Manchester: Substitute Anthony Martial’s 81st minute strike gave Manchester United a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Old Trafford here Saturday to keep them in touch with Premier League leaders Manchester City.
After last week’s surprise defeat at Huddersfield Town, Jose Mourinho’s team could ill afford another slip-up and they had to battle hard against a resilient Spurs to take the points. United move on to 23 points, two behind City who play West Bromwich Albion late on the day, while third-placed Spurs are on 20.
The impact from substitutes Jesse Lingard and French forward Martial proved decisive in the latter stages of a largely attritional battle in sweeping rain.
Tottenham, without their top scorer Harry Kane who was ruled out with a hamstring injury, played some tidy and progressive football in midfield.
But although South Korean winger Son Heung-min, playing in a central striking role, provided some intelligent movement and linked up well.
Spurs have now lost 21 of their 26 trips to Old Trafford in the Premier League era – their worst away record against any club in the division.
After a drab first period, United made an aggressive start to the second half with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku both forced Lloris into saves as Mourinho’s side threw themselves forward.
Spurs though could have gone in front themselves in the 76th minute when Christian Eriksen threaded a superb ball towards Dele Alli but the England midfielder’s left-footed effort from an awkward angle went the wrong side of the post.
A long ball from De Gea was flicked on by Lukaku into the path of the on-running Martial and the Frenchman confidently slotted past Lloris.
Other results
Arsenal 2 Swansea City 1
Liverpool 3 Huddersfield Town 0
Manchester City 3 West Bromwich Albion 2
reuters
