FA Premiership: Manchester City 0 - Tottenham Hotspur 2: Stuart Pearce last night became the latest in a long list of Manchester City managers who know how it feels to be booed off by the club's supporters.
This was the first time he has experienced it in his 30 games in charge, his team having been thoroughly outplayed by a Tottenham side who move six points ahead of Arsenal in the pursuit of fourth place.
Arsenal have a game in hand, but Tottenham, indisputably, are a far more resilient side than in previous seasons, with Aaron Lennon demonstrating why he is so highly regarded and Paul Robinson scarcely troubled once Mido had put them ahead in the first half.
Robbie Keane confirmed their sixth victory in eight games after Mido's flick-on seven minutes from time, a goal that prompted a mass walkout of disgruntled home fans. City have now won two of their last 10 games.
Pearce's team have certainly lost some of the panache that saw them among the early pacesetters. There was even a point when City had led the way, although there were long spells last night when it began to feel like a trick of the imagination.
Now that Gordon Strachan and Martin O'Neill are no longer around, Pearce has established himself ahead of Jose Mourinho as the Premiership's most entertaining patroller of the technical area. Yet even he seemed numbed by City's sterility during those periods when they looked devoid of flair and imagination. Pearce seemed strangely subdued, as though demoralised by what he was witnessing.
There was also the unwanted return of an old phenomenon in these parts: dissenting voices. Since Pearce replaced Kevin Keegan as manager there has been an improved sense of harmony between the crowd and team, so he will have been dismayed to hear fans becoming increasingly impatient with the team. Pearce had complained this season that the stadium was no louder than a library, but these not the type of noises he had anticipated.
Yet City's supporters had good reason to be unhappy given the manner in which Tottenham took hold of an opening 45 minutes most notable for Lennon's invention and athleticism on the right of midfield. Martin Jol was even justified in believing his team's first-half domination warranted more than the one-goal advantage and he will reflect on the volley that Keane flashed wide shortly before half-time.
The breakthrough arrived just after the half-hour and, typical of the first half, it stemmed from an atrocious error by a City player. Sylvain Distin was the man disbelievingly shaking his head after he had misjudged the pace of Paul Stalteri's through ball and made the mistake of trying to allow it to run out for a goal-kick. Lennon, alert as ever, darted in behind Distin to steal possession and, as David James charged off his goal-line, he cut the ball back to Mido on the penalty spot. All the Egyptian had to do was ensure his shot was on target, leaving Distin to remonstrate with James when an apology would have been more appropriate.
Lennon's scampering runs were reminiscent of Shaun Wright-Phillips's performances in a blue shirt.
His penetrative runs continued to worry Ben Thatcher, City's left-back, as Tottenham sought to extend their lead after the break.
The home fans' frustrations could be gauged by the boos that rung out when the talented young full-back Nedem Onuoha was substituted early in the second half. It was reminiscent, again, of the bad old days and Alex Ferguson will certainly have noted the lack of bonhomie. Manchester United's manager was positioned in the VIP seats on a spying mission for the derby on Saturday week.
It was only the last 20 minutes, indeed, that City worked up a head of steam, but within 30 seconds of Bradley Wright-Phillips fizzing their best effort wide Mido had outjumped the hapless Distin for Keane to fire in the second goal.
MAN CITY: James, Onuoha (Sommeil 54), Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Sinclair, Barton, Jihai, Ireland (Croft 70), Cole, Vassell (Wright-Phillips 70). Subs not used: Fowler, Jordan. Booked: Sinclair, Thatcher.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Gardner, Dawson, Lee (Pamarot 74), Lennon (Defoe 84), Carrick, Jenas, Brown, Keane, Mido (Rasiak 89). Subs not used: Cerny, Pedro Mendes. Booked: Carrick, Brown. Goals: Mido 31, Keane 83.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
