Published: 14 February, 2016
by DAN CARRIER
Premier League

MANCHESTER CITY 1, SPURS 2

SPURS sit just two points behind league leaders Leicester after beating fellow title contenders Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad today (Sunday).

It took a late winner from Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen to seal the points and the result left coach Mauricio Pochettino praising the character shown by his young charges while still trying to avoid talk of winning the club's first title since 1961.

Eriksen raced on to substitute Erik Lamela's cute pass and kept his nerve to tuck home past the advancing Joe Hart with just seven minutes remaining. It means Spurs leapfrog rivals Arsenal in the table, sitting second on goal difference.

Spurs had been the better side in the first half, but after taking the lead through a dubious penalty decision after Raheem Sterling was judged to have blocked a Danny Rose cross with his arm, they were forced on to the back foot. City's Kelechi Iheanacho equalised on 74 but Eriksen's late effort made it five league victories in a row for Pochettino's team and keeps them firmly in the hunt with 12 matches remaining.

Pochettino said: “I am very pleased – it means a lot more than just three points.

“It is important to have this type of experience for the future. We are very young and today, before the game started, you could sense it wasn't a normal game. This type of game is very important for the future, but my speech is the same. We need to go step by step. We need to work hard and keep the right mentality.”

Spurs and City traded blows in an entertaining but goalless first period, with Sergio Aguero firing over and Sterling seeing Rose block a shot. Rose, in the thick of the action, saw a goal-bound effort of his own deflected wide by City defender Pablo Zabaleta while Eriksen also stretched Hart.

In the second half, Spurs got the breakthrough when Harry Kane struck from the penalty spot and it spurred City into throwing more men forward. But almost as soon as they drew level, Spurs answered in devastating fashion via Lamela and Eriksen.

They controlled the final 10 minutes, showing why they have lost just once away from home all season. 

However much Pochettino doesn't want to admit it, this is a title charge.

SPURS: Lloris, Wimmer, Alderweireld, Rose, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Son (Carroll, 72), Alli (Lamela, 81), Kane (Chadli, 89).
Subs: Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Mason, Carroll, Chadli, Lamela. 

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

WHEN Danny Rose threw a cross over and Raheem Sterling jumped to block, the most die-hard away fan would have smiled wryly at the penalty award given. At best, it seemed to accidentally strike the forward's armpit.

But having experienced such heartbreak at the Etihad recently, it's time Spurs enjoyed a bit of luck. Three years ago, Spurs dominated a crucial game for a Champions League spot, only to see City equalise through Mario Balotelli. Moments before he scored, Balotelli assaulted Scott Parker – he chopped him down and stamped on his head. Not only should he have been given a straight red, the FA should have looked at the incident post-match and given him a lengthy ban. Instead the referee ignored it and the forward clinched three points that gave City Champions League football at Tottenham's expense. 

Spurs were good for their win today, and the fact their opener was helped by some luck simply felt like, at last, fortune was evening things out.