Key events
It’s interesting to hear Johnson say that Frank “respects defending” and wants Spurs to be hard to beat, as if that hasn’t always been the case. A sly dig?
Colum says: “Spurs may have floundered with their failed bid for Eze but securing the services of Thomas Frank, an extremely good coach, would appear to be more important. He’s really galvanised the side and the near miss against PSG wasn’t a one-off.”
Steven writes in: “Have we all underestimated Frank? If I were Levy, I’d apologise for mucking up the Eze transfer and back him. This is some transformation in barely three months. They’re fighting like beavers for every ball and look terrifying on the counter. Outstanding.”
“Also, is this finally the end of Pep’s dynasty?” A week is certainly a long time in football …
The Spurs goalscorers speak to TNT Sports:
Johnson: “To come here, get a clean sheet, score some goals, perfect.” What’s the biggest change under Frank? “Nothing massive. A lot of detail goes into set pieces. He gives us a lot of freedom in attacking areas. He respects defending and wants us to be hard to beat.”
Palhinha: “We deserved the victory. We won with a lot of credit. It’s really important for us to keep this clean sheet.” Why did he join Spurs? “First of all, the coach … the project he has here at Tottenham.”
Spurs keep their second clean sheet of the season, leaving them just four off last season’s tally of six under Postecoglou. Frank goes off to accept the acclaim of the travelling supporters
Full-time: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham
Spurs fans celebrate the fact they are top of the league after a win that never really looked in doubt in the second half. The introductions of Foden, Silva, Rodri and Doku made little difference to City’s disjointed game as they failed to haul themselves back into the game following Johnson and Palhinha’s first-half goals.
90+2 min: Double save from Trafford! Spurs almost rub City’s noses in it as Solanke’s low shot is denied by the goalkeeper. Trafford also gets to Odobert’s headed rebound. The resultant corner is eventually cleared.
90 min: Four minutes added on. Even for City, this would be something. And Spurs
89 min: The Etihad is emptying. Spurs fans sing “it’s happened again” with no little glee.
87 min: Foden’s corner is cleared and Porro sets off down the right. His ball down the line finds Bergvall. A shimmy sees him leave Lewis on the deck but the resulting shot from Odobert is powerful but wide
85 min: Foden lets fly from the edge of the area. A deflection off Palhinha takes the heat off the shot and Vicario gathers. Doku drives at Porro and wins a corner. Spurs slow the game down again as they replace Kudus with Bergvall
83 min: Aké’s cross finds Silva at the back post. His header is meant for a free Haaland but the ball lands on the roof of the net
82 min: Kudus deploys similar tactics. Drying the ball with a towel, taking a run-up and … taking a short throw
80 min: Porro is booked for taking a little bit too long over a throw-in
78 min: Excellent defending from Van de Ven. Not so much from Porro, who is bypassed by Doku inside the Spurs area. As Foden lines up to strike the cut-back, Van de Ven slides in to block, leaving a bit on Foden
77 min: Richarlison and Johnson leave the field to huge appreciation from the away end. Solanke and Odobert enter the fray
76 min: Immediately the two substitutes combine. Foden’s corner is met by Rodri but his header is straight at Vicario. It’s City’s first shot on target in the second half
75 min: The City changes are made. Foden and Rodri come on for Bobb and González.
73 min: Porro sends one in behind the City defence for Sarr to chase. The midfielder misjudges the bounce but so does the onrushing Trafford. Luckily one of his defenders is there to help him out
72 min: Foden and Rodri head back to the bench. Solanke and Odobert are preparing to come on for Spurs
70 min: Richarlison has taken issue with Dias going to ground easily in the box. He and González exchange unpleasantries off the ball and are both booked.
69 min: Silva’s cross is into a dangerous area and Dias almost gets his head on it. Spurs deal with the subsequent two Reijnders corners
68 min: Romero is booked for a rash tackle – unlike him – on Bobb down City’s right near the edge of the box. Looked like he got the ball, though. Silva will take …
67 min: Silva, as graceful as he is, looks very off the pace. Kudus works hard to dispossess him deep in the Spurs half. He and Richarlison have been full of running
65 min: Spurs with five attempts to City’s one in the second half. Another City attack ends without one as Spence fends off Bobb
63 min: Rodri looks a bit peeved on the sideline, watching the game with a long face rather than doing any sort of strenuous warm-up
61 min: Richarlison gets on to the end of another cross, with another looping header dropping just the wrong side of the far post
60 min: Porro lofts a free-kick into the City box and Richarlison gets his head on it, his looping effort dropping on to the roof of the net. City then struggle again to beat Spurs’ press
58 min: What a waste from Spurs. Silva is caught out by Bentancur and Spurs set off into the City half with a numerical advantage. The ball makes its way to Johnson but his shot from distance hasn’t got enough dip on it. Johnson’s touch then lets him down after Richarlison finds him in space on the edge of the box
56 min: Lewis just about does enough to prevent Richarlison a clear header at the back post
54 min: Guardiola makes his first move. Doku and Silva replace Marmoush and Cherki. Tried and trusted
53 min: Spurs living dangerously! Vicario’s pass to Van de Ven is wayward in his own box and Bobb wins the ball. Haaland’s cut-back to Cherki is too heavy and eventually the referee blows for a foul. But Van de Ven’s challenge on Bobb looked a bit naughty
50 min: Foden is warming up now too. He shares a word with Solanke, his Under-17 World Cup-winning teammate from 2017, on the touchline
49 min: Stones and Dias keep the ball moving just inside City’s half but they are forced back to Trafford, whose long ball is exactly that – long
47 min: City’s players get on the front foot straight away, Guardiola’s words still ringing in their ears. Lewis finds Aké at the back post but the left-back’s strike is blocked by one of the onrushing Spurs defenders
46 min: Bernardo Silva and Rodri head straight out to warm up
Second half begins: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham
No changes at the break from either manager. City were out a couple of minutes after Spurs, to very little surprise
Thomas Frank speaks to TV at half-time and says his team need to “keep being brave. The high pressure is key.”
When reminded of the strength of City’s bench, Frank says: “It’s about us, we need to suffer when we need to suffer.”
“Far be it for me to ever critique Pep Guardiola,” ventures John Rudd, “but watching Spurs score two in the first half whilst Ederson, Bernardo, Foden are on the bench is extraordinarily painful! City look out of sorts.” Not to mention Rodri.
Tottenham fans, I’m sure, are currently replaying the last 10 minutes of the Super Cup with PSG in their minds. They were 2-0 there, of course.
Who needs Eze, eh? Frank appears to have got his tactics absolutely spot on. And what else would you expect from a coach who was behind Manchester City’s only home defeat of their treble-winning season in 2022-23
Half-time: Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham
Spurs head into the break firmly in charge. Johnson’s opener was a slick counterattack but Palhinha’s second was a gift. City have it all to do from here
45+6 min: What a chance for Haaland! City enjoy a spell of attacking pressure. Haaland jumps to meet a cross from about six yards out but his header is misdirected and flies over.
Dear, oh dear. It goes from bad to worse for City. They’ve looked the more dangerous for much of this first half but Spurs have played it perfectly, choosing their moments and pouncing on any mistakes
GOAL! Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham (Palhinha 45+2)
It’s a disaster for City! The corner comes to nothing but Trafford’s goal-kick is pure self-sabotage. He plays it to González inside his own area, who is immediately pounced upon by Richarlison. Trafford comes out to make amends but the ball falls to Palhinha and the midfielder does the rest!
45 min: Seven minutes are added. Spurs win a corner. They smell blood
43 min: Guardiola leaves his technical area to remonstrate with his players, who are struggling to get a foothold in this since going behind
41 min: After receiving treatment, Porro comes back on. Those were some precarious moments for City. There are questions of handball against Trafford when he came out towards Kudus. Guardiola will be itching for half-time.
39 min: City are really wobbling here. Trafford comes out and clatters Kudus but also gets the ball with his chest. Reijnders then steps on Porro’s boot right on the edge of the area. Nothing given for either challenge but Porro remains down
Spurs took advantage of City’s high line, with Richarlison and Johnson charging in behind. The Brazilian’s low ball across was slightly behind Johnson and Trafford got a touch on the shot but not enough!
