ManCity out to stop Spurs revival

They might have broken the British transfer record with the astonishing 32.5-million-pound move for Robinho on September 1, but Manchester City are quickly discovering that keeping goals out is just as important as providing the Brazilian forward with the chances to score.

Mark Hughes's team face Spurs on Sunday having shipped eleven goals in their last six games in all competitions and the high hopes which followed the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of the club two months ago have been replaced by an eager anticipation of the opening of the January transfer window.

With Hughes flying out to Abu Dhabi to meet the new owners on Tuesday, another negative result against Spurs will make for an uncomfortable trip for the City manager, whose team has lost four of its last eight games.

The inconsistency of the team has left City languishing in mid-table ahead of the Spurs visit and captain Richard Dunne admits that the players must quickly address the defensive frailties.

He said: “At the moment, we're a side who are going to entertain people, but probably not get many results if we keep defending as we are.

“Over the last few years we've not conceded many, but then we've not really scored many goals. Now we're starting to score a lot, but we're conceding too many.

“I think it takes time to find a balance and keep an even keel where people are doing both jobs. Over the next few games we'll have to tighten up at the back and make ourselves difficult to beat. It is the eleven of us who have to defend as a team it is not just down to the goalkeeper and the back four.”

Spurs are unbeaten under new manager Harry Redknapp since his arrival as replacement for the sacked Juande Ramos two weeks ago ago and Dunne admits that the change at the top has made the London club a much tougher proposition.

He said: “Spurs had a poor start, but I think now with the change in manager and a new face around the dressing room, there has been a whole attitude change.

“They now look like a side who are going to keep pushing up the table. They're looking really good at the moment and it'll make it a very difficult game for us.”

The goalscoring form of Darren Bent, who now has nine goals this season following his Uefa Cup hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in midweek, has been key to Tottenham's revival and manager Redknapp admits he has been impressed by the former England striker.

He said: “It's a terrific return getting nine goals and hopefully he can keep going. Darren has done well.

“This is the first time I've worked with him, he has a good attitude and works hard at his game. I think we have three strikers who can do the job.

“There's competition for places up front. Darren and Roman (Pavlyuchenko) are both scoring goals and Fraizer Campbell has shown terrific enthusiasm when he has been involved.”