Man City v Spurs May 2010

Well at least we are in Europe - the Europa league not the Champions League alas = after being beaten by Spurs - the better side at Eastlands. Although City had a good percentage of the play we rarely made good chances to test Gomes and but for some good saves by Fulop it could have been worse. We need to reinforce the squad and I feel we need to be more adventurous. Tevez worked really hard but had to play quite deep leaving Adebayor lacking support up front. Adebayor lacks consistency, strays offside too much and rarely gave the Spurs central defenders much trouble. Adam Johnson faded after a good start but he was one of the few City players to have the ability to beat defenders. Bridge had his hands full with Lennon and Zabaleta was slightly off the boil. The central defenders had their work cut out dealing with Crouch while Barry until he was injured did ok in mid field as did De Jong who worked his socks off as usual but we do miss a really creative play maker. I thought Ireland wes going in the right direction but his form and availability have dropped off in the last few months. Unless money can convince Morinho to become manager then Mancini will stay and he will have time to sign his 'own' players and put together a team to challenge the others next season.

City made one change - Barry coming in for Viera

We had a rendition of Nessun Dorma sung by tenor Martin Toal before the game

Bellamy was soon in action at the Spurs end but had to receive some treatment after one tackle

Crouch and Toure jump for the ball

On 7 minutes Tevez had a great run breaking from the half way line.....

..........but he failed to beat Gomes from a narrow angle when he broke into the penalty area

He was soon back attacking again and this time forced a corner

Capello and Richard Scudamore were at the game

City had a let off when Crouch hit the post with a header after 18 minutes - phew!

Lennon on the Spurs right wing was causing problems for the City defence and from a corner he forced.......

......King scored but his goal was ruled out by the referee because he fouled Barry

City fought back and a good shot by Adam Johnston was well saved by Gomes

From the corner Adebayor headed over the bar

The referee watches acrobatics by de Jong with Crouch

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp asks the linesman what music he is listening too on his headset!

A cross from Craig Bellamy comes off Bale and only a good save by Gomes prevents City from taking the lead

A shot by Bale goes just wide of the post

Kompany and Fulop clear for City

After 42 minutes a Bellamy corner is headed by Toure .... straight into the arms of Gomes

Just before half time a Tevez shot goes wide of the post

Tevez was soon in action in the second half but his run was stopped by the offside flag

Manager Mancini was in thoughtful mood after a scoreless first half

On 49 minutes Johnson curls in a good cross but despite the efforts of Barry Spurs manage to clear the danger

56 minutes and a great save by Fulop from Defoe pushing the ball round the post

a couple of minutes later and there was a bit of battle in midfield and it looked like Huddlestone stamped on De Jong

... The offender only got a yellow card however - a bit lucky for Spurs

Sometimes play was restricted into small areas!

City had a narrow escape on 70 minutes when a cross by Ekotto evades both the City defence and the efforts of Defoe and Crouch

Another great save by Fulop with his feet from a header by Crouch

City's efforts were few and far between now

With 8 minutes to go a cross by Kaboul on the wing hit Bridge and when Fulop saved and pushed the ball out there was Crouch to head home Spurs into 4th place and City's efforts to reach the Champions league came to a grinding halt