-2 Fulham

Fulham

Fulham's Emile Smith Rowe speaking to Sky Sports: "Really frustrating. I thought the boys fought really hard today to get back into the game. It's a bit annoying to concede straight after equalising.

On what Marco Silva has said: "We have to stick together at this moment in time. Coming here we knew it was going to be tough. We have to go again and stick together."

On if he felt decisions went against Fulham: "This is football. We can't do much, all we can do is try to perform as best we can. It felt like some decisions didn't go our way but it's football at the end of the day."

"We want to do that every game, we want to compete, fight and show our best on and off the ball. I felt we got a bit unlucky today. We still have a lot to play for. We are still in the cups and have had a good season so far."

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