Righto, that’s it from me for now. Chelsea-Villa is still 0-0, and don’t forget that Arsenal, the league leaders, meet Brighton at 6.45pm tonight.
In the meantime, you can follow the 2pm Premier League kick-offs here:
Otherwise, ta-ra.
Gareth Taylor days it was a big win and the team are more than capable of going on a run. He didn’t think it was a pretty game and the goal was ugly too, but Spurs are having a good season so he’s really pleased. On Roebuck, he says you can’t take risks with concussion issues, so they made the call to take her off.
City have decent-looking games coming up, but as Taylor notes, things don’t work like that, and as well as league fixtures, they’ve got Everton in the cup coming up. He notes that the pitch was especially tricky in the penalty boxes, and adds that in the first half, his team weren’t using the flanks enough – something we noted during that period too. But City are still in the top-three hunt.
Georgia Stanway, the player of the match, says the pitch and conditions were difficult, so they just had to get a result. She says that at half-time, they were told to work the ball out of defence differently, and show some composure in the final third.
There are now 75 minutes gone at Kingsmeadow; it’s still Chelsea 0-0 Villa.
Spurs will be disappointed to have defended so well but still lost to a scrappy one. They remain three points behind Man United, who are in the final Champions League spot, while City now sit five points boff, with a game in hand.
Full-time: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester City
Spurs competing well in the first half, but City were well worth their win.
90+7 min We’re still going, and Spurs have finally found the wherewithal to attack, Neville sticking one in behind, which Keating gathers.
90+6 min Now here comes Spurs, Green lofting one of the top for Ayane as Keating and Bronze leave it to each other ... but between them they fiddle a clearance.
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90+4 min City have kept trying for a clincher, but when Beckie finds Weir she heads for the corner flag; Percival, though, isn’t letting her linger, quickly getting the ball away. It comes straight back.
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90+3 min A final change for Spurs, Addison replacing Clemaron and given three minutes to assert herself. Good luck, old mate.
90+2 min The ball remains where it’s spent almost the entirety of the second 45: deep inside the Spurs half. Can the home side find a Hail Mary?
90 min There’ll be six added minutes.
90 min Spurs properly put it in in the first half, but they’ve been totally outmatched since.
88 min Chelsea-Villa is still 0-0, and there’s now over an hour gone. If they can’t score, Arsenal will be top by three points tonight.
87 min Keating replaces Spencer.
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86 min Ach, poor Spencer is down, and I think she’s complaining of blurred vision after wearing that challenge from Neville. Hopefully she’s ok, but she’ll have to go off – godspeed.
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84 min Brilliant from Stanwway, collecting possession after an error from Summanen and running at Clemaron, dropping a shoulder and weaving past. She’s got White to her right and should probably roll her in, but on a boust opts to shoot, sending an effort just over the top. That was the best bit of play we’ve seen today.
84 min Elsewhere, Leeds lead Norwich 1-0, Rodrigo with the goal, and Watford lead at Southampton, through Hernandez.
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82 min Blackstad has been since coming on and she drags the ball forward then finds the overlapping Beckie, whose cross is cleared.
81 min Roebuck takes her time over a goalkick and is booked.
80 min City give it away in centrefield and Clemaron finds Summanen, who sees Roebuck slightly off her line and, with nothing to go on this half, panics into a hopeful chip that dribbles nowhere near anywhere.
78 min Contesting a high ball, Bartrip jumps through White, and City get their passing going again. They’ll want another goal, but it seems unlikely they’ll need one.
77 min Spurs send Tang on for Cho.
76 min White comes short aid finds Beckie who finds Stanway who finds Park, but her hopefully return-ball, too dinky for the tight situation, is intercepted.
75 min Which is emphasised when City withdraw Hemp, who’s had a disappointing afternoon, and replace her with Beckie.
74 min Spurs have had nothing for City this half, and we learn that Williams was indeed injured; Summanen is now up front, which tells you a major difference between the sides: their squads.
73 min Ledley King is in the crowd. What a player he was; what a player he could’ve been.
71 min Roebuck’s down briefly, but she’s soon back up moving her neck gingerly.
69 min Harrop pings a decent high pass into the box and Neville attacks it, clattering Roebuck instead. But the keeper does well to snatch it, and Neville is booked; I think that’s harsh, because though she handed out bang to the head, she couldn’t pull out of the challenge with the bball there to be won.
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69 min I’d not say Raso played well today, but her threat down the right made the difference this half, and also the goal.
68 min That’s Raso’s final contribution – she’s replaced by Park.
67 min City are opening Spurs up down the right, Raso again crossing seeking Hemp, but Spurs block her off.
67 min City have played pretty well second half. I’d expect them to add another goal or two here, unless Spurs can find a way of retaining possession. Otherwise, weight of pressure will tell.
65 min Back at Kingsmeadow, at half-time it’s Chelsea 0-0 Villa
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GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester City (Weir 64)
It’s been coming. Bronze drives forward for the first time today and slips a ball into the path of Raso, outside her. With no clear lane to any of her mates in front of goal, she drills a low cross that Spencer again fists away, but directly against the unfortunate Bartrip ... and Weir is there to prod home the loose ball. Can Spurs raise it?
63 min For the first time this half, Spurs get decent possession in the City half, Neville pumping a cross that Ayane can’t quite reach.
60 min Stanway measures a fine ball in behind for Raso, at inside-right, and though she’s got an option in the middle, there are defenders between her and it, so she rifles a riser that Spencer fists clear. That shot needed to be low, so the keeper couldn’t get such a solid contact, giving White a potential opportunity to tidy up the rebound.
59 min Neville wriggles away from Blackstad, so Greenwood ploughs through her and is booked.
58 min The corner is cleared, but Greenwood sticks the ball back into the box ... and again, Spencer does really well to punch away. She’s done really well with crosses so far.
57 min Blackstad has made a difference and she catches Neville in possession then finds Weir who finds Raso down the right. But Bartrip comes across to help Harrop, and concedes a corner.
55 min City are dominating now. They’re still struggling to create, but so far this half, Spurs have barely crossed into their half, never mind threatened.
53 min ...and she flights over the near side of the wall, but boom into the foot of the near post! In fairness, it was the outside and I think Spencer had it covered, but still great effort.
52 min I think it’s going to be Caroline Weir...
52 min Blackstad goes down the left and crosses low, but Percival blocks behind, then Spencer punches the corner just about clear enough. City recycle, Bartrip making a crucial header, then Green flattens Stanway and City have a free-kick just outside the D, just left of centre.
51 min Football fans should be free to enjoy the game without pondering the intricacies of geopolitics – they’ve been badly let down by the authorities and the government – but ultimately, you either think there are values more important than “winning football matches,” or you don’t.
50 min Meanwhile, in the Absolute Sake department:
“Chelsea’s skint and the Mags are rich.” 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4jxx8mn2ZQ
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) March 13, 2022
49 min Stanway finds Weir down the left, but her hopeful low cross is easily blocked clear.
47 min In their last three games, City were 0-0, 0-1 and 0-1; they won them all, 1-0, 4-1 and 3-1. Spurs will do well to pay attention.
46 min Change apiece at half-time, Spurs sending on Green for Williams – I wonder if she’s injured – and City replacing the strangely quiet Stokes with Blackstad.
46 min We go again.
Back come the teams. City huddle, but maybe just to share body-warmth.
I’ll be back shortly, but in the meantime, there’s plenty else going on for your delectation.
Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester City
Spurs have been good and the better team; City have been miserable.
45+3 min Weir battles into the Spurs box and finds White, to her right; this is a half-chance but the best of the game ... which White can only sidefoot straight at Spencer.
45+3 min I don’t think there’s been a proper chance in the game so far, but here’s Raso chasing down the right in behind Harrop and cutting into the box. She’s got Weir bellowing for a pass too, but opts to shoot wide instead. That was a significant oversight.
45+1 min Neville, fed by Summanen, pumps a cross into the box and Bronze heads clear, but Ayane gathers the loose ball and swivels into the shot which flies just wide of the near post.
45 min There’ll be three added minutes.
44 min Raso, back on the right, collects a pass sent out to her by Whit – after Stanway runs through Summanen without being penalised – but Harrop sees the ball out for a corner. It comes to nowt.
43 min City are going to get a talking-to at half-time. They’ve been rubbish – significantly because Spurs have been excellent.
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41 min Presumably this praise is for the big coat.
Gaffer 🙌
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 13, 2022
⚪️ 0-0 🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/1eiPk2AgUw
39 min So far, we’ve hardly seen Lucy Bronze as an attacking threat – most of City’s attacking play, such as it’s been, has come down the left and through the middle.
38 min Summanen sends Cho racing to the line but she can’t quite get around the ball, then Spurs spread wide to Percival, who slings over a decent cross ... but Roebuck does really well to come and claim, under pressure from Williams.
37 min A hump over the top has Raso chasing it, but Spencer calls Percival off it, collecting as her mate shields the ball.
36 min Elsewhere, Chelsea and Villa is just under way, and 0-0 after five minutes.
35 min Ach, Simon, who has stitches still visible in her finger, can’t continue; Ayane replaces her.
32 min Hemp tries to flick past Harrop down the right, but the defender just stands her ground and absorbs the collision. Hemp takes a drink and a bit of treatment.
31 min Simon seems to have dislocated her pink, and doesn’t much fancy looking at it – as you wouldn’t. She walks to the side, to have it yanked back into place – just want you want of a Sunday dinner.
29 min Stanway tries to make her way across the face of the box and has Weir available, having evaded Clemaron. But instead of playing her in, she tries a shot, which Neville blocks at source.
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28 min But here’s Raso pulling left – she’s swapped flanks with Hemp – and cutting inside, looking to swivel into a shot inside the near post. But Zadorsky reads it, and blocks easily enough.
28 min Spurs started confidently – that’s testament to Skinner – and have become more so over the half.
27 min Spurs try a short corner on which, presumably, they’ve been working; it doesn’t work, and I’m surprised it’s not just mixahd.
26 min Williams drops deep, collects a difficult ball, swivels, and slticks a pass in behind for Neville down the right. She does really well to catch up with it, sliding into a cross that’s blocked behind.
26 min Williams returns.
25 min Williams is off the pitch with an inhaler as Hemp goes down the left, but Bartrip gets to her cross prior to Weir.
23 min Something I’ve been wondering about these last few weeks: is Vivianne Miedema the best footballer in the world, men or women’s game? I’m thinking aye.
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21 min City are struggling to get their passing going, and when Neville blocks one, Roebuck has to charge out and clear before Cho can get there. Immediately, Hemp counters ... but Spurs funnel back well, Zadorsky making the crucial intervention.
19 min So far, this match reminds me a little of City’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham earlier in the season – except Spurs are showing greater attacking enterprise.
18 min Bronze gets a weak header on the cross, the Stokes clears unconvincingly.
17 min Clemaron feels a knee in the back from White, and takes a moment – as you might. Meantime, Percival will swerve another ball in...
16 min The corner is a decent one too, Williams leaping with Spencer, who does just enough to put her off, ball skidding off brow and away.
15 min City might just be improving, Raso doing well to conjure a yard then slide a reverse-pass in behind for Stanway ... whose cut-back is blocked away, then Stokes concedes a corner when Percival overlaps and tries a cross. Spurs will have prepared for these opportunities...
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14 min But here comes Stanway, easing through midfield, but just as the shooting lane opens, she feels Clemaron’s breath on her neck and rushes, sending a sidefooter a few yards wide from just outside the box.
13 min So far, this isn’t the game I was expecting. Spurs aren’t just sitting off, and City haven’t got the rhythm of their passing going yet.
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11 min Better from City, Hemp collecting a lovely ball from Walsh in space and veering inside away from Percival ... it’s opening up here! But rather than put laces through it, she tries a sidefooter that I think Spencer has covered, but Bartrip blocks really well to make sure.
10 min Clemaron yanks down Stanway and escapes a a yellow card, then the free-kick is pumped aimlessly into the box.
8 min Spurs will be delighted with how this opening passage has gone; they’ve actually crafted more moves approximating to attacks than City, and as I type that, Williams takes a pass from Simon, turns and holds off Walsh easily, before walloping a shot from distance that flies high and wide. I’d like to have seen her drive into the box from that position.
6 min Spurs are playing 4-5-1, with Neville, in behind Williams, given licence to roam. And here she is now, drifting right and looking to arc a ball inside to meet the run of Summanen. There’s too much pop on it, so Roebuck collects, but that’s a nice idea nonetheless.
5 min Stanway spreads for Hemp, who crosses for Raso at the back stick, but Harrop is up early and well to thunk away.
3 min Spurs progress upfield by way of throws, trying to play off Williams, who’s a proper presence up front. But they can’t get players around her, and City quickly crowd her out.
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2 min Spurs look a little nervous as they try and close spaces – there’s something a bit frenetic about the way they’re running about, while City work their passing. The pitch, though, is not conducive to that, bobbly and cut-up.
1 min Away we go!
The players take the knee. All black lives matter.
Here come the teams! I’m only a few miles away from the Hive, so can confirm that it’s absolutely minging out there.
Earlier in the week, Zadorsky told BBC that Spurs won’t have as much of the ball as they’d like, but that they’ll be organised and solid, as well as dangerous on the counter.
Rehanne Skinner says her team are ready and looking forward to the challenge of playing City, while Gareth Skinner is feeling “pretty good”. He’s had a good week to work with his players, and the Conti Cup “seems a long time ago”. Course it does, old mate.
I can’t think of anyone better-placed to steer a club through the Abramovich situation than Emma Hayes, who we’re now watching, and I hope that whoever ends up taking over gives the women’s team the support it deserves – by virtue of existing, not because it’s a good one – as a non-negotiable.
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City had never beaten Chelsea in a final before last weekend. The more I think about this, the more I fear for Spurs.
And, more recently, in the League Cup.
When the sides met earlier in the season...
That City midfield – Walsh, Stanway, Weir – is useful. Clemaron and Summanen will have to work hard to disrupt them, because if they get enough decent ball to feed Hemp and Raso down the sides, Spurs are in big troble.
Spurs will need an absolutely monstrous performance from Shelina Zadorsky today. I think she’ll be moving over from left-back to centre-back, which makes sense – he organisational skills will be as important as her defensive skills.
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As you might expect, City are unchanged – and have serious options on the bench.
What does it all mean? Spurs make two changes from last weekend’s nauseating draw at Reading. In net, Spencer replaces Korpela, while Ale loses her place to Cho; I think Percival will play right-back, with Cho off the right behind Williams.
Let's have some teams...
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Spencer; Percival, Bartrip, Zadorsky, Harrop; Clemaron, Summanen; Cho, Neville, Simon; Williams. Subs: Korpela, Ale, Schnaderbeck, Green Ayane, Addison, Tang.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Roebuck; Bronze, Kennedy, Greenwood, Stokes; Walsh, Stanway, Weir; Raso, White, Hemp. Subs: Keating, Coombs, Beckie, Angeldahl, Park, Shaw, Blakstad.
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Preamble
It’s been a terrible season for Manchester City – a ridiculous thing to say about a team which, just last week, won the League Cup. But a poor start in the league, coupled with qualifying-round Champions League elimination left them scrounging for crumbs, not the intention when the season began.
It’s true that City have only won the WSL once, in 2016, but they were second the season before, likewise in in the five since then, but now sit fifth in the table 14 points off the lead and eight points off the Champions League – though have two games in hand on Arsenal, top, and Manchester United, third, respectively. They’ve a lot of work to do.
Spurs, on the other hand, have improved a lot. City are where they are partly because Spurs beat them at home early in the season, momentum they’ve milked ever since; they lie fourth, five points in front but having played a game more. They’ll want to look up, but will be struggling not to look down.
That’s because City are gathering steam. They eased past Spurs in the League Cup semis and have also beaten their local rivals twice in recent weeks, once in the league and once in the cup by way of thrashing. There aren’t many teams able to deal with Caroline Weir, Ellen White and Lauren Hemp all at the same time, but only Arsenal and Chelsea, the top two, have conceded fewer goals than Spurs this season, and they’ll be confident of closing down space – though less so of where their goals might be coming from. It’s one thing to shut down space, another to deploy gamebreaking brilliance and clinical finishing.
Which is to say that this has the making of a fascinating match – don’t you go changing.
Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT
