Vulnerable Reds worse when they are winning

WITH less than two hours to go until kick-off, Sir Jim Ratcliffe said Manchester United 'normally do well against Spurs! Not this season.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Tottenham have avoided defeat to United in a season for the first time since David Moyes patrolled the technical area in 2013-14.

There have been too many parallels already with that apocalyptic season, but more disconcerting for United is they still trail Spurs by eight points.

This was a missed opportunity for United against a Tottenham team deprived of three first-teamers through international inconvenient commitments and injury. And still Spurs played true to the identity that Ange Postecoglou has restored.

United are recognisable for all the wrong reasons.

Their poorest spells were when they were winning and that has seldom been the case at Old Trafford this season.

They have led for only 136 minutes in 10 Premier League home games.

Scott McTominay bowed his head at full-time seconds after heading over when unattended yards from goal.

Defeat would have been harsh on Spurs and masked the myriad of issues Erik ten Hag still has to address.

The selection of Christian Eriksen for McTominay as Kobbie Mainoo's partner in midfield signalled the intent to play on the front foot with two technicians, only that was undermined by a reshuffled back four.

United never seemed settled and became incapable of defending corners.

For the first time in his career, Aaron Wan-Bissaka started at left-back in a month United jettisoned their loanee left-back back to Tottenham.

Sergio Reguilon was listed on the programme but not even on the Spurs bench.

Eriksen did not last an hour, as Spurs started the second half as they had ended the first.