Man United vs Tottenhan

Although as a neutral I was hoping for a slightly better game of football, writing a match report on it definitely gave me experience of writing about a game with such big meaning yet such few opportunities. Here's my report on proceedings:

On a chilly, breezy, rainy midday kick off, it was arguably one of the most highly anticipated games this season as Jose Mourinho's Manchester United faced a Tottenham side who've come to Old Trafford on the back of a 3-2 home defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup. With no Harry Kane for Tottenham, it was always going to be an interesting encounter, let's see how both the teams got on.

Well for around the first 10-15 minutes of the game, it was a very United based game with a half chance coming their way as a poor Lloris clearance was headed by Herrera to Lukaku who then proceeded to find Rashford who was then expertly tackled by Dier. However his failure to clear the ball meant Rashford found Lukaku in space only for his shot/cross went out for a throw on the left hand side of the pitch. Although it wasn't exactly a clear cut opportunity, United certainly could've done better with the chance.

Then for about ten minutes, Tottenham got themselves into the game as they took the game by the scruff of the neck playing lots of safe passes to control the tempo. However these resulted in nothing but a few pot shots from 30-35 yards out with United defending with alot of unity and solidarity, not letting Spurs get anywhere near their goal. 

Funnily enough the first Spurs opportunity of the game comes from a mix up in the United defence as a Davies cross was easily collected by De Gea only for him to collide with fellow players Phil Jones and dropped the ball. Alli managed to get a toe to it and find Sissoko on the edge of the box only for him to blaze his shot high and wide. Good chances have come far and few between in this game due to such tight defences, both teams have to make the most of them.

Unfortunately for the neutral, the half finished as it started, 0-0, with very few opportunities to discuss. However the fight showed from both sets of players was admirable, your stereotypical English scrap. With multiple incidents involving Ashley Young, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko to name a few, the half was lacking in goal scoring opportunities, but certainly not lacking in hunger.

The second half kicked off in similar fashion to the first, however just as we pass the ten minute mark in the second half, we see more action in around two minutes than we had previously. Mkhitaryan seriously involved in both opportunities as firstly after a sneaky nutmeg on Winks his shot is poorly parried away by Lloris straight to Rashford only for an incredibly alert Ben Davies to prevent a certain goal. However the danger wasn't over as a lovely ball from Matic found Mkhitaryan whose cross flicked off of Lloris which took it out of Lukaku's path. United fans and the neutrals will certainly be hoping the game continues to play out like this...

In the 65th minute as the rain continued to pour, United had yet another half chance as a corner was headed away and the ball fell invitingly to Antonio Valencia who struck it sweetly on the half volley only for it to fly just over of where post meets crossbar. Elements of his stunning goal against Everton as he rushed into shot. Thankfully for Tottenham, not the same outcome.

Soon after United were presented with another half opportunity as after some lovely link up play between Jones, Martial and Matic, the latter found Lukaku who began to run through on goal, only for his shot, which was already going wide, to be tipped further wide by Lloris as Davies then proceeds to collect the scraps. Not an easy chance at all for Lukaku, maybe on reflection however, he could've held up the play.

Then in the 77th minute we finally get our first big chance, then a second one only a minute later at the other end. The first coming to Spurs as an incredible ball from Eriksen found Alli running into the six yard box, only for the latter to put his shot wide. Alli trying to be too cute and clever instead of just hitting it. The second opportunity came to Lukaku as a hit and hope cross from Lingard found Lukaku only for him to head it against the post. However given he was stationary and the cross was a looping one, the United striker made excellent of the situation and was extremely unlucky to hit the post.

Now United have a reputation of scoring late in the league this season as they boast the record of scoring more goals in the last ten minutes than any team this season and that came to fruition as United finally broke the deadlock. Ironically, after all the attempts both teams have had at trying to break the opposition defence down, it only took a punt up from De Gea, a knock on from Lukaku and a scuffed finish from an inrushing substitute Anthony Martial to give Manchester United the lead. Can Tottenham get a goal? Without Harry Kane?

Well it was almost game over as Tottenham threw everyone forward only for United to hoof the ball up and find an onside Lingard who rushed in on goal, being pressurised by Eriksen, only for him to sky it over the bar. Great opportunity for United to end the game. However that was the final notable action of the game as Manchester United beat Tottenham at home for the fourth time in a row thanks to yet another late Anthony Martial goal. However United could consider themselves lucky as if Alli had put away that chance, who knows how the game could've turned out. Overall it was a very fiesty game lacking in good opportunities as two of the best defences in the league came head to head, however Harry Kane's absence had clearly affected Spurs as they severely lacked any goalscoring threat giving goalkeeper David De Gea a relatively easy ride.

MOTM: Anthony Martial

In a game of very little action it was hard to choose a Man of the Match, so I went with the match winner Anthony Martial. With very few opportunities to come by, Martial was the only one to make the most of one also showing great anticipation to get on the end of the Lukaku flick on, anticipation that Tottenham clearly missed with Kane.