Mauricio Pochettino's challengers are tenacious, energetic and determined, a far cry from a City side incapable of attacking well and defending solidly at the same time
For the optimists among the Manchester City fan base, let us first address the positives: Manuel Pellegrini's men are no worse off - points-wise - than they were last weekend. But that's about the best they can take from this match as Tottenham ruthlessly exposed some key differences between these two teams.
Spurs, firmly in this harem-scarem title race, demonstrated once more that they have what it takes to go all the way. They may have had a helping hand from referee Mark Clattenburg, who judged that Danny Rose's cross was stopped by Raheem Sterling's arm, but it is a fully deserved victory, one born out of the characterisitics that have got them this far: organisation, tenacity, energy and individual brilliance.
While this was far from City's worst performance of the season, they look devoid of those vital traits. Indeed, only the individual talent of Kelechi Iheanacho gave them a foothold in the match, the youngster's emphatic finish drawing his side level and offering some hope.
There had been organisation in the first period, but when Pellegrini introduced Iheanacho in place of Fernando, who alongside Fernandinho helped ensure City did look organised in a first half devoid of chances, it opened up a chasm in midfield. Heung Min Son had a chance to make it 2-0 before Iheanacho struck, and while City got themselves back on level terms they had exposed themselves at the same time, and it was in that midfield space that Erik Lamela advanced to set up Christian Eriksen for the late winning goal.
It is one of the Blues' key issues this season: they seem incapable of defending solidly and attacking brilliantly at the same time. Given their injuries in attacking midfield positions, David Silva's persistent ankle problem, Raheem Sterling's inability to pick a way through deep, disciplined defences and a bad day at the office for Sergio Aguero, they struggled to create many opportunities of note as their two Brazilians sat back and protected what has been a leaky defence on too many occasions.
City had done well to tighten things up after last weekend's thrashing by Leicester City, but their issues were laid bare when that defensive-minded set-up was altered.
The Blues have shown on numerous occasions this season and in previous years that they can never be written off, and they did attack much better after going a goal down, but against as determined and clinical a side as Tottenham it was dangerous to throw everything at it, and they paid a price.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are simply too sophisticated for this tired, beleaguered City squad, seemingly limping towards the end of the season.
But to return to that positive, they are still just six points behind the Foxes. While Arsenal and Tottenham will no doubt take a great deal of forward momentum from their impressive victories, both City and Claudio Ranieri's unlikely leaders, who will have both been hurt by the manner of their defeats, are still in this race.
City, though, have been expected to click into gear for some time now but with games running out it seems far from happening. After seven defeats already and a patchy away record, they have stayed among the challengers thanks to their ability to beat the lesser sides on their home patch, and the inconsistent nature of their title rivals.
But Spurs showed here that they have that consistency, and they appear well equipped to do the unthinkable.
City do not play another Premier League game for 17 days, by which point they could be as many as 12 points behind, given Leicester play both Norwich City and West Brom before Pellegrini takes his side to Anfield.
Too often this season the Blues have not been good enough, and on Sunday Spurs represented everything a title challenger should be. In doing so, they represented everything City are lacking.
- Goal