Mario Balotelli enraged Harry Redknapp and secured Man City's 'other' last-gasp 3-2 win

Published date22 January 2022
Back in January, long before the tension against Queens Park Rangers and with the vital Manchester Derby victory still some way away, City found themselves involved in a title race which still contained three teams, not just the two from the same city

As Roberto Mancini's side prepared to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium, they sat three points clear of United at the top and only five ahead of Harry Redknapp's visitors.

An away win could have blown the title battle wide open. Instead, though, the hosts delivered the kind of victory which would devastate even the hardest-hearted opponent.

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City's start to the season had marked them out as legitimate title contenders, with their 6-1 victory at Old Trafford far from the only example.

Indeed, Spurs had been put to the sword themselves back in August, with Edin Dzeko scoring four of the five goals netted by Roberto Mancini's side at White Hart Lane.

The Londoners had been flying since then, though, winning 14 of their next 19 games and losing just one thanks to significant contributions from the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Rafael van der Vaart and an often-unplayable Gareth Bale.

If there was ever a test of their title credentials, the trip to City was exactly that.

Redknapp had played down Spurs' title hopes after his team dropped points at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, but their challenge was far from over as they prepared to head north.

"I've never said to anybody that we are going to win the league," the manager insisted after Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey had kept his team at bay.

"I know where we are at and if we can get a Champions League position again this season it will be great for us.

"I only answered their question of if it is possible and of course it is possible. Man City and Man United will be red hot favourites to win the league but if we had a fantastic run in the second half like we have had in the first half of the season it could happen."

Spurs were forced into one change against City, with Adebayor unavailable against his parent club, and made another voluntarily as captain Ledley King returned from injury to take the place of Michael Dawson.

The midfield partnership of Luka Modric and Scott Parker remained intact -the only season the pair had together -while Jermain Defoe stood in for Adebayor with Van der Vaart in the number 10 role.

City were unchanged from...

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