MATCH SPY: Bent double puts a dent in the bubble

From Eastlands Manchester c 1 Robinho 16 Tottenham h 2 Bent 29, 64 Att: 41,853 ALTHOUGH Spurs made hard work of overcoming a City side reduced to nine men by the end, they had under-fire keeper Heurelho Gomes and two-goal Darren Bent to thank for their

From Eastlands

Manchester c 1

Robinho 16

Tottenham h 2

Bent 29, 64

Att: 41,853

ALTHOUGH Spurs made hard work of overcoming a City side reduced to nine men by the end, they had under-fire keeper Heurelho Gomes and two-goal Darren Bent to thank for their first away win of the season.

The Brazilian keeper made a series of top reflex saves while Bent took his tally to 11 goals so far.

The first real chance fell to Luka Modric who curled his shot just wide. Five minutes later Robinho put City ahead after Gomes had palmed out an effort from Darius Vassell.

The game swung Spurs' way when Gelson Fernandes received his second yellow card for a foul on David Bentley. Then, after Modric brought a full length save from Joe Hart, Spurs levelled when Bent capitalised on a mistake by Richard Dunne.

In the second half Gomes blocked a Dunne header from a Stephen Ireland free-kick before Bent grabbed his second following excellent work by Tom Huddlestone Jermaine Jenas.

Gomes was soon tested by fellow Brazilian Robinho, turning a curling shot around a post. Two minutes later, Robinho and Benjani set up a volley for Ireland which also needed to be tipped wide of an upright.

City were reduced to nine when Dunne was red carded for stopping Bent as last man while Spurs ended with 10 when Benoit Assou-Ekotto departed for a second yellow.

SPURS PLAYER OF THE GAME: Heurelho Gomes. The keeper's best display to date.

Team: Gomes 8, Corluka 7, King 7 Woodgate 7, Assou-Ekotto 6, Zokora 6, Huddlestone 8, Jenas 7, Bentley 6, Modric 7 (Lennon 6 71), Bent 8). Not used: Cesar, Pavlyuchenko, Hutton, Dawson, O'Hara, Campbell, Booked: King. Sent off: Assou-Ekotto.