Match Report: City 3 Spurs 3 – what a game!

Match Report: City 3 Spurs 3 – what a game!

The trip up to Manchester was a very cold one (luckily, cars are equipped with heating controls to keep us warm… it is just when we leave the car our cheeks start to get to that frozen-tinged image). Suffice to say it was bloody cold up north.

Once parked up, we made our way to the ground and waited outside, talking to other Spurs supporters. Once the allotted time was here, we made our way in, up the stairs; upon Janet seeing us, she bought us (Mel and I) a nice cup of coffee each to warm us, the old codgers, up.

I did predict we would lose 2-1. After our defeats against Chelski, Wolves and Villa, I couldn’t see us beating the League and European Champions. But as Jimmy Greaves used to say, “Football is a funny old game”.

After 6 minutes we were delighted, we scored… then three minutes after that, they equalised… our heads quickly dropped. It was going to be one of those days… our fourth defeat looked like it was going to stare us in the face.

Yes, we led early as Son scored the first, only for our South Korean Captain to divert Julian Alvarez's cross into his own net three minutes later. Then Phil Foden finished off to put City in front at the break.

Before the break, they were 2-1 up, and we just stood there shivering. Wondering what sort of talk Ange would give his team and how they would come out in the second half in a precarious position.

Second half…

Not to worry, Giovani Lo Celso pulled us level with an excellent curling effort from the edge of the area midway through the second half, but Yves Bissouma was soon punished for losing possession close to our area.

Foden fed Haaland, who delivered the low cross for Grealish to convert. Our heads dropped… but, Kulusevski's late intervention, a mix of head and shoulder sending the ball in off the bar, ensured we avoided a fourth successive Premier League defeat. We ended the game in fifth position and on 27 points, three behind Champions City, who drop to third. To us, it felt like a victory. It was an exciting game. A game that was needed to give that uplifting boost ahead of our games against the Spammers, Newcastle, Forest and Everton.

We were ecstatic as we left City’s lair… and strangely enough, we didn’t feel cold anymore.

We got a point from a match that ended in controversy as referee Simon Hooper blew for a foul on Erling Haaland, who had already shrugged off the effects of Emerson Royal's tackle and chipped a pass to Grealish, which seemed to set the England man clear.

Haaland was still complaining long after the final whistle and responded to something said from our bench before furiously marching down the tunnel.

Thoughts…

I don’t think there were any complaints from both sets of fans about the excitement value of a contest that pitted together two attacking sides.

By half-time, the tally stood at three goals, two shots that hit the woodwork, 14 shots and 10 corners. At the final whistle, there had been six goals, 26 shots, 18 corners and no one left complaining about a lack of entertainment.

From our side, we all thought it was a brilliant game, with both sides at their most vulnerable when they were attacking their opponents' goals.

The technical quality, attacking invention and simple desire to score goals in this contest was a sight to be held by our supporters.

As fans, we knew that they would not dominate possession, but even under the most severe pressure, we tried to play quickly out from the back.

To us, we won a great game… even though it was a draw. They had a full complement, while we had 10 out. The future under Ange looks bright. The fans love him… even the media dot over him.

Next up will be the Spammers… all I can say is, bring it on!!!!!

Up the Spurs!

Glenn

COYS!