Keegan disbelief as City again fail to protect lead

Man City 1 Tottenham 1

Nicolas Anelka put City ahead in this FA Cup tie but a mistake by goalkeeper Kevin Ellegaard allowed Gary Doherty to equalise.

It means the teams will reconvene at White Hart Lane a week on Wednesday for a fourth round replay.

City boss Keegan must be concerned at the fragile confidence of his side after a dreadful run that has seen them win only one of their last 17 games.

Keegan had words of comfort for rookie goalkeeper Kevin Ellegaard who was at fault for Doherty's back post-headed goal.

Doherty's effort cancelled out the opener from Nicolas Anelka his 18th goal of the season and City have now won only one of their last 17 games.

Keegan said: "If a 6ft 4ins goalkeeper is going full length upwards and he can't get the ball, and he is between his goal when Doherty headed it, his positioning is maybe at fault.

"But I am not going to condemn him for that. He is a young goalkeeper, that's only his fifth game and two of those have been as sub.

"He finds himself in the first team ahead of time, there is no doubt about that.

"If David James wasn't cup-tied and Arni Arason didn't have a slight problem with his thigh from Thursday's training, Kevin probably wouldn't have played.

"But he made two good saves, one from a free-kick and one low down. He is inexperienced but the only way to get experience is to go out there and if he made a mistake, and I am not sure he has, then he has got to learn from that. It will make him a better goalkeeper," he said.

Keegan added: "We have only kept one clean sheet here in a long, long time. That means we have been forced to try and score twice to win a game.

"That is something we have to look at but at least we live to fight another day.

"Don't forget we went to Leicester for a replay in the last round and came away with a victory."

Tottenham manager David Pleat was thrilled with the way his side turned the tie around.

"I was just filled with pleasure by the way were able to come back after such a mediocre first half to play so well," he said.

"Playing with a such a young side, that was a vibrant performance in the second period and full of character.

"We could have had another couple of goals quite easily and we can go back now with hope for the second game."

MAN CITY: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Sinclair, Reyna, Bosvelt, Sibierski (Wright-Phillips 69), Tarnat, Anelka, Fowler (Macken 69).

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Doherty, Gardner, Taricco (Jackson 45), Anderton (Dalmat 45), Brown, King, Davies, Postiga, Keane.