Christian Eriksen strikes late as Spurs stun Manchester City

Christian Eriksen marked his 24th birthday with a late goal as Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 at Manchester City on Sunday to climb to within two points of the Premier League summit.

Harry Kane put Spurs ahead with a controversial penalty early in the second half, the England international claiming his 15th goal in his last 17 league games.

City, yet to beat a top-six side this season, equalised through teenage substitute Kelechi Iheanacho.

But City were consigned to consecutive home defeats for the first time since December 2008 when Eriksen beat Joe Hart in the 83rd minute to celebrate his milestone with his sixth goal of the season.

City, beaten for the first time in the league this season, are now six points behind league leaders Leicester City, while Tottenham’s fifth successive league win has raised their hopes of a first league title since 1961.

Arsenal’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Leicester had opened the way for both of these sides to reinforce their title credentials.

But it also meant a share of the points would not be a disaster and the result was a cagey opening in which neither side was prepared to gamble too soon.

Tottenham’s record at the Etihad Stadium, where they had lost on their previous five visits, may also have made them wary of over-committing, although there was no shortage of confidence in the way in which Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked to keep possession. Tottenham have the best defensive record in the league and were rarely troubled at the back in the first half.