Match Reflection: Manchester City 6 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Six of the best sees City climb up the table

By Aaron Leggott

Yes, you read the title of that post right. Tottenham not only beaten, but humiliated. It is very rare (in fact, unbelievable) to see a scoreline between two top sides that reflects such a dominant performance, but in truth City should and could have had even more against an embarrassing Spurs side at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

Goals from Sergio Agüero, Álvaro Negredo and Jesús Navas secured another historic victory for the Blues on home turf, and leaves critics questioning the reasons why Manuel Pellegrini's men can't replicate these performances away from home.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Before the match, André Villas-Boas' side had only conceded one goal on the road - a record better than any other team across Europe's top five leagues. 

And to be fair to his side, they played well for all of about 13 seconds, before a poor clearance from Hugo Lloris fell to the path of Agüero. The Argentinian's fierce effort was palmed away from Lloris, but Navas was on hand to expertly chip the ball over his head to give the Blues a dream start.

Villas-Boas will acknowledge his foolishness to play with such a high defensive line at one of the toughest places to visit in Europe, but City were equally as breathtaking with the attacking quartet of Agüero, Negredo, Navas and Samir Nasri proving why City paid what they did for their services. 

Agüero, in particular, was a joy to behold as he grabbed his ninth and tenth league goals in an exhilarating performance. He has now scored more goals than the whole of Tottenham's team - a worry for Daniel Levy after splashing £26m on Roberto Soldado - who is truthfully yet to deliver in a Spurs shirt. 

You get the feeling that Spurs went and purchased the wrong Spanish striker this summer - and Negredo showed Soldado everything that was needed to be a success in the Premier League - strength, power, agility and a clinical edge, he was just as good as Agüero.

In fact, their link-up play proves that the pair can boast one of the best striking partnerships in club football. If it were not for Lloris, this could have been even more embarrassing for the visitors, with Michael Dawson and Younès Kaboul unable to deny this deadly front line. 

But Lloris did not help himself late in the first half - another laboured clearance fell to Fernandinho, whose decision to pick out an unmarked Nasri summarised his assured performance in the centre of midfield. Up against fellow Brazilian's Paulinho and Sandro, he will be sure to give Phil Scolari a few headaches ahead of next summers prestigious international tournament.

Nasri went down the left though, picking out Agüero whose effort was pushed away by Lloris into the path of Negredo, and the Spaniard helped to double City's lead as his volley deflected off Sandro into the goal. 

It was plain sailing from this point on, and Agüero made it three just before half time. A neat ball from Pablo Zabaleta behind Tottenham's defence found Navas, and he was arguably putting in his best performance since joining this summer as his cross found an unmarked Agüero to tap home.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Half time approached, but despite bringing on Emmanuel Adebayor, Spurs were hopeless to prevent a rampant City. A brilliant counter attack from the Blues, spearheaded by Yaya Touré, soon made it 4-0 after the Ivorian powered through the back line before squaring for Agüero, who had yet another simple chance to double his tally. 

It was becoming embarrassing for AVB's team, and Nasri almost made it five from an exquisite chip with the outside of his boot. Negredo succeeded where the Frenchman failed though - and after an unbelievable turn to deceive Dawson, he fired past Lloris to make it 5-0.

In truth, Adebayor was the shining light in an abject performance - bringing a save out of Costel Pantilimon before the Blues broke again. A 60 yard cross field pass from James Milner picked out Navas wonderfully, and with just the keeper to beat he fired home to make it 6-0 in injury time. 

City now play two more home games over the next seven days - and both Viktoria Plzeň and Swansea City must be dreading what could happen when they make the trip to Manchester.

Stats

                         City                                                                                    Tottenham

                          47%                                  Possession                                     53%

                         15 (10)                            Shots (on target)                               13 (5)

                           4                                        Corners                                          7

                           7                                         Fouls                                           11

What did Pellegrini say?

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(c) The Sky Blue View 2013