Tottenham Hotspur ended their 3 game winning run in the Premier League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Erling Haaland’s 12th minute goal ended up being the only goal of the game as Pep Guardiola’s side secured all three points to continue their fight for a top 4 finish.
Spurs made a slow start to the game and were completely dominated by the visitors. The scoreline could have been more but Guglielmo Vicario made some great saves to keep his side in the game as they went into the break just a goal down.
Ange Postecoglou’s half-time talk worked as Tottenham came out a completely different side and turned the tide for the next 45 minutes. It was the Lilywhites who dominated the half, making a number of chances but failed to put them away. Wilson Odobert missed one just ten minutes into the second half, while Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel also missed a couple of half-chances.
The biggest miss of the game came in stoppage time when Porro’s cross deflected off Son’s back and fell for Pape Matar Sarr who just had to head it into the goal but instead ,he ended up heading it over the bar to Ange’s disbelief.
There was some late controversy as well, as Haaland slotted in City’s second but the goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check.
The VAR check led to an already-prolonged stoppage time enter into its ninth minute before the referee blowing the whistle for full-time. This sparked protests from Tottenham’s players, with Heung-min Son seen involved in a heated moment with the match referee Jarred Gillet.
Erling Haaland proves to be the match-winner for Manchester City as they win 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kQY4Tgmgwl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 26, 2025
Ex-PGMOL chief believes Heung-min Son could be reported to the FA
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett did not like Son’s post time behaviour towards Gillet who he believes had an otherwise decent game.
In fact, he believes not only should the South Korean have been shown a yellow card, but the referee could report him to the FA in his match report.
He told Tottenham News:
“Jarred Gillet has delivered two very good performances in recent days. His movement and maintaining contact with play throughout was excellent and his decision-making was made with confidence.”
“His judgement about that handball and disallowed goal was perhaps the only point that I would make any comment about. He decided that a handball had taken place and ruled out a Man City goal.
“The Spurs players should look at themselves and I hope that the referee will include in his report the behaviour of Son, who was rather fortunate to escape a sanction for his clear and sustained protest.
“Did Son not see that a goal by Manchester City had been ruled out by Gillet?
“If he was protesting about the amount of time added on he should read Law 5. It states that the referee is the sole timekeeper.
“I feel Son was clutching at straws in this one. I would have liked Gillet to have shown him a yellow card in order for him to re-assert his authority.”
