Manchester United 0, Tottenham 3
Manchester United were well beaten by Spurs with goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke at a rain soaked Old Trafford.
Andre Onana prevented a more embarrassing scoreline for the Reds who should have lost by a heavier scoreline but for a string of saves from the Cameroon goalkeeper.
Erik Ten Hag deemed a right back running through the United defence for Twente in midweek ‘unacceptable’ – so he will have been fuming when a pacy Spurs centre back did exactly the same in a torrid opening few minutes for the home side.
Micky van de Ven was awarded the freedom of Old Trafford when he intercepted a loose ball between Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Van de Ven ran through the vacant midfield and between Noussair Mazraoui and Mathijs de Ligt before cutting the ball back to Brennan Johnson who had the easiest of finishes into an empty neat at the back post.
Johnson could have doubled the visitors lead after 21 minutes when Dejan Kulusevski picked him out on the right but the winger hit the back post with hs shot.
Joshua Zirkzee could have levelled matters after 22 minutes when Kobbie Mainoo cut the ball back to him but he snatched at his shot and Guglielmo Vicario got down to make the save.
United just couldn’t hold on to the ball as Spurs racked up the turn overs and chances – a total of seven times in the United half alone – and the discontent reached fever pitch after 41 minutes when Bruno Fernandes was dismissed for a frustrated studs-up swipe at James Maddison just below his knee.
And in the aftermath of the red card, Kobbie Mainoo went down and limped off with a possible hamstring injury to be replaced by Mason Mount.
If there were small mercies for United at the break, the fact that they were not at least two goals down offered them scant cheer.
That was soon fixed 2 minutes after the restart when United failed to deal with Johnson again and his cross looped up after taking a deflection off Mathijs De Ligt and Dejan Kulusevski volleyed it past Andre Onana from close range inside the back post.
At least the fans didn’t give up on their team as Old Trafford rose up and backed their team despite the double blow.
Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen were introduced with 17 minutes to go for Marcus Rashford and Manuel Ugarte – United had already replaced replaced Zirkzee with Casemiro at half time.
But United continued to suffer and were 3-0 down after 77 minutes when they failed to deal with a corner by Lucas Bergvall.
Pape Matar Sarr flicked the ball into the path of Dominic Solanke who poked home a fully deserved third for Spurs – the cue for thousands to leave the rainswept Old Trafford.
The ignominy wasn’t over yet as substitute Mount went off injured once again after a clash of heads with Radu Dragusin late on, he was replaced by Amad Diallo.
And only Andre Onana prevented a more embarrassing scoreline for the disjointed Reds as he singlehandedly prevented at least three more goals for Spurs.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Tottenham 3
Andre Onana: 7. No help from his defence as Spurs took the lead after 2 minutes and 35 seconds and had to save a couple of times from James Maddison plus two one-on-ones with Timo Werner and Dominic Solanke to single-handedly keep the scoreline from becoming farcical.
Noussair Mazraoui: 5. Rattled by direct running Spurs and having to watch the pacy Timo Werner. Cleared Brennan Johnson’s cross into the box which would have been a tap in for Werner. Was sailing a disciplinary tightrope after that.
Mathijs De Ligt: 5. Seemed to be making recovery runs all of the time as the full backs were run ragged. Sent a late effort wide.
Lisandro Martinez: 5. Left exposed on his side. Shot wide in the second half.
Diogo Dalot: 4. Torrid time up against Brennan Johnson, needed to make more effort to track him, booked and was there for the taking later.
Manuel Ugarte: 4. Must have been stunned at the random turnovers around him, he couldn’t get near the action. Clumsy foul earned him a booking.
Kobbie Mainoo: 5. His long pass put Alejandro Garnacho in trouble which led to the Spurs goal on the break but he should have registered an assist for Joshua Zirkzee only for the Dutch forward to snatch at his chance. Injury ended his afternoon early.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Couldn’t trap a powerful pass forward from Kobbie Mainoo which led to the Spurs opener. Hit the woodwork later in the first half and had a goal bound shot deflected wide in the second half.
Bruno Fernandes: 4. Frustration built until he was sent off for a stupid challenge on James Maddison.
Marcus Rashford: 5. Heavy first touch intercepted by Micky van de Van for the Brennan Johnson goal, was deemed offside after hitting the side netting soon afterwards. Was well shepherded on the left flank by Spurs but picked out Alejandro Garnacho for a chance late in the first half.
Joshua Zirkzee: 4. Snatched at what should have been a simple chance to convert laid on by Kobbie Mainoo.
Mason Mount (on for Kobbie Mainoo, 45): 6. Could not steady the ship in deeper midfield role.
Casemiro (on for Joshua Zirkzee, 46): 5. Gave some support to Manuel Ugarte, shot wide in the second half.
Rasmus Hojlund (on for Marcus Rashford, 73): 6. Couldn’t connect with an Eriksen cross.
Christian Eriksen (on for Manuel Ugarte, 73): 6. Poor first free kick after he came on, great cross later deserved a finish by Hojlund.
Amad Diallo (on for Mason Mount, 85): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 0, Tottenham 3
Man Utd 0, Tottenham 1. 3. Micky van ver Van intercepted the ball as Marcs Rashford tried to find Alejandro Garnacho, raced 60 yards up the pitch unopposed and cut it back from the by line where Brennan Johnson had a tap in to the empty net.
Man Utd 0, Tottenham 2: 47. Dejan Kulusevski lifted the ball over Andre Onana after Brennan Johnson’s cross took a deflection off Mathijs De Ligt after United failed to deal with another Spurs attack.
Man Utd 0, Tottenham 3: 77. Dominic Solanke finished off Lucas Bergvall’s corner with a toe poke after it had been flicked on by Pape Matar Sarr. United’s defending of the set piece was poor.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Tottenham 3
Man Utd: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte (Eriksen 73), Mainoo (Mount 45, Amad 85), Garnacho, Fernandes (C), Rashford (Hojlund 73), Zirkzee (Casemiro 46)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Eriksen, Amad, Evans, Mount, Lindelof, Hojlund, Antony
Bookings: Mazraoui 34 (foul on Destiny Udogie); Dalot 39 (foul on Dejan Kulusevski); Mount 45+4; Lisandro Martinez 54 (foul on James Maddison); Ugarte 66 (foul on Dejan Kulusevski, 66)
Red Card: Fernandes 41 (a reckless high and wild swipe on James Maddison’s shin)
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero (C), van de Ven (Dragusin 81), Udogie (Spence 46), Maddison (Sarr 77), Bentancur, Johnson (Moore 77), Kulusevski, Werner (Bergvall 77), Solanke
Tottenham Subs not used: Forster, Bissouma, Gray, Lankshear
Bookings: Johnson 45+1 (foul); Porro 73 (foul on Alejandro Garnacho)
Goals: Johnson 3; Kulusevski 47; Solanke 77
Referee: Peter Bankes