City v Spurs Carling Cup

City's first home defeat at home of the season ended their Wembley hopes in the Carling Cup against a ten men Spurs side that looked good with the full eleven and defended like men possessed in the second half. With a goal lead early on the visitors looked like the home side for periods early on and looked dangerous on many occasions. Robinson on the other hand was rarely troubled except for two occasions when he saved the day for Spurs. Elano had an off day and star man for me was Berbatov who is so difficult to dispossess. His pace and ball skill would look great in a City shirt ! Roll on the January sales! City might have had a better chance had not Spurs lost a player. There would have been more room in their final third . Spurs deserved their win.
When I noticed in the program that my pictures from the 1967 'ballet on Ice' game were published once more it is difficult to realize that it was 40 years ago -how time flies. Ah those were the days -Bell, Summerbee, Young and company.

Joe Hart returned to the City goal and there was welcome return for Elano.

New loan signing Nery Castillo from Shakhter Donetsk was introduced to the crowd

.......... Lennon waltzed down the right with Garrido nowhere and Defoe nipped in to put the cross past Hart to give the visitors a shock lead though there was a suspicion of offside. No No this was not in the script!

Petrov had some early runs for City but from the off it looked like Lennon on the Spurs right wing was going to be a danger and maybe in retrospect it would have been better to have had Ball at left back as in the fifth minute ................

Spurs were playing good football with Berate in particular giving the City defence plenty to think about

Spurs missed another good chance when Lennon once more beat Garrido down the right but Malbranque dillied and dallied and City cleared

When City did attack they found themselves well marked

After 20 minutes Elano made a run at goal but Zokora ( far left) dived and made a two footed tackle

Referee Bennett immediately produced a red card from his brest pocket and to his obvious chagrin Zokora got his marching orders

The Tottenham players were in shock and Chimbonda got a yellow and Gus Poyet on the line is certainly not a happy bunny! In the background manager Ramos wishes he had brought his 'ranting at the ref ' phrase book

With Spurs down to ten men all was set for a City revival but immediately scorer Defoe was subbed by a defender and the backs to the wall plan B came into effect

Defenders outnumber Bianchi

After 25 minutes Spurs should have had another player red carded. Malbranque went in two footed and caught Corluka. For this he got just a yellow.

Bianchi gets his toe trodden on by Kaboul

Berbatov keeps Dunne at bay

Now this is unusual - both Sven and Faz out in the technical area while Hans Backe is busy making notes -lots of them in this case!

Berbatov and Richards in a duel.

Vassell is outnumbered - again

Elano shoots wide after a good move by City.

Jenas tries to get a penalty when he does a dive when tackled by Hamann and is miffed when he gets booked for his trouble

Richards trying to get to grips with Berbatov

Boateng tries to stop a Petrov shot

Half time came with Spurs still one up so would we get a similar come back to the Bolton game

Ten minutes into the second half a flying header by Vassell looked certain to go into the net but..........

.......Robinson made an amazing save . What a time to regain form!

It was rare that Spurs came down the other end but here Hart is able to catch the corner

Another Petrov blast after 60 minutes but his shot went over the bar

Berbatov was on his own up front but was still difficult to get the ball off. Can we sign him Frank?

A few minutes later Dunne went battling through and was upended by Chimbonda and it looked like a penalty but Mr Bennett played on.

Elano went into Mr Bennett's book for a late challenge

Dunne manages to block a Spurs effort

Mpenza (on for Vassell after 69 minutes ) meets Tainio boot to boot

City almost got an equalizer after 78 minutes when a header from Bianchi was saved by Robinson and Chimbonda cleared on the line

With City on the attack all the second half it was no surprise that a counter attack by Spurs enabled Malbranque to put the game safe for Spurs and send their supporters into raptures . They had brought their full complement .