Manchester United have won four games in a row for the first time in two years as Michael Carrick’s side swatted aside Tottenham to go within three points of second-placed Manchester City.
Against the 10 men of Tottenham, let down badly by captain Cristian Romero after his straight red card for a foul on Harry Maguire, United toiled, grinding out a 2-0 win in the rain.
Bryan Mbeumo finished off a superb set piece move to separate the sides as it was joy for Carrick and despair for Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who continues to be under mounting pressure.
Daily Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT ran the rule over the two sides at Old Trafford…
Manchester United brushed aside Tottenham Hotspur to make it four league wins in a row
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Senne Lammens – 6
Got away with a sloppy mistake in the early stages when his clearance left his goal exposed to Joao Palhinha, but overall Lammens will enjoy days like these where he has little to do. Given he faced just one shot on target, this was about as comfortable as you can hope for.
Diogo Dalot – 7
A lack of natural wingers to contend with made this one of Diogo Dalot’s easier afternoons here at Old Trafford. But credit to him because he’s faced a lot of criticism during his United career and he always brushes it off. Delivered a sensational assist for Bruno Fernandes that killed the game. So easy to see why every manager that comes through the door here keeps turning to him.
Harry Maguire – 6.5
Comfortably shut down the threat of Dominic Solanke and again made his case for a new contract, something that is yet to be forthcoming with his expiry closing in. Even when he isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary, his leadership is difficult to quantify. A totemic figure.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Got away with a couple of wayward clearances but his ability to play between the lines remains such a weapon for United when trying to build up from the back. The key for Martinez is simply staying fit after such a long spell out. Good yin and yang with Maguire alongside him.
Lisandro Martinez handled his business and the biggest feather in his cap is staying fit
Luke Shaw – 6
Neat and tidy without offering too much in terms of attacking output down the left side. Simply doesn’t have the burst or athleticism that allows him to do more than just shore up the defence down the left wing. Did his job.
Casemiro – 7
Stung the palms of Guglielmo Vicario with a piledriver from distance in the 10th minute and then found himself at the heartbeat of the game’s biggest flashpoint when Cristian Romero crunched in on his ankle. Keeping him fit is key so the fact he played on was as big a relief for supporters as Bryan Mbeumo’s goal.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8
His form continues to make a mockery of his non-selection under Ruben Amorim and this was another impressive outing as he continues his late bid to make England’s World Cup squad. His role in the set-piece opening goal was executed to perfection. A Rolls Royce performance, this, and therefore my MOTM.
Amad – 7
Lots of discussion around United is how to get Benjamin Sesko into the starting XI and perhaps whether Amad is the one to drop out in order to do so. Absolutely wild that anyone can watch the games and come to that assessment. Simply put he’s the best one versus one attacker in the entire squad. He had Destiny Udogie seeing stars. Booked.
Bruno Fernandes – 7.5
The best player in a team that looks like the top four juggernaut bosses believed it could be after surgery on its attack in the summer. Continues to make a mockery of suggestions United may be better off selling him in the summer. Doing so would be a sackable offence. Top class once again and got his goal to cap the day off.
Bruno Fernandes capped off another super display with the goal that killed the contest
Bryan Mbeumo – 7
Was operating off the left, rather than centrally, after getting so much joy in the reverse game at Spurs under Amorim. Had to get creative with Archie Gray nipping at his heels so he deserves credit for engineering space to score the opener from a corner. Continues to prove himself to be the best signing of the Ineos era.
Matheus Cunha – 6.5
His positional flexibility is a real strength for Carrick and his staff but he doesn’t offer the same type of threat out wide that Patrick Dorgu did prior to his injury. Still believe a lot of what he does well doesn’t show up on the stats sheet.
HEAD COACH: Michael Carrick – 9
Four wins from four is difficult to critique in any way, regardless of how the results arrived. Not since February 2024 have United – then under Erik ten Hag – had that kind of run. He’s found a winning formula and he’s sticking with it, doing his prospects of landing the job full time no harm at all.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-3-2-1)
Guglielmo Vicario – 7
Made a number of fine stops, including a point-blank stop of Casemiro’s header, to give Tottenham every chance of getting something out of this game. Finished with a flurry of highlight reel saves against Shaw and Dalot, too, not that it will prove much consolation.
Archie Gray – 6
Was tasked with man-marking Bryan Mbeumo and by and large he did a good job both on the floor and in the air, at least in the first half. Spurs need to look at themselves after another abject display but Gray shouldn’t be chief among the guilty parties.
Cristian Romero – 3
A complete and utter liability. Took to social media to moan about ownership not building a deep enough squad to then go and get himself sent-off for the sixth time in his Spurs career and the second of this campaign. Made it all about him for all the wrong reasons.
Micky van de Ven – 6.5
Far from blameless for the demise that has engulfed Spurs since he got to the club but we need to be honest with ourselves and just accept he’s too good a player to be playing in a team level on points with 16th place. Will have a long list of suitors in the summer and he needs to make sure he gets to one.
Micky van de Ven is too talented to be toiling in a side at the wrong end of the league table
Destiny Udogie – 5.5
Deserved better from his team-mates when he got the better of Dalot and Amad to drill a low, hard cross into the six-yard box but overall he was second best down his flank right up until he was forced off through injury. Booked.
Conor Gallagher – 6
Interestingly he could have lined up in United red for this one had United taken up the chance to sign him when offered in January. Gallagher was busy enough, more so in the early stages when the sides were even in personnel, but he didn’t do enough to imprint himself on the game. Didn’t do a lot wrong but did little beyond that.
Pape Matar Sarr – 6.5
Impressed when 11 v 11 and showed his value in behind able to drive through midfield as he got the better of Casemiro and Mainoo. But his influence waned when Spurs had to alter the game and he became something of a non-factor as the game wore on.
Joao Palhinha – 5
Takes criticism quite personally given how he responded to such from Sky Sports earlier in the season but he doesn’t look anywhere near the same player that did so well at Fulham. Was booked for a rash challenge that looked far more out of control than the one that got Romero sent off.
Wilson Odobert – 4.5
Had a couple of bright moments as Tottenham got the wind in their sails when 11 v 11 but he was the unlucky man who was hooked as a result of Romero’s ridiculousness. Difficult to judge.
Wilson Odobert’s afternoon was ruined by team-mate Cristian Romero’s foolish red card
Xavi Simons – 5.5
Shows flashes but he can’t stitch them together over the course of a full game. Had Lammens full stretch with an effort from distance and his talent shouldn’t be in question. The fact he can’t seem to take over matches despite that level of talent is bewildering, even given his youthful age.
Dominic Solanke – 5
Failed to muster a single shot across 80 minutes on the pitch and that just about summed it up. Did a lot of running and was the most accurate passer that played more than 45 minutes… but you need and want more from a centre forward, particularly when under the cosh.
HEAD COACH: Thomas Frank – 5
There’s only going to be so much patience for him to turn this around but to be let down as he was by his captain means he was doing so here with one hand tied behind his back. Needs to start seriously considering if Romero is the right man to keep the armband for the remainder of this season.
