Manchester City responded to the setback of losing their Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane this afternoon.

The only goal of the game came just before the half-hour mark as Sergio Aguero lashed the ball home following a quick counter-attack from the visitors.

Both sides created a number of chances in search of the game's second goal, but neither could find it as City held out for all three points.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at whether City were worthy winners in North London.

Match statistics

TOTTENHAM
Shots: 21
On target: 5
Possession: 54%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 6

MAN CITY
Shots: 15
On target: 4
Possession: 46%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 11

Was the result fair?

Quite how there was only one goal in this game is a bit of a mystery. Both sides created numerous clear goalscoring opportunities, with Spurs in particular squandering a number of openings that could have given them at least a draw here. The hosts will feel very hard done by coming away from this game with nothing, but they only have themselves to blame as poor finishing cost them dearly.

It was a thoroughly entertaining match as both sides played open, attacking football that was very easy on the eye. Spurs had the better of the first half and should have been ahead within five minutes after creating two chances in the opening exchanges. City were always a threat, but their best attacking moments were limited to the counter-attack, which is exactly how they got what proved to be the winner. That goal came against the run of play, and Spurs would have felt that they were at least worthy of being level at the break.

The same will apply after the final whistle, although it should be noted that City also had numerous chances to extend their advantage and, but for some poor finishing of their own, could have run out more comfortable winners today. There were 36 shots overall, but the fact that only nine were on target goes some way to demonstrating the wayward finishing on show. Even so, Spurs will feel that they did enough to warrant at least a share of the spoils here, they just could not put the ball in the back of the net.

Tottenham's performance

With Liverpool winning yesterday, Spurs came into this match knowing that they needed three points to keep pace with the Reds and keep any slim Champions League hopes alive in the process. They have a torrid record against City in recent times, but they came flying out of the blocks and created two clear chances inside the opening five minutes. They continued to see more of the ball in the first half and Mauricio Pochettino would have been satisfied with the performance, if not the scoreline, at the break.

City's goal on the break was a blow, but Spurs created chances with regularity and looked capable of equalising throughout the remainder of the match. That goal never materialised despite a number of chances being created. Ryan Mason, Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Paulinho all had clear openings, but when they did manage to hit the target, they came up against an in-form Joe Hart. Even so, the hosts really should have converted at least one of their openings to get something from this game.

There are positives to take from the game as they were more than a match for City, but it is another occasion where they have come up short against one of the top teams in the league. They have taken fewer points than any other team in the head-to-head table between the top six, and unless they rectify that problem next season, they may be destined to again miss out on the Champions League. That looks like being the case once more this season following this defeat, but it was by no means their worst display of the campaign.

Man City's performance

Having seen Chelsea relinquish them of the Premier League crown earlier today, Manchester City would have been eager to provide a response here. They went into the match having lost all of their last four away games, and they were fortunate not to be behind early on in this one too. They were very slow to get going, and Spurs found it all too easy to play through the defence in the opening exchanges, with the likes of Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala being left exposed.

They soon settled into the match, although they were on the back foot for much of the opening 45 minutes. They seemed fairly content to soak up the pressure and hit Spurs on the break, with Aguero in particular a constant danger on the counter. The goal came against the run of play, but City did have chances in both halves to give themselves a cushion. They should have also had a penalty in the opening 45 minutes when Aguero was tripped with the goal gaping, but Andre Marriner waved the claims away.

The visitors did need a good performance from Hart in goal and they rode their luck at times considering the amount of chances that Spurs created, but it was a much-improved performance from some of their recent displays on the road. Again, they struggled to really control the game, but they played their part in an entertaining spectacle and, all in all, it was a good response to Chelsea winning the title earlier in the day.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Sergio Aguero: Not for the first time this season, Aguero was the difference. Spurs will be sick of the sight of the Argentine, who now has five goals against them this season, but it was not just his well-taken goal that made him stand out today. His movement off the ball caused Spurs plenty of problems and he was a constant threat to the defence.

Biggest gaffe

Hugo Lloris does not make many mistakes, but he almost dropped a clanger midway through the first half as he came a long way off his line to sweep up a ball forward, only to slip and allow Aguero through with an empty net ahead of him. The Argentine was tripped before he could finish, but Marriner somehow did not award the foul.

Referee performance

As mentioned, Marriner really should have pointed to the spot when Aguero was tripped from behind while through on an open goal, but, aside from that, he had a relatively solid game this afternoon. There were a number of yellow cards passed out, but almost every one was the correct decision.

What next?

Tottenham: Spurs face a trip to the Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke City on Saturday.

Man City: City, meanwhile, will look to keep hold of second place when they host relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.