THFC v MCFC - Officially Embarrassing

Chiriches' expression says it all. Image courtesy of BBC Sport.

Okay, let me just clarify before I get into a full-on rant. Nobody is saying Tottenham should have won tonight. I think we would have been lucky to get a draw. Manchester City are, at the moment, virtually unstoppable; when they hit full flight they are frightening. A side averaging four goals a game are always going to be tough to overcome. All in all, they deserved to win the game.

HOWEVER.

The FA need to release a statement (or the hounds) where tonight's officials are concerned. The whole situation is genuinely farcical. Any feeling of optimism I had was drained by the incredible talents of Sergio Aguero, who, after hitting the post, went on to give his side the lead with a cool finish. It could have been any score before thirty minutes in. However, after just about weathering the storm we began to "Get stuck in!", as Sherwood would have put it. Danny Rose's trickery won a free-kick in dangerous territory. Dangerous was right... Dawson managed to score a perfectly legitimate equaliser. Or so it would seem. In his infinite wisdom, Mr. Linesman (who cannot be named for legal purposes) raised his flag to deny the goal. Fucking wonderful. The replays showed that Dawson was at least seventeen miles onside. But hey, one bad decision won't ruin a game, will it? 1-0 at half time and all to play for in the second half.



If you look really closely you can just about see the 'Fuck Tottenham' embroidery

H O W E V E R.

As if dicking on Tottenham once wasn't enough, the officials again decided to play God. As Edin Dzeko was slid through one on one with Hugo Lloris, Danny Rose's valiant leg flew out of nowhere and touched the ball behind for a corner. Although the tackle was from behind, it was entirely valid as he quite clearly got the ball. No problem, right. Linesman will signal for a corner. Wait a minute... what is he doing with that flag? He's waving for a penalty/simultaneously thrusting it up the backside of Tottenham Hotspur! That's right, City are given the benefit of the immense doubt and are awarded a spot kick. Things can't get much worse for Tottenham...

H   O   W   E   V   E   R

... up steps Andre Marriner to brandish a red card to Danny Rose. Clear goalscoring opportunity denied (albeit by a perfectly timed challenge), and Rose walks. Touré converts the penalty, and it's curtains for Tottenham. Capoue managed to pull a goal back to make it 3-1 at some point even though I thought I dreamt his entire existence but it wasn't enough. City were rampant and enjoyed a big away win at 5-1. Tottenham fans, meanwhile, are left with the bitter taste of defeat for the first time in the league since Sherwood took over and the FA are left with a whole lot of explaining to do.



If you look even closer, you can see "Fuck Tottenham x2" etched in tears.

Still, not all hope is lost. Three points off of fourth spot. Decent enough considering our season supposedly ended in December.

Join me next time when I'll discuss who Tottenham should be aiming to sign before Friday's deadline. If I haven't killed myself.