Tottenham Hotspur laid down a strong marker on Sunday afternoon as they ended Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season by winning 2-0 at White Hart Lane

Both goals came in the first half as Mauricio Pochettino set his side up to press City high up the pitch and it worked brilliantly. 

Alexander Kolarov put through his own net for the first goal and Dele Alli scored Spurs second as they showed their title credentials in a game they dominated the majority off.

High pressing causes City problems once again

Straight from the kick-off, there was a fantastic tempo to the game with both teams going for it from the start.

It almost resulted in a goal for the visitors when David Silva just couldn't get a touch to a Jesus Navas' cross which went all the way across the goal with Hugo Lloris beaten.

The hosts responded very well to that chance and they scored the opening goal as Kolarov put the ball into his own net. 

The goal came from a brilliant cross from Danny Rose that was put into a great area and the City left-back was the unfortunate party to score in his own net to give Spurs the perfect start.

Kolarov's own goal gave Spurs the perfect start | Photo:
Kolarov's own goal gave Spurs the perfect start | Photo: Glyn Kirk / Getty Images

Spurs could have doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when Heung-min Son forced Claudio Bravo into making a good save at his near post when he probably should have passed to his teammates across the box, who were in a better position to score.

It was clear to see the tactics that the home side was adapting by pressuring City high up the pitch and it was working up until midway through the first half when the visitors started to come back into the game.

Sergio Aguero forced Lloris into making a good save from a free-kick while he also put a shot just wide of the goal, in a brief spell of dominance from the visitor's, as he started to get some space. 

Alli scored Spurs second before half-time

The hosts though had a second wind in the first half and doubled their lead. The high pressing worked once again as Son threaded a lovely through ball to Alli, who then slotted the ball home past Bravo to give the team exactly what they deserved. 

It meant that at half-time for the first time this season, Pep Guardiola had a big half-time team talk to do as his team was second best for the majority of the half.

Spurs started the second half as they finished the first as they continued their high-intensity game going forward.

City though almost got back into the game when Lloris almost made a mess of an Aguero shot that fortunately for him came off him and hit the post rather than go into the back of the net.

Lamela missed a penalty to put Spurs out of sight

Spurs should have made the game safe, though, when they were awarded a penalty 20 minutes into the second half.

Lamela missed a second half penalty for the hosts | Photo:
Lamela missed a second half penalty for the hosts | Photo: Mike Hewitt / Getty Images

Fernandinho brought down Alli in the box and Andre Marriner pointed to the spot. Erik Lamela stood up to take it but he saw his shot saved by Bravo, who read the penalty well to keep it out.

Brilliant defending preserves clean sheet for the hosts

The visitors went close again a few minutes later when a lovely through ball from Silva found Kelechi Iheanacho in on goal but Lloris made a great save to keep his side two in front.

City continued to press right until the end of the game, but Spurs stood strong, as the two Belgians at centre-back, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, blocked everything that came their way as Pochettino's side fully deserved their victory on the day.

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