Two famous old clubs bound together in times of trouble were separated only by a single unspectacular goal in a scruffy unspectacular game.
It was tapped-in by James Maddison to the enormous relief of Tottenham, who clambered unceremoniously above Manchester United to heady heights of 12th in the Premier League.
United slumped down to 15th place, bereft of confidence in front of goal and increasingly ravaged by injuries, setting unwanted records and wallowing in unfamiliar depths.
The only consolation is that they remain comfortably clear of the drop zone because their form under Ruben Amorim, who has won only nine of his 21 games in charge, might otherwise be bad enough to send them sinking them into the relegation mire.
Tottenham have now beaten them three times this season, a pithy reversal of the ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham’ catchphrase coined by Sir Alex Ferguson back in the day when his team ruled supreme. Lads, it’s United might be more apt these days.
Spurs put three past Erik ten Hag’s United at Old Trafford in September and four past Amorim’s team in a chaotic seven-goal thriller in the Carabao Cup in December.
James Maddison’s unspectacular 13th-minute tap-in proves difference against Man United
Maddison turned home after Lucas Bergvall’s shot was parried into danger by Andre Onana
The win marks Ange Postecoglou’s first Premier League victory at home in 15 weeks
That was the night when Ange Postecoglou quoted Gladiator. “Are you not entertained?” the Spurs boss asked after his team had raced into a 3-0 lead, and then looked capable of losing it when Amad Diallo came off the bench to inspire the visitors and Fraser Forster started to self-destruct.
This was somewhat different. There were few of the thrills or spills. There was lots of huffing and puffing but very little quality or rhythm.
There was no Diallo either, among a dozen United players missing through injury and illness. And there was no Forster.
Guglielmo Vicario made a fine return to the Tottenham goal with a clean sheet and Postecoglou, with five key men back from injuries, could offer Amorim a little empathy as they embraced before kick-off.
His Spurs squad has been stretched to its limits through mid-winter. In fact, there have been many similarities between the clubs this season. Suffering on the pitch, caught in a downward spiral with an air of protest brewing off it.
This however has been a fixture circled on Postecoglou’s calendar for some time as a reset point.
Vicario’s return was a big one. Back for the first time since breaking an ankle in the 4-0 win at Manchester City in November, he is one of the senior voices and generally a soothing presence behind a back line committed to attack as much as defend.
He was required from the outset, making a couple of decent saves when the game was goalless.
United were left to rue missed chances down the other end as their goal struggles continued
Guglielmo Vicario kept a clean sheet on his long-awaited return to action following injury
Spurs also welcomed back Wilson Odobert from the treatment table, who came off the bench
First from Rasmus Hojlund, who beat Ben Davies for pace and cut inside onto his left foot. Vicario parried Hojlund’s effort and United recycled the ball to Alejandro Garnacho who forced the ‘keeper into a flying save with a curling right footer. Davies scrambled the rebound clear.
Maddison was the other senior player back from injury and straight into the Spurs starting line-up after three weeks out and opened the scoring to take the edge off a chorus of “We Want Levy Out” chants had threatened to take hold in the South Stand.
Heung-min Son’s volleyed cross from the left was stabbed out by Noussair Mazraoui but only as far as Lucas Bergvall who brought it superbly under control with an accomplished first touch and fizzed a crisp shot at goal with his second.
Andre Onana might have been unsighted because he could not deal cleanly with the save, simply pushing the ball back into a dangerous area. Maddison was the only player on the move in anticipation, sweeping for a simple finish for his tenth of the season.
Posteocglou had promised Spurs would improve with their best players back. He probably was not expecting such instant impact here was a little something to support his argument from the two big players restored to the team.
The pattern of the contest though was untidy throughout. The home team were far from secure at the back and United created the greater threat when they went forward but without looking clinical.
Joshua Zirkzee lashed an effort wide and Garnacho missed a glorious chance to equalise before half. Picked out by Bruno Fernandes, inside the penalty area with only Vicario to beat, the Argentina winger blazed the ball wildly over.
Amorim spun on his heel and threw his arms down in frustration in his technical area. Garnacho is erratic and yet no United player was more dangerous in this period either side of half time.
Ruben Amorim’s side have now lost 12 Premier League games this season as they sit in 15th
The game was preceded by vocal protests from the Spurs faithful against Daniel Levy
Twice more he was denied by Vicario in the second half. Once, released on an angle he fired straight at the goalkeeper and the other was an exceptional save, low from a fierce low drive.
Vicario’s save like Onana’s for the Maddison goal was pushed out. Spurs were quick to react and clear but United were in ascendancy by midway through the second half.
Postecoglou tried to regain control of midfield with a double change, sending on Brennan Johnson and Pape Matar Sarr for Maddison and Bergvall but it did not relieve much pressure.
United continued to threaten without scoring. Zirkzee glanced a header wide and Vicario save again from Hojlund. Postecoglou made two more changes, sending on Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma.
Rodrigo Bentancur went off and strapped a large ice pack to a knee but here was the difference for the Tottenham boss, with the five players back he could bring senior players off the bench and make a difference. Wilson Odobert came on in the closing minutes, his first appearance since October.
Tottenham resisted and flickered on the break. Onana made a save from Dejan Kulusevski, who was more influential when he moved into midfield after Maddison’s exit. Davies saw a shot deflected wide
Amorim’s only roll of the dice was to send on teenage striker Chido Obi for his debut. Ultimately, Spurs were able to close the game out and finished on top. For them, back-to-back victories in the Premier League. For Manchester United, a little more misery.
