Manchester City obliterated a shambolic Tottenham side at the Etihad Stadium to shoot up to fourth in the Premier League table.
A brace each from Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas, a wonderful individual effort from Alvaro Negredo and a Sandro own goal earned Manuel Pellegrini’s men the points in a devastating attacking display that gave their title ambitions a timely shot in the arm.
Two poor Hugo Lloris clearances contributed to Spurs’ downfall but they were embarrassingly second best to their vastly superior hosts throughout, with the rout beginning straight form the kick-off.
Lloris, back in the Spurs goal for the first time since sustaining concussion at Everton earlier this month, scuffed a clearance straight to Aguero, and although the French keeper palmed away the Argentine’s long-range effort to the right-hand side of the area he could do nothing as Navas’ glorious scooped shot sailed over him and into the far corner after just 14 seconds.
Another poorly executed Lloris kick put Spurs on the backfoot again in the 34th minute. The hosts clinically punished the error, with an Alvaro Negredo shot from a Samir Nasri cross ultimately rebounding off Sandro for an own goal.
The listless visitors were 3-0 down in the 41st minute when Aguero steered a low Navas cross past Lloris.
City’s fifth was the pick of the afternoon, with Negredo slipping Michael Dawson with a silky turn before blasting past Lloris from the edge of the area.
It was a thoroughly depressing display for Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, who had handed Erik Lamela his first Premier League start.
Lamela, a £30million summer signing from Roma, was largely anonymous and wasted a decent close-range chance to equalise at 1-0.
The Argeintine youngster was caught in possession in his own half late on, allowing James Milner to find Navas with a long ball before the recalled Spain winger made it 6-0.
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Sandro, Paulinho, Lennon, Holtby, Lamela, Soldado. Subs: Adebayor, Defoe, Dembele, Sigurdsson, Friedel, Chiriches, Townsend.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
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