BACK PAGE: 1993

ENGLAND cried foul after four Indian batsmen were accused of scuffing up the pitch during their mammoth first innings in Madras. Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Praveen Amre and Kiran More were all warned by the umpires as the Indians racked up 560-6, the country’s highest home score against England. The tourists were not happy, with skipper Alec Stewart asking the umpires to be vigilant as the Indian batsmen sought to gain an advantage for their spin bowlers later in the second Test. India were undeterred as they went on to complete victory by an innings and 22 runs, and they also won the three-match Test series 3-0.

ILKAY GUNDOGAN has revealed how Pep Guardiola has warned his players against thinking the Premier League title is already sewn up. Manchester City can increase their lead at the top of the table to eight points today with victory over Tottenham and extend their recordbreaking winning run to 16 games. The Blues are overwhelming favourites to make it three title wins in four years, particularly after thumping champions Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield last weekend (top).

But newlycrowned

Premier

League player of the month

Gundogan

(right) said

City chief

Guardiola told his players to take nothing for granted. “It’s very important to stay humble,” said Gundogan. “I said that after the game against Liverpool and the manager said the same.

“We appreciate what’s going on for us right now and we should try to do our best to maintain that level.

“But we also know that we’ll face difficult games against bottom sides, like we did against Sheffield United at home. They were a team that made us struggle a lot, so every single game has its own character and its own challenge with it. That’s why it’s difficult in every single game.” Gundogan scored five goals in January as City won all six league games and nine in total, a record for the top flight.