MAN UTD 0-3 SPURS: The pressure continues to build on Red Devils coach Erik ten Hag following another poor performance at Old Trafford, which saw captain Bruno Fernandes sent off
Manchester United’s suffering shows little sign of abating after being thrashed by Tottenham, with Bruno Fernandes sent off.
Brennan Johnson gave the visitors the perfect start, tapping home into an empty goal only minutes after Micky van de Ven’s driving run. In a tough first half for the hosts, Alejandro Garnacho came closest to equalising with a powerful shot that hit the post.
But their chances of a comeback were dashed before halftime when Fernandes was sent off for a strong tackle on James Maddison. Minutes after the interval, Dejan Kulusevski scored an acrobatic goal to increase Spurs’ lead.
Dominic Solanke finished the score with a late header. Here are all the talking points from Old Trafford following a performance that Gary Neville described as a ‘absolute disgrace’:Johnson extends hot form.
Tottenham had an absolutely electrifying start at Old Trafford, with one of the Premier League’s most in-form players scoring again. After picking up the ball in his own half, defender Micky van de Ven rushed forward.
He was permitted to sprint to the byline and bring the ball across goal to Welsh winger Johnson, who was waiting. He had an easy task: tap home into the empty net.
It was the former Nottingham Forest winger’s fourth goal of the season, having scored in his previous three games. He simply has to score one more to match last season’s total. He may have even gotten it at Old Trafford by hitting the base of the post.Rashford has a rotter
Marcus Rashford had a lot to prove after returning to Manchester United’s Premier League starting lineup. However, he only went so far as to advise that he should sit on the bench.
The Red Devils academy graduate had a terrible performance. He backed out of a battle with Van de Ven soon before Tottenham’s opening, and he also squandered a wonderful opportunity to set up Joshua Zirkzee.
Supporters let their discontent be known with audible moans when Rashford chose to turn back in the first half. If the forward wants to stay on the team, he will undoubtedly have to work hard.
Fernandes sees red!
The dismissal of United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, exacerbated the team’s disastrous first half performance. As he sought to attack James Maddison, the Portuguese playmaker stumbled, and his studs made contact with the Spurs player’s knee.
Referee Chris Kavanagh did not hesitate in giving Fernandes his first red card of his Old Trafford career. To Fernandes’ credit, he did slide, which undoubtedly contributed to the challenge.
But that made no difference to the officials who decided to fire Fernandes, whose terrible start to the season continues.Kulusevski takes advantage.
Spurs began the second half in the same way they had started the first, capitalizing on their man advantage. Johnson, the game’s first goalscorer, dashed down the right side uncontested and grabbed onto Dominic Solanke’s header.
The Welshman managed to identify Kulusevski, although with a tiny touch off Lisandro Martinez. When the ball dropped, the Swede pushed it home with an incredible acrobatic move.
Ten Hag’s worst start to the second half came after he brought on Casemiro at halftime for some more solidarity.
Ten Hag is under inquiry.
If Ten Hag wasn’t under pressure before the game, he sure is now. The Dutch team delivered an incredibly boring effort throughout the 90 minutes.
Spurs fans rejoiced, chanting ‘you’re going dismissed in the morning’ around Old Trafford. While it may be a little early to say so, Ten Hag’s future is clearly in risk.
With a busy week ahead, with games against Porto and Aston Villa, Ten Hag needs solid results now.Damning scoring statistics.
With six games played this season, United is in 12th place with only two victories. The most damning figure is perhaps the number of times they have scored.
Only one of their five Premier League goals this season has come at Old Trafford. Surprisingly, that is already two fewer than Liverpool’s score at the Theatre of Dreams.
Spurs, however, treble their total with their performance and could have found more if Timo Werner hadn’t missed a few shots. If Ten Hag wants to maintain his job, he needs to improve his home form.
Solanke rounds off hammering.
Despite the man deficit, the Red Devils performed well for the entirety of the second half. That was until Solanke closed out the scoring.
Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr glanced towards goal after a corner, and the unmarked striker put out a toe to make it 3-0. This was his third goal in as many games.
Given the high price Spurs paid for him, Solanke has surely silenced any doubters.
