Football: BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP - Same old City hold no fears for Fergie; MAN CITY 0 TOTTENHAM 2 FROM EASTLANDS.

Byline: David McDonnell

SIR ALEX FERGUSON will have afforded himself a wry smile as he left Eastlands last night following his spying mission ahead of next week's Manchester derby.

For all the talk of City's revival under Stuart Pearce, last night's display proved they are still plagued by the inadequacies that have kept them in United's shadow for so long.

That City have become a more formidable side under Pearce is beyond doubt, but one point from 12 over the festive period is an unacceptable return for a team with a desire to reach Europe. And a broader look at their results going into last night's clash - just eight points from a possible 27 - suggested a team in decline, rather than one emerging from years of dormancy.

Pearce summed up City's plight when he said a win would leave them eyeing Europe, while defeat would leave them looking over their shoulder.

In fairness to him, though, Pearce was forced to field more or less the same side over the gruelling Christmas fixture programme because his squad is so threadbare.

That much was evident with close examination of the City bench last night, which contained two full-backs in David Sommeil and Stephen Jordan, players who could hardly change the game.

And the inclusion of Robbie Fowler, out of sorts, out of favour and on his way out of City if only there were any takers, summed up the desperate state of City's limited squad.

Those players who had been forced to play four games in four games looked jaded, none more so than City captain Sylvain Distin.

Distin's form in the first half of the season was so impressive there were widespread calls for his inclusion in the France squad.

Yet in the 31st minute of last night's clash, Distin's inexplicable hesitation and indecision led to Tottenham's opener.

Trying to marshal the ball out of play, Distin lost all sense of where he was and allowed Aaron Lennon to sneak in behind him and keep the ball in play.

And Lennon pulled the ball back for Mido to apply the finishing touch.

The first show of discord from City fans came with a few derisive boos at half-time. But those jeers grew into a cacophony of outright dissent with the substitution of Nedum Onuoha and the introduction of Sommeil in the 53rd minute.

And Robbie Keane's late strike merely completed a miserable night for City.

CAPTION(S):

WHAT HAVE I DONE: City defender Sylvain Distin holds his head in horror after his mistake allowed Mido to hit the Tottenham opener Pictures: BRADLEY ORMESHER' ROY'S ROCKET: Keane fires in Spurs' second