Tottenham extended their perfect start to life under new boss Thomas Frank by stunning Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad to claim their second win of the Premier League season.
Spurs have developed a reputation as City’s bogey team in recent years, taking their tally of wins in the blue half of Manchester to three from their previous five meetings, which included a 4-0 thrashing last November amid City’s famous collapse.
Frank’s tactical approach, like predecessor Ange Postecoglou, highlighted all City’s most prominent weaknesses. This is only the sixth time under Pep Guardiola that they have trailed in a home league game by two or more goals at half-time, with Tottenham now responsible for half of those.
James Trafford shows his disappointment after gifting Spurs a second goal at the Etihad
Spurs struck clinically on the counter via a breakaway Brennan Johnson goal, needing VAR to overturn a wrongful offside decision, before home debutant James Trafford revealed himself to be far less composed on the ball than the absent Ederson – who has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, and watched on from the bench.
Trafford’s howler gifted Joao Palhinha his first goal in Tottenham colours in first-half stoppage time, and, despite the reintroduction of both Phil Foden and Rodri in the second period, City were far from the creative-rich outfit that stuck four past Wolves last weekend.
The visitors came away with the points their performance deserved – an impressive response to the disappointment of having their move for Eberechi Eze hijacked by Arsenal this week – and allowed the away fans to gleefully chant “we are top of the league”. How long the early-season ecstasy will last remains to be seen.
