Manchester City back into top four as Haaland goal enough to beat Spurs

For 45 minutes, it was tempting to wonder where this version of Manchester City had been hiding. They were energetic and incisive, threatening to tear Tottenham apart. Erling Haaland was back after injury and his 20th goal of the Premier League season – and 28th overall – was scant reward for their dominance.

City’s previous visit to this stadium in late October had brought their first defeat of the season – in the Carabao Cup – and it is remarkable to consider how they have fared since then. Before kick-off here and taking in that result, their record showed 14 losses in 27 games in all competitions. They looked set to make a more coherent statement.Then the second half happened and we were reminded of why City have sunk so far. The conviction evaporated in the face of Spurs showing plenty of it themselves – aggression, too – and the equaliser looked on. Ange Postecoglou’s team were a different beast, pressing hard and they had the chances.

The big one came at the very end and what a story it would have been if Pape Sarr, on as a Spurs substitute, could have adjusted his body to head home after Son Heung-min, who had also come off the bench, had flicked on a Pedro Porro cross. Sarr nodded over. There were 98 minutes on the clock, well over the additional four that had been signalled because of what happened immediately before – a lengthy VAR check on a Haaland effort that stood to make it 2-0. It was ruled out on the field for handball, too hastily according to Pep Guardiola.

Haaland seemed to have gained an advantage with his upper arm to set himself after a touch from another substitute, Phil Foden. The VAR officials could find nothing conclusive to overturn the decision. And so Spurs went straight up to the other end for a moment of high drama. Sarr could not quite bring the house down.

The Spurs support could tell everyone beforehand that they had always won against City in the league at their rebuilt stadium when they had wanted to win. Remember the weirdness around this fixture last season – and the implications of them helping Arsenal to secure the title if they had not lost. Spurs, though, were poor in the first half.

City were in the mood, bristling with attacking intent. Omar Marmoush, up alongside Haaland, caught the eye again while Jérémy Doku was electric on the left. Savinho was a danger on the other flank. All four were involved in the goal and it had been coming, Haaland having swiped at a chance moments earlier.

Marmoush got City moving when he rolled away from Kevin Danso and Savinho found Haaland, who went left to Doku. Haaland made for the middle and when Doku crossed low, the ball deflected and fell for the City No 9. He was close in and never going to miss.

Doku sent chills down spines in the South Stand when he ran with the ball. He worked Guglielmo Vicario with one effort, while he teed up Savinho for a glorious opportunity; the finish was high and wasteful. There was also the moment on the half-hour when Doku set up Haaland, who shot too close to Vicario.

There were boos from the home fans upon the half-time whistle. It is virtually a tradition when their team are behind. They had seen precious little, save for a looping Danso header that Ederson tipped over. From the corner, James Maddison played it short and loose, allowing Doku to intercept and City to break. Spurs were lucky that Matheus Nunes overhit the final pass.

City should have been home and dry but, when the tide turned, it was easy to feel we had seen this movie before. Spurs were better with the ball in the second half, they played with pace and slickness. They looked more like the best version of themselves. Maddison was booked for a horrible tactical foul; he practically rugby-tackled Savinho to stop the break. But the midfielder was otherwise instrumental while Postecoglou’s introduction of Sarr, Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson in one fell swoop made a difference. It was a show of strength; a clear sign that his injury crisis has eased.

Wilson Odobert could not stretch enough to convert a Porro cross and Spurs had other openings. The transformation was stark. City wobbled. Destiny Udogie was close to setting up Mathys Tel. Sarr could not finish after a surge by Spence. Son extended Ederson from a Johnson cross. And then, at the very end, we had Sarr again. Guardiola could smile this time. Did he feel that the old City had returned in the first half? “Never will this season be the old City,” he replied. “The old City was too good. But we’ll be back.”