Saturday lunchtime saw Manchester United travel back to the capital to face a familiar foe at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Match Report
United returned to Premier League action this weekend hoping to build on their recent upturn in form and fortune, coming off the back of a hard fought draw away at Nottingham Forest last time out, and having just been awarded the Manager of the Month (MOTM) and Player of the Month (POTM) awards for October.
Manchester United who started the day two places behind the hosts, but with the chance of propelling themselves into the top four with a win. A feat that wouldn't be easy considering United's recent form against today's hosts, and the pain of that Europa League final defeat to their London hosts still raw with many associated with the red devils. A wound that Spurs themselves looked to add salt to by presenting that very trophy in the tunnel prior to kick off.
The game itself, which many were sure would be nothing short of a goal fest, started slowly with the only action being a misplaced touch by Lammens which resulted in a corner inside the first minute, a corner which did not come to fruition from a Spurs perspective. Aside from that both sides appeared content to play the ball around the midfield, and short of a few neat tricks and flicks by both sets of players and a few nice dummied passes; suggesting both sets of players re-watched United earlier season victory against Brighton, there really wasn't much for either sets of fans to get excited about.
That was until the 32nd minute, and it was the away side that reeled away in celebration. United who seized upon Tottenham trying to play the ball out from the back. After pinging around the six yard box the ball made its way out wide to Amad who delivered a beautiful weighted cross which was met by Mbeumo; United's POTM winner guided his header smartly beyond Vicario. Celebrations which saw the United number 19 rather comically get slapped around the head by his skipper whilst celebrating in front of the away end.
The game had to get better, and after the restart it certainly did. Tottenham started the half really positively pinning United back and forcing Lammens into two really good saves, and then seeing what they thought was their equaliser being chalked off for an offside against Brennan Johnson. Replays showed that the player was a few yards offside, huge let off for United.
The home side didn't let those disappointments affect their game as they kept up that pressure, limiting United's possession and attacks. Whilst it looked like the game was ebbing out to a 1-0 United win, with Spurs running out of ideas to get themselves back into the game. That was until the 84th minute. Were substitute Mathys Tel who was previously linked with a move to United found himself on the edge of the six yard and fired a deflected shot home. A shot that if it hadn't been deflected appeared to be heading straight at the Belgian shot stopper.
With 10 minutes still to play there was more than enough time for one of the sides to find a winner. United might've thought it was them as United's own substitute Šeško found himself one on one through on goal, but man of the moment Micky Van De Ven managed to get back and make what was certain to be a goal saving challenge on the big Slovenian forward.
As the pendulum continued to swing, all those inside The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thought it had finally swung in their team's favour as a minute or so into stoppage time Richarlison acrobatically got a head on what appeared to be a long range shot from another one of Spur's substitutes Wilson Odobert nestled into the bottom corner, past a helpless and visibly frustrated Lammens. The Brazilian striker wheeled away taking his shirt off and pulling out his trademark celebrations to a rapturous atmosphere inside the stadium, and the offside flag would not be coming to United's rescue this time.
By this point United were already down to 10-men as a late knee injury to substitute Šeško saw him hobble down the tunnel, with all allotted substitutes used leaving his side with a player short, because of this it already looked like the away side were playing for the draw. Only for it to be snatched away right at the death. Surely there wasn't time for more drama, was there?
As the game ticked into the 96th minute, United were pushing to resurrect what only 10 minutes earlier felt like 3 points, to ensure they didn't leave London totally empty handed. A corner would provide that remedy. As United's keeper came up for the set piece which appeared to have the desired effect as he provided the necessary distraction for De Ligt to ghost in at the back post and head home.
The silence rang around the majority of the stadium as the header was practically the last action of the game before the final whistle blew. A totally frantic and frenetic end to the game, an advert for all things good about the Premier League, and on the balance of play probably a fair result. Although both managers would've felt that all three points were there for the taking.
A breather is needed after that finish, and one that is duly being provided as we head into yet another international break. A break though that doesn't appear to benefit either side as their is certainly momentum building for both in the hunt for the European places.
