Breaking Down Sergio Aguero's Performance for Manchester City vs. Tottenham

It's been a while since Manchester City got three points in circumstances like this. A battling 1-0 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday saw them consolidate their top-three position and move a step closer to securing Champions League qualification for next season without the need for an awkward qualifier in August.

Sergio Aguero scored the winner—his 22nd league goal of the campaign—topping off another masterful performance from a man criminally overlooked in this year's PFA Player of the Year award.

He worked tirelessly throughout the game, pulling the Spurs defence in all directions with his movement and pace. Playing as a lone striker with David Silva in behind, he was outnumbered at times in the final third yet still managed to cause chaos almost every time he received the ball.

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Federico Fazio, who struggled with Aguero's movement in the Etihad fixture earlier in the season, and Jan Vertonghen simply couldn't contain him.

The goal was a moment of counter-attacking brilliance from City reminiscent of the football they played last season. A quick throw-out from the superb Joe Hart found Silva in space; he drifted inside and played a beautifully weighted, defence-splitting pass into Aguero, who blasted past Hugo Lloris at his near post—a first-time finish that underlined his natural instinct in front of goal.

It was Aguero's 10th goal in seven league matches against Spurs, a remarkable record that shows little sign of abating.

There had already been numerous warning signs. He flashed an early volley wide after catching an Aleksandar Kolarov cross from the left sweetly with his right, and then he should have had a penalty when Fazio tripped him after the ball bounced past the onrushing Lloris. The contact, some would say, was minimal, but when a player is running at pace, it doesn't take much to send him tumbling, and Aguero was clearly clipped. 

He continued to run the Spurs defenders ragged after his goal, too. Whether dropping deep or playing on the shoulder of the last man, Aguero's urgency and speed were City's most potent weapons.

And he was denied what would have been a wonderful goal in the second half. Some fine hold-up play on the edge of the area ended with a mazy run past a few Spurs defenders before a neat one-two with Fernandinho. The Brazilian's wonderful chipped return ball found Aguero, who had run beyond the entire Tottenham back four, on the edge of the six-yard box. He took one touch to round Lloris before putting the ball wide of the upright.

There were other big performances for City. Silva was at his dazzling best, Hart made a string of fine saves to keep Tottenham out, Kolarov gave his best display of the season, and Eliaquim Mangala grew into the game superbly after a shaky start. But it's Aguero who shone the brightest, and his goal, the latest example of his genius, means City are now five points ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United with just three games remaining.

It was a crucial result and much-needed battling performance in light of some of City's anaemic recent displays. It was also the latest demonstration of why Aguero is key to City's future. 

Big changes are expected at the Etihad this summer, but whoever comes into the City squad will be there to supplement the talents of their leading goalscorer. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.