Shaun Goater missed a glorious opportunity to salvage at least a point for Manchester City from last night's Premiership clash with Spurs.

Kevin Keegan's men went down 3-2 at Maine Road, but with the score at 2-1 to the Londoners the Bermudian striker was presented with a gilt-edged chance to put the teams on an even footing.

With 73 minutes on the clock Goater, making his 200th appearance for the Blues, took up his customary position at the far post. Australian midfielder Danny Tiatto surged down the right and sent over a teasing cross that eluded everyone but the 32-year-old Islander.

Heeding the advice of soccer coaches to head downwards when aiming for goal, Goater did just that but unfortunately his angle was too sharp and the ball bounced up high enabling Spurs `keeper Kasey Keller to clear, albeit awkwardly.

Boss Keegan's reaction said it all - the former England coach holding his head in his hands and uttering something less than festive.

His mood darkened still further ten minutes later when Spurs' second-half substitute Gustavo Poyet headed his side's third goal - arching acrobatically backwards and steering the ball past Peter Schmeichel.

Goater was substituted immediately after the goal and although Spurs had Christian Ziege sent off and City did pull one back through by Algerian substitute Ali Bernabia in time added on it was too little, too late.

City dominated the game - at one point having 65 percent of the possession - but they were unable to kill off Spurs.

After just two minutes Eyal Berkovic could have put his name on the scoresheet, but after lobbing the onrushing Keller the Israeli had to watch agonisingly as the ball just missed the far post.

Five minutes later Goater was left wondering how he was not able to connect with the ball after Keller pushed out Berkovic's cross. Just two yards out, the ball somehow squeezed between the big man's legs and was eventually cleared to safety.

Shortly after, a smart turn and shot from Goater brought another save out of Keller - the American fast proving himself to be one of the top goalkeepers in the Premiership.

Had he reacted quicker to Nicolas Anelka's run to the byline on 17 minutes Goater might have got the goal City's dominance deserved but as the ball fizzed across the goalline he was still some yards shy of the danger area.

The goal that you felt had to come eventually did - though it was not from either of the front men, rather the head of defender Steve Howey.

Kevin Horlock flighted a curling free-kick into the box and the former Newcastle man flicked a header beyond the flailing Keller.

Nine minutes later, though, all the hard work was undone when the unmarked Chris Perry met Ziege's corner with a diving header that gave Schmeichel no chance.

Keegan no doubt lambasted his side at the interval, but his words appeared to have fallen on deaf ears just three minutes after the restart when Simon Davies was allowed to steal in at the far post and plant a header from a Robbie Keane cross into the net.

It almost got even worse for the Blues when Schmeichel dallied with a back pass on the right hand side of the box and blasted the ball at Steffen Iversen.The Dane's heart must have been in his mouth as the ball curled back towards the goal, missing the far post by inches.

Shortly after came the miss from Goater that could have changed the complexion of the game.

But it was not to be and he and the rest of the City side must seek to bounce back when they entertain Aston Villa at Maine Road on Boxing Day.

City remain 12th on 24 points, while Spurs are seventh on 31.