Spurs came from two goals behind at the Etihad Stadium to salvage a point against Manchester City in a game dominated by the home side.
Manchester City bossed the first half, and it took some good defending from Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose, combined with a couple of decent stops from Hugo Lloris to keep the game goalless going into half-time.
A slow start to the game prompted Mauricio Pochettino to switch to a back four, with Eric Dier pushing up to play just in front of the back four. The Spurs boss waited until half-time to make personnel changes, bringing Hueng-min Son on in place of Kevin Wimmer.
Hugo Lloris, Spurs’ saviour for most of this season, was the culprit on both occasions for an early second half collapse. A long ball from Kevin De Bruyne saw Sane through, Lloris’ diving header deflected off the Manchester City man, leaving him with a tap-in for 1-0.
The hosts doubled their lead five minutes later, Lloris spilling a low cross into the path of De Bruyne, who made it 2-0 to Manchester City.
However, Spurs came up with a quick response, and fired themselves back into the contest. The ball broke to Kyle Walker on the edge of the box, who picked out Dele Alli at the back stick, who continued his excellent goalscoring form with another headed finish.
Then came the moment of controversy that will prove to be the main talking point of the contest. Raheem Sterling found himself through on goal, only to be pushed in the back by Kyle Walker and see his shot saved by Lloris. Appeals for a spot kick were waved away quickly.
Tottenham took full advantage of their good fortune, and fired themselves level little under a minute later. Harry Kane laid a ball of to substitute Heung-min Son, who finished well into the corner for a level game. And that is how it finished.
One player that disappointed for Spurs on the day for Christian Eriksen. He did play the ball through to Harry Kane for the lay off and subsequent goal, but I am sure I am not the only one who would liked to have seen more from the Danish international.
Eriksen was a shadow of his usual creative self, and failed to have any real impact on the game. The midfielder didn’t great a single chance, complete a single take on, or win a single tackle. Mauricio Pochettino will want much more from Eriksen in the big games from now on.
70th minute and just realized Eriksen is on the pitch. One of those days
— SpursWorldwide (@SpursWorldwide) 21 January 2017
Eriksen had 3-4 chances to slot Kane/Alli in and just missed the pass by an inch. Normally he gets them right
— Hamid (@HamidTHFC) 21 January 2017
Imagine if Eriksen had played. We might have even won that!
— Paul (@Paul_THFC79) 21 January 2017
Easy ball for Eriksen to make there and he fluffed that too ?
— Vass Koni (@vkon1) 21 January 2017
Dembele and eriksen so so bad today felt like playing with 10 men for most of the game ,winks so composed, VW immense again
— Aran Corco (@thatboiyiddo) 21 January 2017
Players who had a ?: Lloris, Dier, Eriksen, Kane
Walker and Rose was both bad and good.— OnomahIsABaller (@SpursD22) 21 January 2017
Eriksen had his poorest game for a while today. They out numbered us and pushed us back. Needed him to play forward
— Syed Naqui (@Superspur73) 21 January 2017
On the balance of play, it is a most undeserved point that Spurs have picked up. Despite losing at Manchester United, this was a similar game in the way that Spurs’ big players failed to turn up. This is something the Lilywhites must work on going into the rest of the season.
