TOTTENHAM 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 1
David De Gea was the hero for Manchester United as the Reds goalkeeper resisted a second half Tottenham onslaught to win after Marcus Rashford put Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s team 1-0 up just before the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Spanish ‘keeper made an amazing 11 saves in the match from a host of Spurs players to help record Solskjaer’s 6th straight win in charge of the Reds.
It was the most saves he’d made in a top flight league match without conceding a goal after Spurs created chance after chance against the Reds but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Victory meant that United joined Arsenal on 41 points with only goal difference separating them from the Gunners in 5th.
And it was the first time in over a decade that United had won six games in a row.
Solskjaer retained only Ashley Young and Phil Jones from the side that beat Reading 2-0 in the FA Cup last weekend.
The team have only just come back to England after a spell of warm weather training in Dubai following that win in time for interim boss Solskjaer’s toughest test yet against a potential rival in Mauricio Pochettino for the full time job at Old Trafford.
By way of contrast, Spurs came into the game with less preparation on the back of a gruelling 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
But it was Spurs who had the first decent chances, with Harry Winks twice going close.
Jesse Lingard blazed over from Ashley Young’s uncontested cross as both sides started positively.
Spurs were more organised and had a Harry Kane goal disallowed for offside after Dele Alli cushioned Kieran Trippier’s cross down for the England captain to finish.
In trying to gain overloads on United, Tottenham were risking more players up against the visitors.
United were waiting for a mistake from Spurs and, after Mousa Sissoko had to come off with a suspected hamstring injury for Erik Lamela their rhythm was momentarily interrupted.
Marcus Rashford sets Manchester United on their way to victory over Tottenham
Marcus Rashford kept his composure and coolly put the Reds into the lead just before half time after Trippier gave the ball away cheaply to Jesse Lingard.
Lingard gave the ball to Paul Pogba whose long pass dissected the Spurs defence and found the young striker who did the rest in the 44th minute.
It was the first time in his career that Rashford had scored for the third Premier League game in a row to net his 8th goal of the season.
David De Gea had to save a shots from Kane and Alli shortly after the restart as Spurs looked for the equaliser.
Pogba raced into the area and forced an excellent save from Hugo Lloris to palm the ball up before tipping the ball away for a corner.
Kane’s header was straight at De Gea. And Pogba was denied by Lloris with both sides still trading blows in an even second half.
Alli broke free one-on-one with De Gea and was denied by the Spaniard as Spurs looked odds on to score.
Toby Alderwireld, Kane, and Alli again were denied by more brilliant saves from De Gea and Romelu Lukaku came on for an unhappy Anthony Martial before De Gea parried another Alli shot.
Solskjaer brought on Diogo Dalot for the last 10 minutes for Jesse Lingard, the full back staying further up the pitch.
And De Gea saved from Kane once again and Spurs substitute Fernando Llorente as home side continued to hammer on the door but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Lukaku’s injury time shot was deflected away by Ben Davies as time ran out but there was a worrying sight for England manager Gareth Southgate after Kane required treatment after being caught by Phil Jones as the game ended.
Southgate, who had been linked to the Old Trafford job in the summer, might have to do without his main striker if he has aggravated ankle ligaments after he limped off following lengthy treatment.