Bruno Fernandes saw red as Tottenham cruised past misfiring Manchester United 3-0 and increased the heat on manager Erik ten Hag.
Sunday’s Old Trafford encounter was a chance for these top-four hopefuls to kickstart campaigns that had begun in similarly topsy-turvy fashion.
But a month that started for United with a 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool ended in another Old Trafford loss by the same scoreline as Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke struck for Spurs.
Skipper Fernandes’ sending off for a challenge on James Maddison at the end of a one-sided first half compounded matters, ruling him out of next weekend’s trip to Aston Villa and two further matches.
Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount also went off injured on a nightmare afternoon for Ten Hag, who is under the spotlight as United head to Porto and Villa Park before the international break.
As for Ange Postecoglou, they impressed without injured star Son Heung-min and won consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since March.
Spurs were as impressive as United were disjointed from the outset at Old Trafford, where the visitors went ahead after 155 seconds.
Micky van de Ven capitalised on miscommunication between Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford and drove forwards from his own half having intercepted the ball.
The rapid Spurs centre-back was inexplicably allowed to roar through, eventually sending a low cross to the far post for Johnson to tap home in front of a shellshocked Stretford End.
It was one-way traffic from there. Andre Onana stopped Maddison clipping home and Destiny Udogie lifted over, before Johnson sent a low strike off the far post after the visitors all too easily beat the press.
Joshua Zirkzee’s tame attempt after smart work in the box by Mainoo was the best United could muster in response to the Spurs onslaught.
Noussair Mazraoui stopped Timo Werner converting a low Johnson cross, with Maddison and Udogie having attempts before Cristian Romero slammed an acrobatic strike just wide.
It felt a matter of when rather than if another goal would come and few expected it to arrive at the other end, which it nearly did when Garnacho met a Rashford cross with a volley off the near post.
Spurs were through at the other end courtesy of some dreadful defending as Onana stopped Werner one-on-one before the incline on United’s uphill battle increased.
Fernandes slipped as he challenged Maddison and his desperate attempted tackle only succeeded in catching the Spurs man.
Chris Kavanagh dished a straight red card out to the perplexed Portuguese, with VAR Peter Bankes confirming the referee’s call of serious foul play.
As if the afternoon was not bad enough from a United perspective, Mainoo headed straight down the tunnel through what appeared to be a hamstring injury shortly after.
Boos greeted half-time, which United returned from with Casemiro on for Zirkzee – a move that failed to stem the tide.
Spurs attacked down the right inside two minutes of the second period getting under way and Kulusevski reacted to direct Johnson’s cross deflected cross past Onana.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning” bellowed the travelling support at Ten Hag before Pedro Porro, Werner and Solanke had attempts.
United were being outplayed but their defiant fans rallied behind them, with ignored handball appeals against Romero only fuelling them.
Casemiro sent a low drive across the face of goal and a Garnacho snapshot was blocked as the heavens opened, but Spurs soon saw off that threat.
Lucas Bergvall’s corner was nodded on by fellow introduction Pape Matar Sarr for stretching Solanke to prod home in the 77th minute.
Onana denied Solanke and Sarr headed wide as the clock hit 90, with substitute Mikey Moore bending narrowly wide.
The final whistle was met by jeers from some of those that remained until the bitter end.
Mikel Arteta cast doubt over Mikel Merino’s availability for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final after their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace which puts Liverpool on the brink of the title.Liverpool need to secure only a draw against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday to be crowned Premier League champions after Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta scored with seven minutes remaining at...
Arsenal prevented Liverpool from being crowned Premier League champions without kicking a ball despite conceding a late goal in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.Mikel Arteta’s players knew that a defeat at the Emirates would see Liverpool take the title, but the home side were ahead inside three minutes through Jakub Kiwior.Eberechie Eze’s superb volley from a corner hauled Palace lev...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola described the win as “important” while stressing the need to keep calm and carry on after his side secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa to boost their Champions League hopes.Matheus Nunes struck the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium, where Bernardo Silva’s early opener for City had been swiftly cancell...
Matheus Nunes’ stoppage-time strike sealed Manchester City a potentially crucial win against top-five rivals Aston Villa as the quest for Champions League qualification intensifies.Neither side could afford a slip-up on Tuesday as the FA Cup semi-finalists sought to head to Wembley on the back of an important result in the battle to reach European football’s top table.Marcus Rashford l...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. One thing rival fans are agreeing on in the Premier League this season Who will go to UCL next year? Which is worst? Real Madrid haven't been the Same since Toni Kroos' RETIREMENT.. TAG a Real Madrid Fan & Say Nothing.. STREETS WON'T FORGET David Luiz's ICONIC Hair.. Another win for Barcelona. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more ...
Manchester United are hoping to sign Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap in the summer, though are also thinking about a move for Victor Osimhen.WHAT HAPPENED?Ruben Amorim is expected to revamp his Manchester United squad after a dismal season for the Red Devils. The Portuguese coach wants to bring in Cunha from Wolves, with United hoping to pay his £62.5 million release clause in instalments, accor...
Italian top flight Serie A has postponed Saturday's three fixtures until Sunday due to Pope Francis' funeral being held that day in Rome, the league said on Tuesday.Earlier media reports had suggested that Serie A might make an exception for Inter Milan's clash with visitors AS Roma to allow Simone Inzaghi's side additional rest time ahead of their midweek Champions League semifinal at Barcelona.B...
Roy Keane defended Marcus Rashford after he was picked over Ollie Watkins in Aston Villa's starting XI against Manchester City.Watkins had expressed his frustration at being benched after Rashford's loan move from Manchester United. Against Pep Guardiola's men, he was named among the substitutes, and the Red Devils great has backed Unai Emery's decision."Rashford obviously has a good track record ...
Man Utd working to quickly close Cunha & Delap transfersRuben Amorim is expected to revamp his Manchester United squad after a dismal season for the Red Devils. The Portuguese coach wants to bring in Matheus Cunha from Wolves, with United hoping to pay his £62.5 million release clause in instalments, according to The Telegraph. The Red Devils are also believed to be admirers of Liam Delap...
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 3 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 4 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 5 Liverpool join race to sign attacker Jeremy Monga
- 6 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 7 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 8 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 9 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy double helps ease Crawley drop fears
- 10 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive