Manchester City 0
Tottenham 2 (Brennan Johnson 35′, Joao Palhinha 45+3′)
Manchester City went down a 2-nil defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium today. Thomas Frank’s side deserved their victory for the way they were so well organised tactically and seized upon Manchester City’s defensive errors when they arose. Pep Guardiola’s side looked like a team that had barely played together, and they played that way today. The performance and result showed that Manchester City’s rebuild will take time after last weekend’s impressive win over Wolves at Molineux.
When the starting lineups were announced, James Trafford started in goal over Ederson. Rayan Cherki started his first Premier League game, replacing Bernardo Silva in the starting lineup, and Omar Marmoush started in place of Jeremy Doku on the left wing. There were also home debuts for Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders. Pep Guardiola picked an attacking starting eleven, and it was of great interest ahead of kick-off how the Manchester City lineup would perform against Thomas Frank’s side.
Rodri and Phil Foden returned to the Manchester City matchday squad for today’s match. They both started on the bench as they continue to work their way back to full fitness.
First half
Manchester City began the game brightly in the opening five minutes. But the sum of their early work was an intercepted through ball on the halfway line from Erling Haaland, which would have set Omar Marmoush free in the opening minute, and Rayan Cherki failed to pick out Erling Haaland on the edge of the Spurs penalty area a minute later. Tottenham had an early set-piece which came to nothing in the game’s opening five minutes.
Erling Haaland fouled Richarlison on the edge of Manchester City’s penalty area in the 7th minute. Pedro Porro fired the subsequent free kick from 30 yards out on the left of Manchester City’s penalty area into the wall. Porro fired the subsequent rebound wide. A defensive mix-up from Tottenham played in Omar Marmoush from the resulting goal kick. Omar Marmoush beat Vicario in the Tottenham goal, but his shot went agonisingly across the face of goal rather than into the back of the net.
Omar Marmoush was denied in the 18th minute by Vicario after he hit a powerful strike on goal from the edge of the Spurs area. Tottenham had made a bright start to the game, but Pep Guardiola’s side were beginning to warm into the game.
Nathan Ake replaced Rayan Ait-Nouri in the 20th minute. The Algerian international appeared to pick up a foot injury after a heavy challenge earlier in the game.
Vicario denied Omar Marmoush once again in the 28th minute. A surging run from Erling Haaland saw the Norwegian international play in Omar Marmoush. But the Egyptian striker saw his powerful shot saved by the oncoming and outstretched Vicario to keep the score at nil-all.
Brennan Johnson gives Tottenham the lead.
Tottenham would take the lead in the 35th minute. Richarlison broke through Manchester City’s high defensive line and offside trap and was further aided by a slip from John Stones. The Brazilian international drove down the right wing and played in a ball to Brennan Johnson to fire home past James Trafford to give Tottenham the lead. In truth, Thomas Frank’s side deserved their lead, given how organised they had been defensively and when in possession. Pep Guardiola’s side looked flat and needed to lift their level of performance.
A terrible error from James Trafford sees Joao Palhinha make it 2-nil.
Tottenham would double their lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. A terrible pass from James Trafford played Nico into all sorts of trouble on his own penalty spot. The Spanish midfielder was easily dispossessed, and the rebound fell to Richarlison. Trafford made a save from the Brazilian, but the rebound fell to Joao Palhinha, who fired in to give Spurs a 2-nil lead. It was a comedy of errors at the back, and James Trafford got a tough introduction to playing at the highest level.
Erling Haaland fired a header over the bar in the final minute of first-half stoppage time. A nice cross from Rayan Cherki picked out Manchester City’s number nine. But he headed over the bar, and his effort summed up Manchester City’s first-half performance.
Errors from Manchester City cost Pep Guardiola’s side dearly. John Stones’ slip released Richarlison to set up Spurs’ opener. James Trafford’s error cost his team just as much for Tottenham’s second goal.
Second half
Pep Guardiola’s side needed a significant response after a poor first-half performance. They had to minimise their mistakes and take their chances. That was their only way back into the game as the second half began.
There was more intensity to Manchester City’s play in the early stages of the second half. They did force an error from Tottenham at the back, but Erling Haaland’s pass was too far in front of Rayan Cherki on the edge of the Spurs six-yard box, and the chance was gone in the 52nd minute. A minute later, Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva replaced Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki, who hadn’t had the best games.
Tottenham went up a gear after Manchester City’s bright start to the second half. They had a spell of possession and had several half-chances to make it 3-nil. Thomas Frank’s side were also pressing Pep Guardiola’s side hard at the back, and it was clear that Spurs’ press had taken away any of Manchester City’s confidence on the ball when playing out from the back.
Rico Lewis fired an effort well over from outside the area in the 70th minute after a succession of Manchester City corners. But that effort pretty well summed up what City were creating against a stubborn Tottenham defence.
Rodri and Phil Foden came on for Nico and Oscar Bobb in the 75th minute. A minute later, Rodri headed a powerful effort straight at Vicario from a corner. Tellingly, it was Manchester City’s first shot on target of the second half.
In the 92nd minute, James Trafford made a fine double save to deny Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert. The chance came after a misplaced header in midfield from Rodri. That would be the last meaningful action of the game as Tottenham picked a 2-nil victory that they thoroughly deserved.
Final thoughts.
Today’s result illustrated that Manchester City’s new-look squad will take time to gel together. Tottenham came to the Etihad with a plan, and they stuck to it to pick up a well-deserved victory. From a Manchester City point of view, the performance was poor and Pep Guardiola’s side could never get going.
Errors from John Stones and James Trafford proved costly for Manchester City today. Stones’ defensive slip allowed Richarlison the space he needed to set up Brennan Johnson to open the scoring. James Trafford’s poor pass gave Spurs their second goal in a harsh lesson for the young goalkeeper. But Tottenham suffocated Pep Guardiola’s side and deserved their victory. Tottenham’s high press also caused Manchester City issues, and showed what City miss when Ederson isn’t included goal.
All told, it was a disappointing day for Manchester City. Tottenham deserved their victory but it is clear to see that City’s rebuild remains a work in progress.
