Mauricio Pochettino: 'We were always believing we could get the points from the game, but after the last penalty and the red card it was difficult to stay in the game' 

Published: 18 October, 2014 
by STEVE BARNETT

Premier League 
MAN CITY 4, SPURS 1

SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino insisted there were "plenty of positives" to be taken from his side's performance after another heavy defeat at the hands of Manchester City this afternoon (Saturday). 

City striker Sergio Aguero put in a four-goal super-show at the Etihad Stadium. But he will have to share the headlines in the Sunday papers with referee Jonathan Moss, who awarded four penalties and sent off Spurs' defender Federico Fazio. 

"For 70 minutes we were always in the game against a City team with a lot of good players, so there are a lot of positives to take," said Pochettino. 

"For me, the first penalty was ridiculous, but we need to accept the decision. 

"We were always believing we could get the points from the game, but after the last penalty and the red card it was difficult to stay in the game." 

"For me, it also wasn't a red card," he added. 

Spurs should have taken the lead after only eight minutes when Roberto Soldado played in Ryan Mason, but the young midfielder found Joe Hart's left boot instead of the back of the net. 

Within seconds the visitors were in on goal again. The ball broke kindly for Christian Eriksen, who wriggled into the box before blazing his shot over the bar from an acute angle.

Tottenham paid the price for missing those chances as five minutes later Hugo Lloris was picking the ball out of the net. 

Former Gooner Bacary Sagna robbed Erik Lamela and, via a Frank Lampard pass, the ball found its way to Aguero, who cut in from the left and smashed home the opening goal. 

There were question marks over whether or not the goal should have stood, with replays showing that Lampard was offside and clearly obstructing Lloris's view.

City's lead lasted less than two minutes. Mason slid in to take the ball off Fernando, giving Soldado the chance to drive forward. The Spanish striker played in Eriksen, who coolly finished past Hart. 

Then more controversy. Lampard went down in the box following minimal contact from Lamela, and referee Moss pointed to the spot. It looked a harsh decision, but that didn't bother Aguero, who sent Lloris the wrong way to make it 2-1. 

The Argentine striker should have completed his hat-trick on 31 minutes when City were awarded another penalty. This time there could be few complaints as Younes Kaboul brought down David Silva. 

The Spurs skipper was let off the hook, however, as Aguero gifted Lloris a comfortable save with a tame shot down the middle. 

The game remained wide open throughout with Eriksen, Mason and Soldado testing Hart's relaxes, while at the other end Aguero and Jesus Navas kept Lloris on his toes. 

But it's referee Moss who was involved in all the talking points. 

On the hour mark he awarded another penalty, this time against City defender Martin Demichelis following a foul on Soldado – even though replays showed the original contact was outside the box.

Soldado, no doubt, was left wishing the referee had just given the free-kick after seeing his spot-kick well saved by Hart. 

On 66 minutes Fazio fouled Aguero and the man in the middle was called into action yet again as he gave the fourth penalty of the afternoon. 

It was the correct decision, but the red card that followed for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity was one that again seemed harsh on Spurs. 

This time Aguero did complete his hat-trick, and he was soon celebrating again when he capped a man-of-the-match display with his fourth goal of the game. 

SPURS: Lloris, Dier, Kaboul, Fazio, Rose, Capoue (Dembele, 60), Mason (Vertonghen, 70), Chadli, Lamela (Townsend, 60), Eriksen, Soldado. 
Subs not used: Vorm, Stambouli, Adebayor, Kane 
Attendance: 45,549