Fernandes sent off as Tottenham whip Man Utd

Tottenham delivered a remarkable performance to outclass a 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford, increasing the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

Despite missing the injured Son Heung-min, Spurs dominated the first half, with Brennan Johnson opening the scoring in the third minute following Micky van de Ven’s powerful run from deep. Tottenham created multiple opportunities but failed to capitalize further, with Timo Werner squandering a clear chance, allowing United keeper Andre Onana to make a crucial save.

United’s situation worsened when captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off three minutes before halftime for a reckless challenge on James Maddison. However, United had already been struggling, disorganized and outplayed, well before going down to 10 men.

Tottenham doubled their lead shortly after the break when Dejan Kulusevski chipped a delicate finish over Onana, following another impressive move by Johnson. Dominic Solanke capped the night for Spurs, scoring 12 minutes from the end by converting Pape Matar Sarr’s flick at a corner, sealing a convincing win and prompting many United fans to leave the stadium early.

Do you think this win marks a turning point for Tottenham’s season, or do you feel it’s too early to judge their overall form?

Tottenham secured their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions with a dominant performance against Manchester United, showcasing their finest display since the early days of Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.

Just two weeks prior, Spurs needed a late rally to overcome Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, sparking early doubts about Postecoglou’s leadership. However, this commanding display—dismantling a team they view as direct rivals—offered a resounding response.

From the outset, Tottenham were relentless, displaying quality, energy, and strength. Postecoglou, although visibly frustrated at times by missed opportunities, watched as his side repeatedly broke through United’s defense, only to fail in extending their lead beyond Brennan Johnson’s early goal.

Despite the concern that their inability to convert chances might allow United back into the game, Postecoglou’s side remained in control. Even before Bruno Fernandes’ red card, Spurs had Manchester United on the ropes. Once Dejan Kulusevski scored a second, the outcome was sealed, and Dominic Solanke’s late goal added the final touch to the victory.

Johnson’s early strike was particularly significant, with his father, David—who began his career at Manchester United—watching proudly from the directors’ box. After facing recent criticism from Spurs fans, Johnson responded in style, scoring for the fourth game in a row and assisting Kulusevski’s goal, playing a pivotal role in what could have been a rout.

Although United had a few fleeting moments in the second half, the day belonged to Spurs, who thoroughly deserved the standing ovation from their jubilant supporters at the final whistle.

Erik ten Hag finds himself at a precarious point at Manchester United, where every poor result seems to bring a new crisis. Based on that alone, this defeat to Tottenham was a disastrous day for the Dutchman.

While Ten Hag might cite Bruno Fernandes’ red card as a turning point, United were already being thoroughly outplayed by Spurs long before their captain was sent off for a reckless challenge on James Maddison after slipping on the wet Old Trafford pitch.

United’s performance was woeful, with only goalkeeper Andre Onana escaping criticism after making two excellent saves to deny Timo Werner when through on goal, and another from Dominic Solanke, who almost compounded the misery with a potential fourth goal.

What made the loss even more alarming was not just the team’s poor effort as they slid into the bottom half of the Premier League, but the tactical disarray and lack of discipline on display.

Mason Mount epitomized the chaos when, moments after coming on following Fernandes’ dismissal, he earned a needless yellow card for a rash foul on Rodrigo Bentancur. Lisandro Martinez also contributed to United’s lack of composure with a clumsy challenge on Maddison.

The pressure will undoubtedly mount on Ten Hag, who is running out of excuses after this heavy defeat. The team shows little sign of progress or improvement compared to last season, raising serious questions about his tenure.

These are challenging times for Ten Hag, and his position may be testing the patience of the Manchester United hierarchy, who backed him during the summer review.

Player of the match: Micky van de Ven (No. 37)