Spurs continue revival under Harry
Gelson Fernandes' sending off badly affected Manchester City's gameplan
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Sunday, 09, Nov 2008 09:19
Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat nine-man Manchester City 2-1 at Eastlands.
After falling behind to Robinho's early goal, Darren Bent struck twice to move Spurs out of the relegation zone.
The turning point came when Gelson Fernandes was sent off for two bookable offences after half an hour.
Richard Dunne was dismissed on 83 minutes for a professional foul while Benoit Assou-Ekotto was sent off for Spurs in the last minute.
City's third straight league defeat sees them slip to 12th place in the Premier League table.
Harry Redknapp's men made a bright start with Luka Modric curling a shot inches wide in the ninth minute.
But against the run of play, the home side grabbed the lead when Heurelho Gomes could only parry Darius Vassell's shot allowing Robinho to stab in the rebound from eight yards.
Hughes' men were reduced to ten men on the half hour mark when Fernandes was given a second yellow for tripping David Bentley, having earlier been cautioned for fouling Modric.
City had Joe Hart to thanks for keeping them ahead after a stunning save to tip Modric's effort around the post.
But Spurs' man advantage eventually paid off when Richard Dunne failed to clear, allowing Bent to round Hart and slot in the equaliser.
David Bentley came agonizingly close to giving the visitors a half-time lead after a mazy run but blazed inches over.
The second half began in thrilling fashion with Dunne going close to giving City the lead when his header was parried by Gomes with Jonathan Woodgate hooking the ball clear.
And Spurs punished that miss by taking the lead on 64 minutes when Bent collected Jermaine Jenas' through ball to lash the ball in off the post for his eighth goal of the season.
Despite having ten-men, the home side continued to battle with Stephen Ireland going close with a volley that Gomes tipped over the bar.
But their hopes of salvaging something were destroyed when Dunne was given his marching orders by referee Mike Dean for bringing down Bent on 83 minutes.
The visitors looked to have given City hope when Assou-Ekotto was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Pablo Zabaleta, but Spurs held on during a frenetic final few minutes to remain unbeaten under Redknapp.