I must confess that in recent weeks I have been going through another of my "not that interested in football" phases, but today's earlier Premier League kick-off between City and Spurs caught my attention, and I felt encouraged to watch it. Two teams not accustomed in recent times to contending for the title, which have given the higher end of the Premier League a fresh new look.
Beforehand, I felt that this game was crucial to Spurs in particular, and constituted a big barometer of their potential and ambition for this season.
It was a purposeful beginning by Tottenham, confident and positive. Other early impressions of mine - it was a pristine playing surface, and also great to see Ledley King back, and looking good.
Spurs were quite tenacious in the tackle in midfield in those early stages, and their attacks were largely concentrated down both flanks, hinting that they sensed some vulnerability in the City rearguard. Luka Modric began to prompt more and more, and it was a pleasure to see players of finesse and craft, like him and David Silva, on the same pitch.
After the first ten or fifteen minutes City started to assert themselves a touch more. Around the seventeen minute mark, they should have opened the scoring, but Aguero and Dzeko contrived to get in each other's way in the penalty area.
Tottenham were still pressing, but were not carving out much in the way of clear goalscoring opportunities. Their shooting and delivery were not always of exemplary quality.
It seemed to me throughout this match that Manchester City were the more direct of the two teams, and also the more cautions, negative even, playing deeper, and often relying on long balls to the strikers and counter-attacks.
Admittedly, both sides were lacking cutting edge in that first period, even if Spurs were the more fluent in passing and movement. Still, they were largely restricted to speculative efforts and free-kicks. City enjoyed less possession, but created the clearer openings.
So, an inconclusive and even pedestrian first half.
Immediately after the break, City began to dictate more, and indeed the game itself was more open, the participants less inhibited and cagey. On fifty-six minutes, Spurs were carved open by David Silva, and Samir Nasri, hitherto little in evidence, supplied a quality finish.
After that first goal, the cultured left-foot of Silva threatened to run the show, and City gained much impetus. However, in the event it was a goal of little elegance by Lescott which put them 2-0 up. As the saying goes, they all count!
That second goal should have set the seal on City's command over the game. But Tottenham employed a little "route one" of their own, found City slumbering, and Jermain Defoe finished coolly. Character and resolve from Spurs, and no doubt fury on the part of Roberto Mancini.
After the flurry of goals, the game became noticeably stretched, with the pace at Spurs' disposal posing a threat. However, it was a touch of real panache by Gareth Bale, chipping over the goalkeeper, which levelled things up. Bale made the execution of the goal look easy;always indicative of a quality player.
The second half of this match was trademark Premier League fare - frantic, breathless and compelling. It seemed to pass much quicker than the first, which is generally a good sign! As ever, Scott Parker got through mountains of selfless and unglamorous work, often in a defensive capacity.
After the score went to 2-2, Spurs assumed some kind of control, looking the more compact of the two teams, whereas City were more pragmatic in their approach.
Although the penalty decision looked to be correct, the injury-time penalty was harsh on Spurs, and the scoreline served to flatter City.
What did we learn from this game? Well, the jury is still out on these two teams. Tottenham are not certain title-winning material, but equally cannot yet be dismissed. They matched their opponents in most departments this afternoon. Questions possibly remain about City's tactical approach.
Just how important could that last-gasp penalty be come May 2012?
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