Maddison leads Spurs surge as City slump to fifth straight defeat

Manchester City’s dismal run extended to five consecutive defeats in all competitions as they were thumped 4-0 by Tottenham on a wet and windy night at the Etihad.

James Maddison grabbed a first-half brace on his 28th birthday, with Pedro Porro and substitute Brennan Johnson also on the scoresheet as Spurs impressed away from home.

City may well have been one of the few sides to welcome to most recent international break given their long injury list and a run that had seen them suffer four consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.

But in a week when the Premier League champions were bouyed by the news of Guardiola’s contract extension, they were reminded in no uncertain terms of the on-pitch predicament they currently find themselves in as they were put to the sword by their rampant visitors from London.

City may well have been thinking they were in for a good night when, after just 15 seconds, Yves Bissouma was booked for a cynical foul on Phil Foden.

Erling Haaland then drew a smart low save from Vicario after some fine work out wide by Savinho as City began to dominate.

But seemingly out of nothing, the entire complexion of the game changed as Spurs went ahead.

Dejan Kulusevski, arguably Tottenham’s player of the season so far, did well to collect the ball on the right before cutting inside Josko Gvardiol and sending an inch-perfect cross for Maddison, who finished first time.

It was yet another addition to what has been a collection of forgettable moments for City in recent weeks. Groans could be heard around the Etihad with barely 15 minutes gone.

Spurs went close to doubling the lead when Heung-min Son curled a goal-bound effort that Ederson, at full stretch, had to tip round the post.

Then, just moments later, City’s misery was compounded when Spurs and Maddison grabbed a second following a slick passing move.

After Gvardiol had squandered possession, the ball found its way to Son, who sent a reverse pass into the path of Tottenham’s number 10 who took a touch before delicately chipping the ball over the onrushing City keeper.

The hosts were stunned and for the rest of the half struggled to contain Spurs’ dynamic forward line.

Both Dominic Solanke and Bissouma blasted efforts over the bar as Guardiola went into the break with more than a little work to do.

And the job was made even more difficult seven minutes after the restart when Spurs made it three.

Kulusevski was again the architect, dancing past several players before playing a one-two with Son and then finding Solanke with a driven cross from the right.

The England striker in turn teed up Pedro Porro who confidently side-footed the ball home, much to the delight of the travelling support.

The stormy weather around the UK this weekend was perhaps a rather too on-the-nose metaphor for the predicament Guardiola’s side found themselves in.

But as the ran lashed down, the City boss cut an animated and agitated figure on the sideline; his team far from the assured, free-flowing footballing machine the world has become accustomed to.

Haaland rattled the bar with an effort but it increasingly looked to be another difficult evening for the champions.

Kulusevski then went close on the counter attack before Haaland again had a chance but he could not keep his header down.

With just under 20-minutes remaining, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish were brought on as the hosts tried to salvage something from the contest.

But it Postecoglou’s substitutions that proved most impactful when, deep into second-half stoppage time, Timo Werner and Brennan Jonhson – both off the bench – combined to make it four and rub further salt into the gaping City wound.

Spurs were very good throughout, but on a day when Storm Bert wreaked havoc up and down the UK,  blue side of Manchester very much remained under grey skies.

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