City v Spurs Nov 2008

City's third league defeat in a row puts the club in danger of joining the relegation battle with games against Hull -away and Arsenal and United in the coming weeks. The centre of defence once the strength of the club is now looking very rocky indeed. Neither Richards nor Dunne have come anywhere near their good form of last season. Whether it is individual problems or a change of tactics to blame I don't know but the promising start by the club has been replaced by a doubt about the ability of the manager and his staff to handle the expectations of the supporters and new owners. The January transfer window signings will be crucial and any decision regarding the manager would have to be made before Christmas. This game played in awful conditions -though not as bad as the famous 'Ballet on Ice' game in December 1967 see HERE - will be remembered for the poor refereeing of Mike Dean who remains top of the Card league with 5 red and 47 yellow cards in 11 games -an average of 4.73 ! When a referee looks at his watch after just 15 minutes in the second half as Dean did he is hoping it is saying 45 mins !. He pretty well lost the plot as it was not a dirty game at all . Common sense has simply completely gone out of the window as it has in many aspects of life today. I cannot remember seeing City down to nine men before. They tried quite hard to force an equalizer in the closing minutes but the loss of Fernandes early on proved too much for the home side.

Zokora brings down SWP and gets a yellow card

before receiving from Jenas and hitting it first time just past the diving Joe Hart and thankfully the far post.

Another Modric attack but his cross is smothered by Hart

Modric proved early on how dangerous he can be - causing lots of problems to the City defence

Put through by SWP Vassell had a good chance but he scuffed his shot.....................

........and it was easily gathered by Gomes.

After 16 minutes SWP given the ball by Robinho.........

.................slipped the ball to Darius Vassell who shot for goal only to see Gomes push the ball out ................

....... to Robinho who whipped the ball into the net to score his 7th league goal of the season.
He dashed to the subs bench to celebrate with Jo

A minute later a really stupid badly timed tackle by Fernandes on Modric earned him a yellow card

A really great defence cutting pass by Robinho put Ireland through after 23 minutes but his shot was well saved by Gomes.

Two minutes later and disaster struck . A foul on Bentley by Fernandes was deemed yellow card material by referee Dean and out came the red card.

Sorry lads- I'm only just in front of Mike Riley in the 'cards table' and I need a few reds today - This is only the first! Oh and remember I don't do 'common sense'.

With City down to ten men came under increased pressure with first Hart having to clear a centre and then Modric broke away from Dunne.........

.... and saw his shot brilliantly saved by Joe Hart

Just on the half hour Spurs drew level and Modric was involved again. His pass was inexplicably missed by Dunne and Bent scored. It was a gift goal and with City down to ten men the future did not look great.

Joe Hart punches away a cross from Bent

Half time and rain poured down. A really depressing day in many ways.

Benjani led the line and Vassell was also included. Jo was on the bench as was Elano.

The new City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was next to Garry Cook in the front row .

Garrido began his 'I've been shot' routine a little early today - in the second minute. I do wish he would cut it out. Later in the game he did it a second time. I hope the coaches tell him to cut it out.

The City defence has been well below form recently so this game against a rejuvenated Spurs would be a good test

Surprising see Benjani back in defence as City try to clear an early Tottenham attack

An effort from SWP came to naught as he shot directly at Gomes

King got a yellow card for this tackle on Benjani

From the free kick Dunne had a point blank header saved by Gomes

After 64 minutes Bent fed by Jenus scored - the ball going in via the far post just out of reach of the dive by Hart

A quick free kick taken by City almost earned the home side an equalizer but Robinho's shot was saved for a corner by Gomes. Even referee Dean was surprised by the speed of the free-kick!

A free kick on the right ends with Ireland putting in a good shot on the volley which is well saved by Gomes.

With 7 minutes to go yet another disaster hit City. A through ball found Bent and as he was chased by Dunne Bent went down.

The result was a red card for Dunne - the last defender. City down to nine men.
the resultant free-kick was blocked by the wall

Referee Dean increased his card total by sending off Ekotto after 89 minutes. for a foul on Zabaleta.

Despite City being 2 men down they attacked the Spurs goal in the final minutes -even Hart coming up the right wing.