Tottenham sink Man United in Premier League strugglers battle

James Maddison scored the only goal in 13 minutes as Spurs moved above United in the table into 12th thanks to a third win over the Red Devils this season. Victory eased the pressure on under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou after exiting both domestic cup competitions this month to go with their lowly league position. United now find themselves down in 15th but do enjoy a 12-point cushion over the bottom three.

Tottenham's first home league win since November came amid a spirit of revolt among their support. Before kick-off Spurs fans again vented their frustration towards owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy. A huge banner read "24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy - Time for change" as a sizeable contingent of the home crowd joined a protest calling for Levy to go.

However, the mood for Postecoglou was lifted even before kick-off as he was able to welcome back a host of first-team regulars who have been sidelined by injury. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first appearance since November along with Maddison in the starting line-up, while Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were on the bench.

United had their own injury troubles with Amad Diallo joining Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season and Kobbie Mainoo ruled out for a month. Amorim had to name eight teenagers among his nine substitutes, forcing Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to start together up front after both were overlooked for United's last league game, a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Hojlund had the first chance when he fired too close to Vicario before the Italian flew to his left to deny Alejandro Garnacho. Instead, it was Spurs who got the opener when Andre Onana could only parry Lucas Bergvall's shot into the path of Maddison, who tapped into an empty net for his 10th goal of the season. United should have been at least level by half-time as Garnacho blazed over a glorious opportunity with just Vicario to beat after being picked out by Bruno Fernandes.

Vicario continued to frustrate Garnacho with another fine save after the break. Zirkzee wasted a huge chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when the Dutch international headed Noussair Mazraoui's cross wide with the goal gaping. But United's inability to put the ball in the net comes as little surprise.

Only the bottom three plus Everton have scored fewer than United's 28 goals in 25 league games this season. At the other end, Onana kept the visitors in the game by parrying Dejan Kulusevski's powerful effort. But even Spurs' makeshift backline could not be breached by Amorim's men to allow Postecoglou to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

 

February 16, 2025