The comedy affair that is Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur is threatening to become a yearly tradition.
For the third year on the bounce, both sides entered the fixture in dire need of victory before producing 90 minutes which exposed all their problems for the rest of the Premier League to see.
Even Manchester United would have felt shocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s opening goal, as he turned before finding the corner of Antonin Kinsky’s goal with just over 15 minutes left to play.
Michael Carrick’s side had been battered from pillar to post by a Spurs side who, as has been the case this season, just couldn’t find the knock-out blow.
That was very much the skit that the Lilywhites were forced to act out for 90 minutes, but they weren’t the only jokers in the room. Man United’s turn came when Spurs found themselves down to ten men.
How Spurs fought back to salvage a point vs Man Utd
It is quickly becoming one of the Premier League’s most bizarre trends, but Man United simply cannot find a way to beat ten men. They couldn’t find a way past Manchester City, losing 1-0 before the international break, and they also failed to keep hold of their lead against Tottenham.
For all their efforts with 11 men, it was with ten that Spurs found a way past Senne Lammens late on. Not even the most optimistic United fan can dispute that Roberto De Zerbi‘s side deserved to draw level, however, and that same fan has every right to take aim at Lisandro Martinez.
The South American defender just could not help himself.
Rather than stepping out with Harry Maguire, Martinez engaged in a battle with Dominic Solanke and proved why David vs Goliath is an ancient story rather than an Old Trafford reality.
The Spurs striker, to no surprise, won the battle and guided his header beyond Lammens to equalise. Tottenham finally got the goal that their performance deserved – saving Rodrigo Bentancur in the process.
Bentancur’s moment of madness lets Spurs down
He may have got a kiss from De Zerbi at full-time, but that doesn’t change the fact that Bentancur almost kissed goodbye to Spurs’ chances at taking at least a point against Man United.
It was an act of an inexperienced player, yet this is someone who has been at the top level for several years. It was immaturity from a player who does not have that to fall back on.
When Luke Shaw sprung into action, confronting Bentancur with an infuriated push, it should have been the 29-year-old with the advantage. Instead, his reaction was to lean his head into Shaw and leave referee Stuart Attwell with little choice but to produce a red card.
De Zerbi, as ever, took a different view after the game, telling reporters that he ‘liked’ red card: “I kissed Bentancur in the dressing room because we need this type of reaction, this character. Football is character.
“I liked the situation with the red card. We need at this moment the situation, not to bring a red card but we need to not accept the defeat.”
The manager may not be alone in that sentiment, either. After all, Bentancur’s dismissal allowed another disappointing star to stay out of the spotlight.
Spurs star must be dropped after Man Utd display
It’s tough to judge Spurs’ frontline after their Man United display. As Jason Cundy would say, there are signs. Savio was a particular threat, but lacked the end product yet again. It’s why Manchester City agreed to his sale and why Spurs fans may begin to feel frustrated.
That’s not to say it was all down to the Brazilian, however. Solanke may have ended the day as Spurs’ goalscoring hero, but he should have been wheeling away in celebration long before his header found the back of the net. He may not be so fortunate next time.
|
Dominic Solanke vs Man Utd |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Goals |
1 |
|
Shots |
4 |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
|
XG |
0.67 |
|
Touches inside opposition’s box |
4 |
|
Passes |
11 |
Spurs’ biggest problem against United was not chance creation; it was finishing the chances that they did create and there were plenty for Solanke.
The forward missed two big chances and whilst he was struggling in front of goal, he also struggled to get involved away from those chances – taking just four touches inside the opposition’s box.
De Zerbi, just like with the red card, remained positive about Solanke at full-time, saying: “There are not too many strikers better than Solanke. Today he was captain because he deserved it, especially in this moment because he suffer because Tottenham didn’t score or win any games. He is a great guy, great player and we are behind him.”
That, however, is not the complete reality. The goal spared his blushes, Bentancur’s red card took the headlines away, but Solanke still has so much work to do. This is, after all, a £65m striker who desperately needs to step up for a side who are having a woeful season in front of goal.
