The Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on Wednesday Dec 16 2009.
Mark Hughes has predicted that only one club can realistically break into the so-called 'big four’ this season and, increasingly, that team looks unlikely to be Manchester City.
A second league defeat of the campaign is not in itself evidence of a crisis — every other club has lost at least three — but the simple statistic of only one win in 10 is rather more than a blip.
It also offers compelling evidence that combined transfer fees in excess of £200 million over the past 18 months were not wisely invested.
Urgent improvement is needed just to stay in contention for a Champions League place next season; an achievement that is widely believed to be the minimum aim of the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.
Man City have now slipped to eighth following this 3-0 defeat.
Much attention will focus on the anonymity of Robinho and City’s inadequacy in attack (their front-line last night cost around £80 million), but they were also exposed in defence where the back-up looks inadequate.
Even more worrying, Hughes was out-thought by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose obvious tactic of directing most of his team’s attacks through Aaron Lennon was never really negated.
Hughes and City were dealt a significant blow before a ball was even kicked when it emerged that Joleon Lescott had undergone surgery on his knee to remove some floating bone and so would be unavailable for around six weeks.
It meant a rare start for the former England Under-21 international Nedum Onuoha alongside Kolo Toure while Robinho, who is now fully recovered from a stress fracture to his ankle, replaced the suspended Craig Bellamy in a three-pronged City attack with Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez.
With Tevez exuding a constant willingness to get on the ball following his two goals against Bolton on Saturday, City made the brighter start as the Argentinian narrowly dragged a left-footed effort wide.
Tevez was also interchanging constantly with Emmanuel Adebayor who, judging by the boos every time he touched the ball, has managed to unite both Arsenal and Tottenham supporters in their mutual disdain.
Adebayor's unpopularity across north London is perhaps also explained by the fact that he has previously scored six goals in seven games for Arsenal against Tottenham, although he struggled initially to make any impression on a defence that has been well marshalled by Michael Dawson in the absence of Ledley King.
Indeed, as the first-half unfolded, it was Tottenham and in particular Aaron Lennon who posed the greatest threat. Lennon has blossomed as a right winger of genuine international class under Harry Redknapp and, with the 35 year-old Sylvinho currently deputising for Wayne Bridge at left-back, it was clear that Tottenham were determined to exploit that glaring weakness.
In fairness, Sylvinho does still possess a sharp footballing brain and sound positioning sense but, on the occasions he was caught one-on-one with Lennon, there was only one winner.
The first clear chance arrived when Lennon surged to the by-line and crossed accurately to the edge of the penalty area, only for Niko Kranjcar to shoot wastefully wide.
Jermain Defoe also had clear opportunities as a direct result of Lennon's pace and precision. Tottenham appealed for a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Defoe from Toure and the England forward also shot wide following another Lennon cross.
When Tottenham did finally take the lead it was little surprise that the source of the goal should be Lennon. Every Tottenham player was immediately looking to switch the play to Lennon every time they received the ball and, from Kranjcar's pass, he again got behind Sylvinho and crossed for Peter Crouch.
His header was blocked by Stephen Ireland but Kranjcar had continued his run and followed in to convert the rebound and give Tottenham a deserved lead. In mitigation to Sylvinho, the defensive protection that was being offered in front of him by Robinho was pretty much non-existent.
Crouch also had an excellent opportunity to double the advantage shortly before half-time yet his scuffed shot was easily smothered by Shay Given following a cute pass from Defoe.
Surprisingly, Hughes made no attempt to may any tactical changes at half-time as Sylvinho remained exposed at left-back.
However, the second Tottenham goal was the result of a direct approach, rather than any intricate passing.
Heurelho Gomes launched a long ball into the Tottenham penalty area. Crouch, unsurprisingly, rose highest and guided his header into the path of Defoe.
The danger should still have been cleared but Toure’s positioning was suspect and he completely missed the ball as Defoe pounced for his 14th goal of the season.
Tottenham now looked in complete control as City’s makeshift defence looked unable to cope with the attacking variations offered by Defoe, Crouch, Lennon and Kranjcar.
When City did create a flurry of chances in the closing minutes, their forwards were wasteful, with Tevez particularly culpable. Their misery was completed in injury-time when Lennon (who else?) fed Kranjcar to complete an emphatic victory.
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