OK, so United played 60 minutes of the match with ten men. Inexplicably, Lamela who started it all off and elbowed Martial was awarded a yellow card, while Martial who reacted instinctively with a slap to the former’s chin, was given a red card after Lamela, to rub salt into the wound, went down theatrically. VAR was not even consulted. Martial will now be suspended for the next three league games. Wily Mourinho realised that the ref would view the incident at half time, note his error, and find a means of awarding a second yellow card to Lamela. So Lamela did not appear for the second half.
However, having said that, there can be no excuses for the serious lapses in the defence, skipper Maguire being principally to blame. Just because United were down to ten men when already 1 – 2 down does not forgive the atrocious mistakes at the back.
My United Man of the Match would be Mason Greenwood who, until substituted in the 67th minute played his heart out and really gave it a go. He went close with an angled effort midway through the first-half.
Interestingly enough, Tottenham’s last seven top-flight away wins against Manchester United have all come under different managers, in a run stretching back to Bill Nicholson in March 1974 followed by Keith Burkinshaw in 1976, Terry Venables in 1989, Andre Villas-Boas in 2012, Tim Sherwood in 2014 and Mauricio Pochettino in 2018. And now Mourinhio, who before today had yet to beat United with Spurs, having locked horns with United for the third time in the Premier League. It is surprising to observe that when Mourinho was United boss, United were made to play defensively with ‘park the bus’ tactics. Now at Tottenham he seems to have decided otherwise with today’s Spurs having no less than 22 shots on goal!
So that’s 3 (lucky) points from a possible nine, and De Gea already beaten 11 times, though not visibly at fault for any of the goals today. Not really the start we were hoping for, considering also that two of these three matches were played at home.
With the transfer window closing tomorrow, the Manchester Evening news reports that United have scheduled medicals for Edinson Cavani and Alex Telles for this evening. Fingers crossed. United now have a two week international break.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.