Man City hit six past hapless Spurs, United held

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (L) celebrates his second goal with Yaya Toure (C) and Alvaro Negredo during their English Premier League soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchesterr, northern England, Nov 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Rampant Manchester City shredded the Premier League's meanest defence with a 6-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday while Manchester United's surge up the table stalled after a 2-2 draw at Cardiff City.

Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas both struck twice as City, who have scored 13 goals in their last two home games, roared into the top four. Hapless Tottenham conceded as many in one match as they had in their previous 11 league outings.

A sixth home win in six gave Manuel Pellegrini's team 22 points from 12 games. United were poised to move above them when they led Cardiff in south Wales with goals from Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra.

The visitors were then denied a fourth consecutive league victory when Kim bo-Kyung's late header earned Cardiff a deserved share of the spoils and left United in sixth spot with 21 points, seven behind leaders Arsenal.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring a goal against Cardiff City during their English Premier League soccer match at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Nov 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

England striker Rooney was at the center of controversy when he escaped with a yellow card for a wild kick at Jordan Mutch but the performance of a goal-laden weekend came from Manchester City.

Oddly enough Tottenham enjoyed territorial superiority but having fallen behind after 15 seconds they were ripped apart by a home side bursting with goalscoring potential.

City have scored 34 league goals already this season and manager Pellegrini was glowing in his praise.

"It's not normal to win by six goals against a strong team like Tottenham. I think today we played really well, not just attacking but defending," he told Sky Sports television.

"Spurs have very important players in attack so to not concede is very good."

City were gifted the lead straight from the kickoff when Tottenham played the ball back to Hugo Lloris and the France keeper hit his clearance straight to Aguero.

Lloris, playing for Spurs for the time since suffering concussion against Everton at the start of the month, parried the Argentine striker's effort but the ball rolled to Navas whose chip curled over the out-of-position keeper.

It was the second fastest goal of the season after the wind-assisted one scored by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic against Southampton in 13 seconds.