A Spurs Fan’s perspective as new-look Tottenham takes on a Manchester City side with a point to prove

As the hulking presence of Younes Kaboul burst down the right wing, there was a somewhat desperate hope that Spurs might just nick something at the death of that fateful game in May 2010. After Fulop parried the cross, Peter Crouch was there to emphatically home in front of the travelling Tottenham contingent.

Since that day the fixture between Tottenham and Manchester City has become more than just another match for me as a Spurs fan. Both clubs have constantly battled with each other for a top four spot, but more recently even for a place in the Champions League final.

It was yet another exhilarating finish that saw Tottenham get through, with Raheem Sterling’s late effort cancelled out. Despite losing on the night, it was a fantastic match.

Now, another fixture between the two sides looms in very different circumstances to the last encounter in February.

Not only has the world been turned upside down by a virus, but the Premier League table looks somewhat upturned to the usual top four. For me the latter is good news, with Spurs sitting relatively pretty at second place.

But despite there being an eight-place difference between Spurs and City, there are only five points between the two sides. And, City have a game in hand.

So, things aren’t quite so pretty for Spurs, and this becomes a match of much greater significance than second versus tenth. Relatively early in the season it is not quite the magnitude of May 2010 or of last year’s Champions League final battle, but one that could have bigger importance down the line.

Gabriel Jesus has been in good form with two goals in as many league matches and could trouble our defence. Since the departure of Jan Vertonghen, Mourinho has tinkered with different defensive shapes and pairings. Eric Dier blows hot and cold, as does Davinson Sanchez, leaving Toby Alderweireld as the only reliable centre-back against the attacking threats of City. Indeed, it is hard to isolate just one threat, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling just to name two more.

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s red card in the last match in the 60^th minute changed the game, and to my delight, Spurs scored first through Steven Bergwijn and then Son Heung-Min to make it job done by 71 minutes.

But, in this new world and new season, there could be a very different result, with new personnel also involved.

It will be exciting to see Gareth Bale potentially back in action against City. He is not his former self quite yet, but it will be good to see him tested against quality opposition.

Bale could be up against his old Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker, where there is not likely to be any bad blood, but instead a long overdue reunion.

With both teams unbeaten in their last five, this is a hard match to predict. There are two great attacking frontlines and two of the lowest conceding defences in the league. But, perhaps Spurs have an even better squad and with Kane fit compared to the last outing which may just nick this one at home. Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester City.

Article by Declan from SpursForLife.com.