Sky Sports Vault: Man City v Tottenham 2010

By Gerard Brand

We look back at Spurs' clash with Manchester City in 2010

As Tottenham prepare to travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City, we look back at their famous clash from 2010.

Twenty months into City's transformation following their takeover by Sheikh Mansour, Peter Crouch denied them a Champions League place with an 82nd-minute header, in-turn confirming Spurs' place in Europe's elite competition for the first time since 1962.

It was a bitter blow for then-City manager Roberto Mancini, who had spent £125m that season but had to settle for fifth place and a Europa League spot. 

But the City board kept faith in the Italian after the game, and it ultimately paid off. 

Image: Tottenham's Crouch heads home the winner in the 82nd minute

"Roberto's going to do a wonderful job for us for many years," club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said post-match. "We believe he is definitely the right manager for this club for many years. What he needs this summer is time to prepare and really organise ourselves."

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The tables turned 12 months later, as Crouch's own goal gave City a 1-0 win at the Etihad in 2011 to put them in the Champions League at the expense of Spurs and Liverpool.

But the night will still go down as one of the greatest in Spurs' recent history, leading to a European adventure the next season which saw Harry Redknapp's side secure famous wins over Inter and AC Milan, before being knocked out by Real Madrid in the last eight.

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Redknapp, who was doused with an ice bucket in the tunnel after the game by his players, said: "It's fantastic. It's been a terrific season for us, we've played some great football and we deserve it.

"Finishing fourth gives me a lot of pleasure. It's great for the club."

Image: Manchester City lost 4-1 at White Hart Lane earlier this season

Spurs were to finish fourth again two years later, but Chelsea's Champions League triumph pegged them back into the Europa League as the Blues had finished fifth in the Premier League.

Super Sunday's offering at the Etihad perhaps has even more significance, with both sides heavily involved in a four-horse title race alongside Arsenal and Leicester. 

Tottenham sit a point above City in second, but five points behind leaders Leicester, who travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal.

Watch Super Sunday - starting with Arsenal v Leicester, followed by Aston Villa v Liverpool and Manchester City v Tottenham - from 11.30am on Sky Sports 1HD. 

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