Manchester City turned on the dominant style that has been expected of them for so long to secure an emphatic, scinitillating win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Edin Dzeko scored four and Sergio Aguero added one more, with new signing Samir Nasri creating three of the five goals Manchester City scored in a wonderful display.
I think it would be harsh on Tottenham to say that they were never in the game. After thirty seconds, Aaron Lennon had fired a shot wide, and before City had forced Spurs' keeper Brad Friedel into a save, Gareth Bale and van der Vaart had both tested City's defensive resolve.
City then started to turn on the style; David Silva extended Friedel twice, before Gareth Barry struck the ball inches wide from the edge of the area. But it wasn't long after, that a neat move between Nasri and Aguero set up the Frenchman with a perfect chance to pick out Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian tapped in his third goal of the season from five yards and put City in front.
Peter Crouch headed wide for Tottenham when it seemed easier to score, but it wasn't long before City added a second; Yaya Toure, David Silva and Samir Nasri combined on a swift break to give Edin Dzeko a gift of a chance. Dzeko headed back across goal and into the far corner, flat footed Friedel and put City 2-0 up at White Hart Lane before half-time.
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Ten minutes into the second half, Dzeko completed his hat-trick by tapping in from close-range. Yaya Toure got in behind the Spurs' defence and played it across the goal mouth, where Dzeko waited. A first City hat-trick for Dzeko, and a 5th goal of the season.
Spurs should have had a goal when Defoe's long shot was pushed over the bar by Hart, and they did when the resulting corner was headed in by an unmarked Kaboul. Manchester City conceding from another set-piece will be food for thought for City managed Roberto Mancini.
But even in the 90th minute, City weren't done; Edin Dzeko got away from Assou-Ekotto, played a one-two with Barry and fired a left foot curler from 25 yards right into the far corner of Friedel's net. An early contender for Finish of the Season in my eyes, to accompany an early contender for Performance of the Season.
Ratings-
Hart 7 - Made some good saves, nothing he could do about the goal really.
Zabaleta 7 - Controlled Bale well when asked to.
Kompany 7 - Not at his best, but wasn't required to be.
Lescott 8 - Very good in the air throughout.
Clichy 6 - Got caught by Lennon running in behind, but did well going forward.
Yaya Toure 7 - Good performance let down by poor defending for Spurs' goal.
Barry 9 - Tackled, passed, orchestrated attacks, excellent.
Nasri 9 - 3 assists on his debut, looks like part of the furniture.
Silva 8 - Not at his best, but still very dangerous.
Aguero 7 - A quiet game by his standards, but took his goal brilliantly
Dzeko 10 - 4 goals in one game. That's a faultless performance for me.
