Man Utd 0-3 Tottenham: Brennan Johnson sparks big win for Spurs

Tottenham produced an utterly dominant performance as they beat miserable Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Brennan Johnson scored early following Micky van de Ven's driving run and though Bruno Fernandes' red card made United's task trickier, Spurs were superior throughout. Goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke better reflected their superiority.

The result leaves Erik ten Hag's team languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and the United manager facing fresh questions about what exactly he is building. Back-to-back wins for Ange Postecoglou's side lift them up to eighth.

Tottenham overwhelmed United from the kick-off with Van de Ven's extraordinary run setting up the breakthrough goal. The home side were trying to counter but in stepped the big centre-back, setting the tone by surging half the length of the pitch.

Johnson converted unmarked at the far post for his fourth goal in four games and came close to adding a second soon after when he hit the post following another sweeping move down the Spurs left. There was even a Cristian Romero scissor kick just wide.

Alejandro Garnacho did volley against the outside of the post but it offered the briefest of respite. The first of two Timo Werner chances at the other end was far clearer but he could not beat Andre Onana either time. United were abject, the gulf in quality alarming.

Fernandes' red card late in the first half, harsh given he slipped before connecting with James Maddison's ankle, only exacerbated the issue. United could not regroup, Kulusevski doubling the advantage with a cushioned volley soon after the interval.

United did show some spirit, making for an entertaining game even with them down two goals one player, but it was too little and too late. Any hope of an unlikely comeback ended when Solanke slid in from close range to make it three. Spurs were superb.

Awful afternoon for Ten Hag

Since losing heavily at home to Liverpool, there have been enough hints of promise to have the more optimistic United supporters believing that Ten Hag might be building an exciting new team but afternoons like this test that theory to its absolute limit.

While the officials were booed from the field as a result of Fernandes' harsh red card, that incident could not mask the fact that United were exposed as an abject outfit long before that. It was damning for Ten Hag as this was close to his strongest side.

Fernandes' form is a bigger issue than his sending off. If Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are to be the future of United's midfield, it looks a problem in the present. Is Joshua Zirkzee really capable of scoring the goals required of a United striker?

There were a series of individual errors when building from the back but so long is the list of culprits that the finger of blame surely points at the coach who appears unable to set them up in a style with which they are comfortable. The patterns are still absent.

Even with 11, the gaps in midfield were astonishing, half the team high up the pitch, the defence still so deep. If it is not what Ten Hag wants, why is it still happening in his third season? If it is, the explanation for it is yet to be forthcoming. Patience is running out.

United's new ownership team are known to have looked for alternatives in the summer before not only sticking with the Dutchman but backing him in the transfer market. But they need to see much more than this. Twelfth with a negative goal difference.

Source: Sky Sports