Tottenham Hotspur comprehensively beat Manchester United at a rain-sodden Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Erik ten Hag’s men were on the back foot right from the off – with Tottenham starting strong and flying into a third-minute lead through Brennan Johnson.
Mickey van de Ven sliced through a succession of red shirts to put it on a plate for his gleeful teammate – a sight we have seen multiple times.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was harshly sent off three minutes before half-time, killing any hopes of mounting a comeback victory.
Spurs duly added two more goals after the break to rub salt into the wounds.
With much to discuss, here are five talking points from another chastening day in M16.
United were outplayed by Spurs well before red card
There can be no excuses, ten men or not.
The fact is, Ange Postecoglu’s side was well on top ever before the Portuguese man was dismissed.
The Londoners just looked faster and sharper than their northern counterparts in every aspect – and they were unlucky not to be at least two goals to the good at the interval.
United, on the other hand, were disjointed and lacklustre.
It is extremely worrying that a team that many would have seen as roughly on par with the Red Devils in terms of current league status – totally out-performed their opponents – and on their home patch, too.
Supporters have every right to be disappointed and concerned after a dismal showing.
No goals again for the home side
It was another toothless display from the Old Trafford club, and even with eleven men on the field, they never looked like taking the initiative and breaching the visitor’s goal.
The closest the 20-time English champions came in the opening 45 minutes was when Alejandro Garnacho rattled a first-time volley off the left-hand post – but opportunities were hard to come by.
The North London outfit were far more fluid in their play – and despite missing chances, they were ultimately the more clinical of the two sides.
Ten Hag’s men created more openings in the second period but failed to take any of them – as Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal was seriously underworked.
This has to be a big concern now.
Ten Hag under real scrutiny
It was an abject display from the Dutchman’s troops – and, were it not for a couple of good saves from goalkeeper Andre Onana, it would have been even more embarrassing for the United chief.
The manager has taken a hell of a lot of stick – online in particular – over the last 12 months or so.
A lot of the criticism has been totally unjustified – especially given some of the mitigation his team had with relentless injuries and downright bad luck at times.
This feels different. His charges – now close to full strength – should not be getting destroyed by a team whose manager is entering into just his second campaign at the helm.
The pressure will inevitably ramp up a notch after Sunday’s humbling defeat.
With two huge games to come this week, we need to see a positive reaction, but things look bleak right now.
Ragged play a feature for mistake-laden reds
United started slowly and looked disconnected from the off, constantly misplacing passes or choosing the wrong option, especially when trying to play through the lines.
You would have expected the Mancunian outfit to have been well up for the game and try to atone for Wednesday night’s underwhelming draw with FC Twente.
It was a frustrating first half, and Spurs deserved to go in at the break in the ascendancy.
United could not find any rhythm whatsoever, struggling to string more than three passes together – and their misery compounded when Fernandes received his marching orders.
If the Crystal Palace game eight days prior was a step forward for Ten Hag’s overall game model, then this was a massive step in the opposite direction.
Crucial week ahead with time running out
It could be a defining week in Manchester United’s season, with two tough-looking away games fast approaching.
First up is a trip to FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night, followed by a visit to Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon to face a free-scoring Aston Villa side.
Of course, two wins on the road undoubtedly lighten the mood and may change the landscape, but with team morale seemingly low – it could prove to be a critical few days for the team and their under-fire manager.
If the North-West powerhouse were to lose both games and perform poorly, then INEOS and their best-in-class decision-makers could lose patience and might even be tempted to make a change with an international break on the horizon.
Let’s hope it does not come to that.
What are your thoughts on this disheartening defeat, and where do United go from here?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels.
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