Man Utd vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Bruno Fernandes stunner
Fred and Fernandes scored in a dominant performance from the Red Devils
Manchester United produced arguably its most complete performance under Erik ten Hag by beating Tottenham 2-0 to move within a point of the Premier League’s top four on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes ensured victory in a game that saw Hugo Lloris pull off a string of fine saves to keep the score down.
United now sits one point behind fourth-place Chelsea and four off Tottenham, who have played a game more.
While victory prompted a rapturous response from the crowd — Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to steal the headlines when he walked off to the changing room before the final whistle blew.
The Portugal star was an unused substitute as United impressed without him.
Ten Hag is increasingly making his presence felt at Old Trafford, with standout wins against Liverpool and Premier League leader Arsenal already this season.
And Spurs became the latest big name to fall in front of United’s home fans, who were repeatedly out of their seats in response to some of the slickest football they’ve seen from their team under the new Dutch manager.
If not for Lloris, United would have held a sizeable lead by halftime, with the goalkeeper coming up with a host of impressive saves.
But he was finally beaten by Fred and Fernandes after the break after United’s dominance paid off.
Lloris was almost guilty of gifting United the lead after just six minutes when fumbling Antony’s long-range effort.
But he recovered to produce saves to deny Marcus Rashford, Fernandes and Luke Shaw before the break, while Antony saw another shot clip the outside of the post.
Harry Kane’s effort from a tight angle just before halftime was as close as Tottenham came to taking the lead.
Ten Hag has seen his team fail to make the most of chances in front of goal in recent weeks — most recently the goalless draw with Newcastle on Sunday.
But United was ahead at the start of the second half — even if it relied on a touch of fortune when Fred’s 47th-minute shot from outside the area was diverted past Lloris by the outstretched leg of Ben Davies.
As impressive as United’s performance was, Tottenham provided little in return.
Antonio Conte appeared helpless to coax his team into life as his players were repeatedly forced into errors and struggled to build attacks.
On one of the rare occasions Tottenham did look threatening, United punished the visitors with a rapid break to make it 2-0 after 69 minutes.
Kane had seen a close-range shot blocked by De Gea — and from there United pounced, quickly moving the ball into the Spurs penalty area.
When Fred’s effort was blocked, Fernandes was quick to send a first-time shot curling past Lloris.
Fernandes and Rashford both saw further chances blocked by Lloris as United went in search for more.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
3 mins: Matt Doherty brings the ball down the right side and slides it wide to Rodrigo Bentancur who sends a low cross into the middle of the box.
Lisandro Martinez clears the danger but gives the ball back to Son Heung-min who drives into the box before getting tackled.
Kick off: Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
Antonio Conte has never won at Old Trafford as a manager and has lost all three of his previous visits here. Will tonight be the night he finally earns a victory?
Spurs get the game started and the visitors work the ball around the back line before Ben Davies dinks a pass down the left side and gives it to Raphael Varane who calmly sends the ball back to David De Gea.
Man Utd vs Tottenham
Here come the players!
Bruno Fernandes and Hugo Lloris lead their respective teams out of the tunnel ahead of this highly anticipated game. Can Tottenham earn anyother victory at Old Trafford or will United close the gap on the top four?
Manchester United may wonder what might have been as Antonio Conte returns to Old Trafford
The first anniversary falls next week. Not, as Antonio Conte seemed to hope then, of his appointment of Manchester United manager, but of the well-sourced reports that he wanted to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Technically, of course, Solskjaer still had a job, though the 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool weakened his hold on it. Even Ed Woodward was starting to realise that perhaps the Norwegian was not the answer after all. A putative successor did not waste any time advertising his interest.
Conte looked the antidote and the antithesis to Solskjaer. The most obvious criticism of the legendary ex-player, albeit one United took too long to concur with, was that he was not a world-class manager. Conte was; he was an available answer to Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. United ignored the public entreaties. They had their doubts about his suitability for them.
And so November 2021 shaped the present and future of two clubs. By the time United belatedly sacked Solskjaer, Conte had taken the Tottenham post; to some, it looked a rebound relationship after United spurned his advances. Indirectly, Solskjaer had helped him, his 3-0 win over Nuno Espirito Santo’s Spurs showing that, in the last dance of the desperate, the Portuguese was a dead man walking faster towards the exit.
Manchester United may wonder what might have been as Antonio Conte returns
The Tottenham manager was a contender for the United job 12 months ago, and returns now with Spurs in the Champions League and enjoying their best start to a Premier League season
Knocking down the records
Harry Kane has scored nine goals in 27 career Premier League games played on Wednesdays.
Having already scored 10+ on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, he could become just the second player to reach double figures on five different days of the week, joining Alan Shearer.
Spot kick specialist
Tottenham’s Harry Kane is the fourth player to have scored 30 Premier League penalties, with his conversion rate of 88.2% superior to the three other players to have passed the milestone (Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard).
Luke Shaw says Erik ten Hag is keeping Manchester United players ‘on their toes’
Luke Shaw says Erik ten Hag is “keeping everyone on their toes” by dropping underperforming players – something the left-back admits has not always been the case at Manchester United.
After a wretched 2021-22 campaign that started under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ended embarrassingly under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, the Old Trafford giants handed the reins to Ajax’s highly-rated coach.
There have been a number of promising moments since Ten Hag took over, with long-serving left-back Shaw saying there are “very good signs, clear signs” of what he wants as United make progress.
But there have also been some downs like the 6-3 derby defeat at Manchester City and humiliation at Brentford – a 4-0 loss that saw the England international dropped and only recently regain a starting spot
Luke Shaw says Erik ten Hag is keeping Manchester United players ‘on their toes’
There have been a number of promising moments since the Dutchman took over at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo vs Tottenham
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in each of his seven most recent appearances against Tottenham, including four games for Real Madrid.
He has eight Premier League goals versus Spurs - his joint best record against any side and is just two short of 500 league goals in his career.
To reach that landmark tonight he’ll have to make a big impact from the bench.
Can Conte win at Old Trafford?
Antonio Conte has lost all three of his away matches against Manchester United - against no side has the Italian lost more away fixtures in his managerial career.
But, the Londoners have scored 99 goals in all competitions under Conte, with Harry Kane (30) and Son Heung-min (25) contributing over half of these.
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