MAN UTD 2, TOTTENHAM 2
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was at Old Trafford for the first time since his company INEOS confirmed it was buying a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United.
Ratcliffe witnessed an entertaining game – aren’t they always Tottenham? – as the Reds shared the spoils.
But with United eight points adrift of the top four Champions League places, they needed a win to claw back some of the deficit.
United twice were ahead through goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford, but each time Spurs hit back with efforts from Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentacur.
Substitute Scott McTominay squandered a glorious chance in stoppage time which would have given Erik ten Hag’s side victory.
But that would have been cruel on Spurs who enjoyed 64 per cent possession and had 16 goal attempts to United’s nine.
Ten Hag said: “I am quite disappointed. When you go ahead twice and then concede two soft goals it is a bit frustrating, but you have to take it as it is.
“The attitude from the team was great, the spirit was great. We fought and gave everything. The fans were behind us, and I think it was a great game for everyone to see, not just Manchester United fans, because there was a great tempo to the game.
“Senior players like Casemiro, Martinez and Luke Shaw are returning and when you add that to our team, I am sure it is a strong side.”
Ten Hag also spoke of the Hojlund/Rashford partnership: “They are growing together so keep going with the progress.”
Embed from Getty ImagesSpurs’ manager Ange Postecoglou said: “You always want to win games, but I couldn’t be prouder of the players. They have had to deal with a fair bit this week and to put on a performance like that. I thought the way we handled the game was outstanding.
“They are a good team on the counter. For the most part we dealt with it OK. Our response to both of their goals was outstanding and I thought in the second half we were the better side and deserved to win.
“I’m delighted. It was an outstanding performance considering the challenges we have had – it was also a big game for Manchester United.
“Every time we had had to deal with adversity, we have done it in an outstanding manner, and we were unlucky not to win.
“It has been an enormous effort from the lads and congratulations to them.”
Looking back on the game, Postecoglou added: “It wasn’t the greatest of starts being a goal down particularly here. Our response was outstanding and our football after that was really good.
“In the second half we really controlled the game. We’ve had a really rough week off the field with illness and other things.”
United made one change from the side that lost to Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing.
Hojlund, who started the FA Cup win against Wigan last Monday, was recalled. Christian Eriksen was also able to take his place in the team after recovering from illness.
The fit-again Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez were among the substitutes.
Timo Werner went straight into Spurs’ starting line-up after joining on loan from RB Leipzig last week.
Fellow new signing Radu Dragusin was named on the bench.
Micky van de Ven, who has not played since early November because of injury, started, as did Cristian Romero who captains Spurs after recovering from a hamstring strain.
Ratcliffe was handed the perfect start as United took the lead in the third minute.
A raking cross-field pass from Bruno Fernandes released Marcus Rashford on the left. When he ran into a cul-de-sac, he back heeled the ball to Hojlund who created space before smashing a shot from 12 yards into the roof of the net.
It was the Dane’s second Premier League goal in two matches and his seventh of the season for the Reds.
Spurs came close to equalising when Brennan Johnson’s header from a corner was nodded off the line by Diogo Dalot.
But they made it 1-1 in the 19th minute when Pedro Porro’s corner was met by Richarlison who glanced home a header from four yards.
It was his eighth goal of the season for Spurs and his sixth in his last six league games.
This was also the 33rd successive league game in which Spurs have scored, the longest run in the club’s history.
United almost regained the lead when Rashford’s cross from the left was headed against his own post by Destiny Udogie.
But they scored a second in the 39th minute when Rashford played a return pass with Hojlund before firing low past keeper Guglielmo Vicario.
It was his fourth goal of the season and first goal of the season in 15 appearances at Old Trafford.
Spurs almost drew level in stoppage time when Romero headed Porro’s corner against the bar from inside the six-yard box.
But they made it 2-2 50 seconds after restart when Bentacur ran unchecked on to Werner’s pass from 18 yards to six yards before smashing a shot into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season.
United made their first change just before the hour as Eriksen was replaced by Scott McTominay, soon followed by a second as Jonny Evans made way for the returning Lissandro Martinez.
And there was a third substitution with three minutes left, Antony coming on for Rashford.
The second half failed to match the opener in terms of chances and goalmouth action, but United had a great chance to win the game in the fifth of five added minutes when Garnacho crossed from the left and McTominay headed wide from seven yards with the goal at his mercy.