PREMIER LEAGUE
THURSDAY 27TH APRIL, 2023
(8.15PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0) MANCHESTER UNITED 2(2)

Spurs scorers:-
Pedro Porro, 56
Son, 79

United scorers:-
Sancho, 7
Rashford, 44

Attendance:- 61,586

Referee:- Anthony Taylor
Assistants:- Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official:- Thomas Bramall
VAR:- Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR:- Steven Meredith.

Teams:-
Spurs (3-4-3):- Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Pedro Porro (sub Danjuma,77), Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic (sub Davies,77); Son (sub Tanganga, 87), Kane (Capt.), Richarlison (sub Kulusevski, 61)

Subs not used:- Austin; Sanchez; Sarr, Mundle; Lucas Moura

Booked:- Hojbjerg (foul on Fernandes)

Manchester United ( 4-2-3-1):- De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (sub Malacia, 71), Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen (sub Fred, 61); Antony (sub Weghorst, 71), Fernandes (Capt.), Sancho (sub Martial, 61); Rashford

Subs not used:- Butland; Williams; Pellistri, Sabitzer; Elanga

Booked:- Wan-Bissaka (foul on Richarlison), Lindelof (foul on Kane)

Spirited Spurs come-back cheers fans

When Jadon Sancho was allowed too much space on the right of the Spurs defence to give United a seventh minute lead, it looked as if we might be in for another tale of woe. However, the fans had initially got behind the team and the first "We want Levy out" chant was held till midway through the first half. Marcus Rashford gave the visitors a two-goal lead just before the break, but Spurs came out fighting to make a spirited come-back and to score two second half goals. Such was the performance that even those "Levy out" chants were silenced as home fans even sniffed the chance of a winning come-back. The point gained was enough to put Spurs back in fifth place, above Aston Villa on goal difference and one point above Liverpool who we meet on Sunday.

Interim coach Ryan Mason made three changes with Forster in for the injured Lloris, Lenglet back in the defence replacing Sarr and Richarlison starting in favour of Kulusevski. Ryan also reverted to a back three. Richarlison started on the left of Kane with Son on the right, but that was a fluid formation.

United were missing their first choice centre-backs and even Harry Maguire was absent injured, so Erik ten Hag played Lindelof and Shaw in the middle.

It was a very cold and wet late April evening for the 61,586 crowd. The players entrance was even preceded by a clip of "Born Slippy" by Underworld. This cheered me up and hopefully helped to liven the atmosphere. Paul Coyte had vehemently urged the crowd to "get behind the team." The Spurs team huddled before kick-off.

United kicked off towards the south stand and had a couple of free kicks in midfield before Oliver Skipp ran forward and fed the ball out to Pedro Porro, who in turn passed forward to Son. Son’s intended cross was easily cut out and cleared.

Sadly, the right side of the Spurs defence was easily exposed too early. Rashford had found Sancho in space towards the left and the winger cut inside Pedro Porro beating Forster with a right-footed shot across goal and inside the left-hand post. United had a free kick four minutes later when Dier fouled Rashford, who took the kick but hit the ball the wrong side of Forster's right post. Spurs responded with a good swift attack after Kane’s header ran to Son, who passed to Richarlison, whose right-footed shot was held by De Gea. Minutes later again, Son fed the ball to his right for Richarlison who crossed from a sharp angle on the right, but this too was claimed by the United keeper, who was making the 500th league appearance of his career.

There was little of the irritating tippy-tappy football in this game which featured more end-to-end football in the style of historic versions of this fixture. Sancho had a shot blocked by Romero, but Sancho had another go and Perisic was required to head clear off the line.

Kane passed to Pedro Porro 20 minutes into the game, but the right wing-back spurned available passes and instead hit a speculative and poor long attempt at goal. The first round of those negative chants followed three minutes later. At the other end, United fans were chanting at Kane "We'll see you in June."

Fernandes threatened with a 25-yard left foot shot, but Forster dived to his left and managed to push the ball out for a corner. Hojbjerg showed skill and determination in an advance down the left side and after Richarlison exchanged passes the Spurs number 9 hit a good shot which took a deflection and won us a corner. Pedro Porro took this on the left and Perisic forced a save by De Gea with his near-post glanced header.

Referee Anthony Taylor had "words" with Richarlison, perhaps because the striker felt he was getting too much stick and no decisions from the official. Mr. Taylor is a referee who allows more physicality than some of his colleagues and in the first half this was working to the advantage of the visitors more than in Spurs’ direction.

Perisic fielded a long cross-field ball by Porro and passed inside to Richarlison, but when he crossed into the box the offside flag was raised. Forster saved from Rashford who had collected a Fernandes pass and at the other end Hojbjerg passed to Kane who hit a shot from a sharp angle on the left across the goalmouth. Eriksen was making his first return to Tottenham’s territory, and he picked out Rashford who forced another save by Forster, getting his body in the way.

Wan-Bissaka was shown yellow for a foul on Richarlison. After the free kick, Kane passed outside to Perisic, whose shot was pushed clear by De Gea. Spurs had insufficient numbers at the back when United countered and Rashford passed Dier too easily before beating Forster with a left-footed shot.

Spurs came out fighting from the start of the second half and won two early corners on the right. Perisic had another glanced header from one of these, but that was cleared. Spurs had chances in the box after a Pedro Porro shot hit Kane whose short cross was headed back by Perisic. Lenglet had a header blocked then when he followed up a second Lenglet header beat De Gea but skimmed off the top of the bar.

Son displayed skill and his old pace with a good diagonal run, but ultimately got no reward for his efforts. Hojbjerg hit a shot from a good 28 yards which was off target. We got a goal for our efforts in the 56th minute. Hojbjerg had passed to Perisic on the left and after his cross, Kane had an effort blocked with the ball falling for Pedro Porro who instinctively hit his shot with the outside of his right foot and beat de Gea! It was his second Premier League goal.

United nearly restored their two-goal lead when Fernandes broke through the middle but hit the bar with his shot. Forster saved Wan-Bissaka's attempt to follow up.

Lindelof was booked for a cynical foul and escaped a second yellow later in the game for a similar foul on Son. Dier headed a ball forward and Perisic advanced winning a corner for his efforts. After the corner, Hojbjerg fired wide.

Richarlison was replaced by Kulusevski, allowing Son to switch sides. United made two changes, one of which was to replace Eriksen with Fred. Eriksen received and acknowledged warm applause from the Spurs crowd. Kulusevski quickly won a corner, taken by Pedro Porro, after which Hojbjerg had another shot on goal, held by the keeper.

Now Spurs had a great chance and Son really should have scored after Kane picked him out with a great pass to the left of goal. Son had time to pick his spot but fired wide back across the goalmouth. Kane offered another pass to Kulusevski, but he fired wide too. Another superb chance fell to Eric Dier. Kane had pushed the ball out to Perisic who crossed and Dier had a free header in the middle of the box but headed wide.

United had a corner taken by Fernandes and at the end of the move, Shaw hit a long shot over the target. Romero was in an advanced position to receive a pass from Kulusevski and slipped the ball to Kane whose shot rolled to De Gea.

Danjuma replaced Pedro Porro and Ben Davies took over from Perisic. Spurs equalised in the 79th minute when playmaker Kane lifted a ball to the back post where “Sonny” converted. It's a couple of months since we've seen such an event, but this was the 46th Kane-Son combination for a goal, which is improves their Premier League record.

Romero defended well inside the box from United substitute (and fellow number 17) Fred and helped the United Brazilian to his feet afterwards. Rashford received from Fernandes but fired over.

Japhet Tanganga replaced Son which gave me the feeling we were seeking to consolidate the draw rather than go for the win. United probably came closer when Casemiro met Shaw’s cross but headed over from short range in added time.

Those first half defensive flaws had cost Spurs, but Ryan Mason and his team is to be congratulated for a battling performance with plenty of chances created. The crowd was entertained, and this has not been the case on many occasions this season.

Our next two away games are against our closest chasers Liverpool and Aston Villa. In between, on Coronation Day, we entertain Crystal Palace when I hope to use an appropriate headline!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

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