No one can make excuses for Balotelli – Redknapp

Italian striker Balotelli came off the bench in the second half to provide both controversy and heroics, as his late penalty secured a win for the league front-runners.

Redknapp accepted Ledley King had fouled Balotelli in the penalty area in stoppage time, to give away the decisive spot-kick.

But Redknapp also insisted the City man should not have been on the pitch to decide the game.

Balotelli, already on a yellow card, appeared lucky to escape at least the same punishment again before his goal when he appeared to stamp on Parker, who had thrown himself in front of the Italian’s shot.

Redknapp said: “It looked like a penalty, I’ve not seen a replay – but the boy who scored the penalty shouldn’t have been on the pitch.

“He kicked Scott Parker in the head. He backheeled him in the face and cut his head.

“No one can make excuses that he didn’t do it, anyone can see he did do it.”

Redknapp was delighted with his team’s performance in defeat and, indeed, was frustrated they had not won the game late on themselves when Bale’s cross was met by the sliding Jermain Defoe, who poked the ball wide.

“We had a great chance when Gareth laid it across to Jermain, we were all up on our seats thinking it was 3-2,” he said.

“It proves we’re as good as anyone, they weren’t better than us today but they nicked it in the 94th minute.

“We had a bad two or three minutes and conceded the two goals but we showed great character to come back and I could see us winning from there.”

James Milner admitted Manchester City were sloppy to let Tottenham back into the game.

After a goalless first half, Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott put City 2-0 up in a storming start to the second period.

But Defoe and Gareth Bale drew Tottenham level and City needed the late penalty from Balotelli to earn victory.

The three points lifted City eight clear of third-placed Spurs and Milner said: “It’s massive, we knew how big a game it was.

“They’ve been playing really well and they had the incentive with how we played at their place (City winning 5-1 in August).

“It was an exciting game for the neutral but we’d like it a bit more boring next time.

“We took our foot off the gas, gave them one sloppy goal and they’re a good team. If you give them a sniff it gives them the momentum to go on.

“We were well on top, scored the two goals and probably should have controlled the game better than we did.”

Substitute Balotelli insisted he felt no nerves as he stepped up for the match-winning spot-kick.

He said:“I was calm, like every time I take a penalty.”

The incident involving Balotelli and Parker overshadowed a dramatic conclusion to an amazing second half.

A cagey opening period gave way to a goal fest.

David Silva sent Nasri through for the opener with a brilliant defence-splitting pass before Joleon Lescott somehow shoved a second goal over the line from barely a yard.

It seemed a City victory was certain but almost immediately a catastrophic mistake by Stefan Savic gifted Defoe an opening which he took superbly by rounding Joe Hart and rolling the ball at pace from an angle.

When Gareth Bale found the back of Joe Hart’s net with a staggering strike, Tottenham were level.

Balotelli’s introduction – and controversy – came after that but it seemed Tottenham would win when Bale rolled a cross to Defoe in stoppage time, only for the England forward to slide the ball narrowly wide.

Play immediately switched to the other end, where King upended Balotelli, offering the nerveless striker a chance to seal victory.

“We have gone up one end and it has looked like we would score the winning goal with Jermain,” said Redknapp.

“The goal has come so late. It looked like a penalty.

“It is going to be hard to win the title but all I have ever said is we had a chance.

“We are genuine. There is not much between the teams. We are not a million miles behind Manchester City or anyone else.

“We are a good team in our own right.

“I only said it wasn’t impossible. It is difficult now.

“There are lots of points between us.

“We just have to keep going and see where it takes us.”

Mancini was apparently unhappy at the final whistle and lambasted his team for the manner in which they threw away the lead.

“The manager’s voice wasn’t good but his words in the dressing room were very profound,” said Platt.

“Regardless of the fact that it is a great victory against someone who is up there as well, he is not happy at the gift of a goal and the lapse in concentration to allow it to go in.

“He has made that clear in no uncertain terms.”

[email protected]