Tottenham player ratings v Man City: Porro pitiful with 4/10 as Spence shines
Tottenham Hotspur’s three-game winning streak in the Premier League came to an end with a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City on Wednesday.
Tottenham arguably went into the match as favourites amid City’s patchy form and three wins in a row for the hosts, but the visitors soon took control and took the lead through Erling Haaland from close range.
Man City spurned numerous chances to double their advantage as Spurs clung on until half-time thanks to Guglielmo Vicario, and Ange Postecoglou‘s side grew into the game as the second half went on.
Kevin Danso, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, Son Heung-min and Pape Sarr all had chances to equalise, but it was City who almost added a second at the death, only for Haaland’s goal to be ruled out for handball.
Here, Tottenham News rates each Spurs player’s performance out of 10 against the Citizens.
Pedro Porro run ragged by Jeremy Doku v Manchester City
Guglielmo Vicario – 6
Made two first-half saves from Haaland either side and was given further attention in the second half as the City goalscorer, Doku and Savinho all tested him, but could do nothing about either Haaland finish.
Pedro Porro – 4
Run ragged right from the first whistle by Doku, beating put on his backside early on and routinely beaten down the right by the City winger, but did grow into the game and was dangerous at the other end.
Archie Gray – 6
Forced to clean up for Danso on several occasions but was no more secure at the back as City attacked at will in north London, clattering into Danso as the ball spilled through for Haaland’s second.
Kevin Danso – 5
Caught ball watching as Haaland ghosted in behind him to tap home the opener, but came closest to a first-half equaliser for Spurs with a header tipped over by Ederson, before making some vital blocks in the second half.
Destiny Udogie (off for Djed Spence, 66′) – 5
Was given the run-around by Marmoush and Savinho in the first half as City threw numbers forward at will, but was able to hold his own before being taken off in the second period and got forward to create a superb chance which Tel should have taken.
Lucas Bergvall – 6
Often bypassed by City’s free-running midfield in the first half yet grew into the match with his running from deep helping to spark several Spurs chances, only to nearly gift City a second goal late on.
Rodrigo Bentancur (off for Pape Sarr, 66′) – 5
Yellow carded half an hour in for a foul on Matheus Nunes, Bentancur had two of Spurs’ best chances to equalise on the hour mark with saved headers from successive corners.
Brennan Johnson – 7
Routinely to open City up down the right flank yet constantly ended up running down dead ends, before becoming Spurs’ most dangerous attacker in the second half with two shots blocked and a chance spurned by Kulusevski.
James Maddison (on for Timo Werner, 82′) – 4
Captaining the side with Son Heung-min on the bench, Maddison did his best to carve out chances for the hosts but couldn’t produce much, and was booked for a rugby-esque tackle on Savinho before being withdrawn.
Djed Spence proves his point in Tottenham cameo
Wilson Odobert (off for Son Heung-min, 66′) – 6
Back in the starting XI, Odobert had an early chance for Spurs but couldn’t capitalise as City took control, and somehow missed at the far post in the second from a Porro cross which looked easier to score from.
Mathys Tel (off for Dejan Kulusevski, 66′) – 4
Cut an isolated figure up front for much of the contest and was well marshalled by City’s centre-backs, spurning one of his few chances after being played in by Udogie and being hooked thereafter.
Substitutes:
Djed Spence (on for Destiny Udogie, 66′) – 7 – Thrown on after being bizarrely dropped, Spence immediately produced a superb chance which Son missed and got forward at will late on, looking Spurs’ most dangerous player at times.
Son Heung-min (on for Wilson Odobert, 66′) – 6 – Straight into the final-third action, Son side-footed wide after being played in by Spence with arguably their best chance, following some good link-up play.
Dejan Kulusevski (on for Mathys Tel, 66′) – 5 – Teed up by Johnson on the break from right in front of goal, but a mis-timed finish let City off the hook yet again.
Pape Sarr (on for Rodrigo Bentancur, 66′) – 5 – Didn’t impose himself to the same extent as Bentancur and was booked late on for a professional foul, before missing a golden opportunity from close range at the death.
Timo Werner (on for James Maddison, 82′) – N/A