AT WEMBLEY

Finishing off Spurs as City regain title-winning form

exquisite ball which set Sterling free. His pace took him away from Kieran Trippier – no slouch himself – and gave Lloris enough bait to think he could beat him to the ball.

The Frenchman raced out like a man possessed but Sterling beat him to it and went over under the keeper’s challenge.

The contact was just outside the box but referee Jon Moss called it inside and Gundogan coolly slotted home his penalty.

Spurs finally sparked into life when Erik Lamela had a sighter from 25 yards that wasn’t too far off target and it looked as if Spurs believed they had something similar to United and Liverpool in the locker.

The Argentinian continued to probe and appeared to be fouled by Kompany in the box, but the City skipper got away with that one.

Spurs pulled one back when Ben Davies rolled the ball into Harry Kane’s feet and he poked a well-weighted pass to Eriksen, who got lucky when Aymeric Laporte’s attempted clearance hit him and bounced back past Ederson.

Spurs, buoyed by the goal, were lively early in the second half but struggled to create further openings.

However, City kept them in it with Jesus and Sterling, twice, squandering decent chances.

Credit to the England star, though, he didn’t let his head drop and when Sanchez and Davies failed to clear, Jesus got his shot off. Lloris parried but Sterling was on hand to ram the ball into the net.

That’s 17 goals in the Premier League for Sterling, 22 in all competitions, and he as much as any City player will deserve the medal coming his way.