City and Spurs take the race for fourth place to the wire
Just when you thought the battle for fourth place couldn’t get any closer, both Spurs and Manchester City managed to win their games at the weekend, meaning Wednesday’s game at Eastlands still has a possible Champions League berth riding on it.
After being defeated by Manchester United last weekend, Tottenham managed a not entirely convincing 1-0 win against Bolton. Meanwhile, City comfortably beat fellow fourth spot chasers Aston Villa 3-1, ending Martin O’Neill’s side’s Champions League dreams for another season.
Like Chelsea and United at the summit, there is just one point between City and Spurs. Tottenham are currently occupying fourth spot with sixty-seven points while Man City remain close behind with sixty-six points. Spurs will be looking to beat City on Wednesday evening and put an end to the issue ahead of the final game of the season.
Roberto Mancini’s side won’t give up easily though and will also be looking for that all important win and three points. City have an advantage over Redknapp’s side given the game will be held at their home ground, although the influence of nerves and expectation on the players should not be overlooked.
Saturday’s game at White Hart Lane saw Tom Huddlestone score the only goal of the game with a superb strike from 22 yards in the last few minutes of the first half. Gareth Bale once again had an excellent game. Bale’s pace and agility left Bolton struggling to keep up with the home side, leaving Wanderers in fourteenth place with just thirty-six points, a total which surely would have seen them relegated in any other season.
It was a nervy affair but the win was all that counted. Given Arsenal’s failure to win at Blackburn yesterday, Spurs now also have the added incentive of beating their bitter North London rivals to third place, an achievement which would cap a season of steady improvement and punish Arsene Wenger’s team for their late season profligacy.
However, Manchester City proved against Villa that they will be no pushovers. In spite of all the talk of dressing room unrest and dissatisfaction amongst the players with Mancini’s approach to training, he has still managed to guide City to within touching distance of fourth spot, his principal aim after having replaced Mark Hughes as manager.
Ironically, it was the three players who have been perceived as being the greatest disruption to the City dressing room that gave Mancini’s side the win, with Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy all finding the back of the net in their victory
City’s emergency loanee goalkeeper Marton Fulop was thrown in at the deep end for this one and he looked to be overawed by the occasion at first, especially when John Carew had put Villa in front after sixteen minutes. He gradually improved however, making a decent save from James Milner, and Mancini will be hoping he can build on this on Wednesday.
O’Neill was understandably disappointed by the result claiming Villa were in command for much of the game. Whilst the Northern Irishman can once again reflect on an impressive season which had included a League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final, he must be wondering what he has to do to bring Champions League football to Villa Park, having this season been leapfrogged by City and Spurs.
Mancini was however thrilled with his team’s win saying, “We kept playing football against a good Villa team. We must now beat Tottenham in a massive game”. He has billed it as his team’s ‘cup final’, and whilst he can go into confidently given his side’s recent form, Redknapp is equally determined for his side to secure the chance of Champions League football. Frankly, this one is too close to call.
Rachel Thompson
