Manchester City's Capitulation vs. Tottenham a Concern for Manuel Pellegrini

A worrying second-half collapse saw Manchester City lose 4-1 against a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur side at White Hart Lane, a result that raises question marks about City's ability to cope with injuries to their most important players.

Vincent Kompany and David Silva, two of the Blues’ biggest assets, were missing through injury, and Yaya Toure went off during the second half with a hamstring problem. Kompany, who was originally named among the substitutes but had to pull out completely, was perhaps the biggest loss, with City lacking leadership and looking porous at the back in his absence.

To make things worse, Joe Hart was only fit enough for the bench having suffered a back problem earlier in the week that restricted his training time, leaving Willy Caballero to deputise, and he had a day to forget in north London. 

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MATCH SHOT: @DeBruyneKev in action with Christian Eriksen. #spursvcity #mcfc pic.twitter.com/nB456q5OHM

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) September 26, 2015"

It’s a familiar theme for City, who have spent the season without Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy. Fabian Delph has made just two substitute appearances since his summer move from Aston Villa because of injury. Add to that Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho, who were both ruled out of this game, and City were left looking vulnerable and short of quality at White Hart Lane.

After controlling proceedings for the majority of the first half and leading 1-0 thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s third goal in three starts, they capitulated in a manner that will worry their manager, Manuel Pellegrini. Two of Spurs’ goals were offside, and City will feel they were harshly treated, but there are more pressing concerns for Pellegrini than poor officiating.

It was a performance that had shades of City’s defeat to Manchester United in April. After a strong start, their decline was spectacular. Having played some quick, incisive football early in the game, they wilted badly when put under pressure by Mauricio Pochettino’s team. There appeared to be no one capable of taking control and raising City’s performance level.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Defensively, they were shambolic in the second half. Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis were partnered together for the first time. With Caballero in goal after Hart's back complaint ruled him out, there was a lack of cohesion and understanding, with individual errors and collective failings contributing to all four goals they conceded.

De Bruyne’s misplaced pass gifted Eric Dier the opener, and Caballero’s rush of blood saw Toby Alderweireld given a free header to put the home side ahead. The Argentinian goalkeeper came rushing out of his goal to deal with a free-kick from but got absolutely nowhere near the ball, allowing Alderweireld to nod home easily.

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PELLEGRINI: "In the second half I think Tottenham played very well. We must continue working hard & play in the way we did in the first 45."

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) September 26, 2015"

A Demichelis foul saw Tottenham awarded a free-kick, which Christian Eriksen hit against the bar before an offside Harry Kane finished superbly on the rebound. The comical fourth saw Aleksandar Kolarov turned far too easily by substitute Clinton Njie, whose cross found Erik Lamela, and he teased Demichelis and Caballero, putting both of them on the floor before placing the ball in the net.

Afterward, Pellegrini refused to lay the blame for his side's defeat at the feet of the officials. "When you lose 4-1, it's easy to blame the refereeing mistakes," he said. 

"The clear offside for their equaliser was a matter for the linesman, and they scored two clear offside goals.

"One part is about the refereeing decisions, but another is about our defensive mistakes. We conceded from two set pieces. It is about marking and concentration, not leadership.

"I thought we played very well in the first half, making many chances, and Tottenham had only one shot on target before their first goal.

"But once it was 3-1, it was very hard to come back. Afterward, they played very well and we played very bad."

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The form of Sergio Aguero must also now be a real concern for Pellegrini, who said on Friday he felt the striker was close to 100 per cent fitness. Clearly, though, something is missing from his game. He’s managed just one league goal this season. The movement and sharpness usually so central to his play simply aren’t there, and he looks decidedly low on confidence for perhaps the first time in his City career.

He barely touched the ball in this match and offered City little, but with Bony and the 18-year-old Iheanacho both unavailable through injury, Pellegrini’s options are limited. Aguero looks unfit and out of sorts—and City look far less potent as a result.

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.@JNavas spoke to CityTV following a disappointing afternoon in North London. Watch: http://t.co/S1ZVDbfhXd pic.twitter.com/mGxmYzO7H8

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) September 26, 2015"

With Wednesday’s trip to Borussia Monchengladbach followed by a home match with Newcastle United on Saturday, City have no time to dwell on their failings in north London. Their exceptional start has been undermined by three defeats in their last four games in all competitions. They need to get their injured players back to full fitness and return to winning ways.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.