Keller the hero as Spurs ride their luck to escape with point

Manchester City 0 Tottenham 0

Pleat was indebted to a superb display of goalkeeping from Kasey Keller, a first-half goal-line clearance from skipper Stephen Carr and a profligate Manchester City attack.

Having averaged over two goals a game in their nine outings so far this term, the Blues found they had left their shooting boots at home yesterday as they somehow failed to hit the net despite an amazing 24 shots on the Tottenham goal.

Paulo Wanchope was the chief culprit, wasting some excellent approach work from Nicolas Anelka by spurning three separate opportunities, although home boss Kevin Keegan will no doubt question referee Neale Barry's decision not to dismiss Spurs defensive lynchpin Dean Richards when he blatantly tried to haul the Costa Rican back during his third clear run on goal.

Tottenham caretaker manager David Pleat looked beyond his team's "lack of quality" as they battled for a point at Manchester City yesterday.

Director of football Pleat, back in control in the short term at least following the sacking of Glenn Hoddle, gave no hint as to how long that is likely to be the case.

Instead, he chose to concentrate on Spurs' success in blunting the hosts' attacking threat to come away from the City of Manchester Stadium with a goalless draw to move out of the bottom three in the Barclaycard Premiership.

"It is day seven of a traumatic week (since Hoddle's departure) and if I ignore some of the lack of quality I can be happy with going through in the cup (in midweek) and keeping a clean sheet away from home," said Pleat.

Pleat's man-of-the-match defender Dean Richards and City manager Kevin Keegan were in agreement as they assessed 90 minutes of domination from the hosts which in the end came to nought.

Richards singled out Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller for particular praise.

"He was magnificent. He pulled off a couple of great saves, and the one from (Paulo) Wanchope in the first half got me out of jail," said the centre-half. "Recently we have been a bit too open as a team, and that is where other teams have been exploiting us. We have had to defend as a team rather than individuals today, and it has paid off."

Richards was, like Pleat, tight-lipped over who will be Hoddle's long-term successor but he is warning against a hasty appointment.

Keegan, meanwhile, had to come to terms with an under-par return at home to a struggling team.

"It is disappointing," he admitted.

"We have made enough chances to win two or three games. But through people not making the right choices in front of goal and some good saves, we have not been able to score any.

"I think Spurs are very fortunate to go away with a point.MAN CITY: Seaman, Jihai, Sommeil, Distin, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, McManaman (Reyna 85), Sinclair (Sibierski 72), Wanchope (Fowler 76), Anelka.

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Richards, Gardner, Taricco, Anderton, Bunjevcevic (Ricketts 61), Poyet, Konchesky (Dalmat 78), Kanoute, Keane.

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).