Pellegrini: Hornets scare did us favour

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes Saturday’s scare against Watford has shaken any complacency out of his side ahead of tonight’s trip to Tottenham.

Pellegrini voiced his frustration with his players after they needed to recover from 2-0 down against the Championship side in the FA Cup fourth round tie at the Etihad Stadium.

City eventually won comfortably 4-2 after a Sergio Aguero hat-trick, but Pellegrini said after the game their defending was a “disaster” and he would have liked to substitute all 11 players.

He said: “It was a good lesson — to pay attention in the right moments. In football the difference between winning and losing is very slight. I can’t say what they saw of me, but I think we made the correct arrangements during half-time. I think the reaction was very important, as was the way we finished the game.”

City, who remain in contention in four competitions, now turn their attention back to the league and their bid for a second title in three years.

The trip to Spurs, a side pushing for Champions League qualification, marks the start of a tough spell that could prove critical in the season’s final reckoning.

City thrashed Spurs 6-0 when the sides met in Manchester in November, but the Londoners have found form under new manager Tim Sherwood and have won five of their last seven.

Pellegrini said: “The results say that they have improved a lot. They have won the last four [Premier League] games. I saw the last two games they played and they are playing very well.”

The trip to White Hart Lane brings City up against their former player Emmanuel Adebayor, whose game has been revived under Sherwood with three goals this month.

Pellegrini said: “It is always important to have a striker [like] Adebayor in a good moment so I am sure we are going to have a very tough game.”

Backing Adebayor to shine against his former club, Sherwood said: “He’s been great ever since I’ve come into this job. He is one of the top strikers in the Premier League in my opinion.”

Sherwood said Spurs have no plans to add to their squad, but confirmed Lewis Holtby — linked with Borussia Dortmund — and Etienne Capoue will be allowed to leave, saying: “We have got a lot of players in that midfield area and if an opportunity does arise, and if it’s right for the club, then we will let players move on.”

City striker Alvaro Negredo (shoulder) is back in contention while playmaker David Silva is also available.

For Tottenham, Andros Townsend and Erik Lamela are out while Jan Vertonghen, Younes Kaboul and Sandro are doubts.