Offsides mar Spurs’ smashing of Man City, but Kane finally scores

Manuel Pellegrini left out two of his star defensive performers this season so far, keeper Joe Hart and skipper Vincent Kompany, due to injury and illness respectively, and their absences certainly showed.

Home team Tottenham came back from a goal down to completely outclass Manchester City, who will lose top spot in the Premier League table if bitter rivals Manchester United win their 3pm kick-off against Sunderland, and beat them 4-1.

It was City though, who started the match more brightly, after a slow start to the game, with Kevin De Bruyne having the first meaningful shot in the ninth minute, but his audacious effort was off target and not really troubling for Hugo Lloris.

Yaya Toure had the next chance, and in a similar vein was wide. But soon after, finally there was a shot on target, and again from Man City as Sergio Aguero, looking for his second Premier League goal this term, forced Lloris into a good save low to his left.

Spurs just couldn’t get through the City defence, and were then punished on 25 minutes when caught on the counter. De Bruyne carried on his terrific start with his new club, after joining in the summer, and latched onto Toure’s pass before slotting home from an angle to put his side 1-0 up.

Replays showed that the Belgian was perhaps lucky, though, as he should have been called offside.

The visitors didn’t stop there, and this time Raheem Sterling had an effort that would have gone in if not for Lloris’ quality and outstretched right hand.

Tottenham’s first chance came just after the half-hour mark, and the home crowd must have thought Harry Kane was going to get his first club goal of the campaign. However, the young Englishman shot wide from outside the area despite being given so much time.

Just before the break, Kane managed to strike more cleanly, but Willy Caballero was ready for his first save of the match.

That seemed to spur on City, though, and Aleksandar Kolarov smashed at Lloris at the other end, but the pendulum soon swung the other way.

Spurs were second best for much of the half, but Eric Dier’s wonderstrike from far out ensured the two teams were level at the break. Again, a player was offside in the build-up, this time more obviously Kyle Walker, but the hosts certainly wouldn’t have cared.

Caballero did save brilliantly from Son Heung-Min just before Dier’s drill, but was left stranded for the goal after some poor defending.

That clearly affected Pellegrini’s men, as five minutes into the second-half Spurs centre back Toby Alderweireld headed home off a free-kick, from Erik Lamela’s whipped in cross on the right hand side. Caballero was certainly at fault this time as he was standing in no-man’s land.

As expected, City fought back, and Sterling had a decent effort on goal, but was easily collected by Lloris.

Moments later, though, Martin Demichelis, who was booked at half-time for dissent, was extremely lucky not to have been sent off for a foul on Argentine compatriot Lamela.

But karma struck again, as the resulting free-kick saw Kane finally score his first of the season – yes you guessed it, from an offside position. Christian Eriksen smashed the shot onto the bar, with Kane waiting to pounce on the rebound.

In an action-packed second-half, Jesus Navas now had a great chance, but Lloris had to be at his best once more. Sterling also had another opportunity seconds later but couldn’t find the target.

Son thought he had scored in the final quarter of the game, but this time was adjudged offside correctly, although replays showed that had he left the previous header it would have stood to give Spurs a 4-1 lead.

Kane attempted to make it that scoreline not long after, but his vicious effort was blocked by the keeper. On 78 minutes, Lamela did ensure a 4-1 deficit, however, and he made a mockery of compatriots Demichelis and Caballero by turning them both before finishing.

Tottenham’s victory put them level on points with third-placed west Ham United and Leicester City, before the duo’s respective weekend battles. They are now just three points off Man City, who have now lost twice in succession.