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The Tottenham pair struck either side of half-time in Wednesday
night's Premier League game for Spurs' first win since the 9-1
demolition of Wigan nearly a month ago, with Kranjcar rounding off
the victory with his second of the night in stoppage time.
City only needed to avoid defeat to go on their best unbeaten
run since 1977 - but far too many of those games ended in draws and
this defeat further dents their top-four aspirations.
City boss Mark Hughes was also reeling from the news of
Joleon Lescott needing surgery to remove floating bone on his knee,
meaning he will miss the Christmas fixtures.
They also had Shaun Wright-Phillips out with an ankle injury,
Craig Bellamy suspended for his harsh red card at the Reebok
Stadium and a recent history of struggling at Spurs - they had won
there once in the league since 1991.
So the odds were stacked against them but they still had
enough quality - Robinho and Stephen Ireland were among those
drafted in - to trouble Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes more than
they did.
With both teams having reputations for attacking, it was no
surprise to see early efforts flying on goal, firstly with Carlos
Tevez firing just wide from the edge of the area after Michael
Dawson had blocked his initial effort. Peter Crouch, returning to
the side in place of Robbie Keane, also headed over from a corner
while under pressure from Micah Richards, then Kranjcar stabbed
wide after a flowing Spurs move that included Crouch backheeling to
send Aaron Lennon down the right flank.
Tom Huddlestone clashed with Nigel de Jong while tussling for
a ball, leading to Hughes and Spurs assistant boss Joe Jordan, both
among the toughest players of their generation, exchanging angry
words.
It was an interesting sub-plot but there was action on the
pitch to keep the focus away from the dug-out, next to where Benoit
Assou-Ekotto clashed with a fan at the weekend. The hosts also had
a penalty shout when Defoe went down after Kolo Toure challenged -
but referee Alan Wiley immediately waved play on. Lennon had a
running battle with veteran full-back Sylvinho, with Spurs looking
to get the England winger on the ball as much as possible.
One run led to Huddlestone curling over after a pullback,
while Robinho had an effort tipped over by Gomes at the other end.
It was fast-paced without clear-cut chances being produced in the
first half-hour, as both teams got vital blocks in to keep things
level until Kranjcar struck seven minutes from the break. The
Croatian started the move that led to his goal by spreading the
ball wide to Lennon.
Crouch got on the end of the cross and Kranjcar rifled home
after Ireland blocked the first effort. It could have got worse for
City when Defoe sent Crouch through - but Shay Given rushed out to
bravely block. Redknapp's 'little and large' attacking pair
combined for the second goal, nine minutes after the break, with
Spurs going route-one for their simple goal. Gomes' free-kick went
long into City territory, Crouch climbed above Nedum Onuoha to
flick on and Defoe hardly had to break stride before poking past
Given for his 14th of the season.
Hughes responded by taking off Robinho, who had another quiet
game away from Eastlands, and bringing on Roque Santa Cruz. The
Brazilian headed straight down the tunnel as his team-mates looked
for a way back into the game. Emmanuel Adebayor, jeered mercilessly
despite his acrimonious departure from rivals Arsenal last summer,
had sight of goal but sliced horribly over.
City continued to push for a goal with Ireland lifting a shot
softly into Gomes' arms. Kranjcar then added his second in stoppage
time from a short corner where he skipped around Adebayor and
finished through Given's legs.
