Manchester United secured a 2-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, making it four consecutive wins under interim manager Michael Carrick.
United created the first clear chance in the 11th minute, with Casemiro firing a powerful long-range shot that Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario did well to palm away. Manchester United number ten, Matheus Cunha came close nine minutes later, curling a shot from outside the area narrowly wide of the post.
The game’s major turning point came in the 29th minute. Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was shown a straight red card for a dangerous follow-through tackle on the ankle of United’s Casemiro. The dismissal left Spurs to play for over an hour with only ten men. This red card is Romero’s sixth across all competitions since joining Tottenham, which is the most received by any Premier League player.
Manchester United quickly took advantage of the extra player. They broke the deadlock not long after the red card, with Bryan Mbeumo side-footing a finish into the bottom corner of the net. Before halftime, Casemiro almost doubled the lead with a powerful header, but Vicario tipped it over the bar. The Spurs goalkeeper made another crucial intervention just before the break, rushing out to make a tackle and deny Amad Diallo, who was through on goal.
United began the second half strongly, and Diallo had the ball in the net in the 50th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Against the run of play, Tottenham’s Xavi Simons fired an effort wide of the target.
The result was sealed in the 80th minute. Bruno Fernandes was in the right place to guide a headed pass from Benjamin Sesko into the net, securing a 2-0 win for the hosts.
The victory strengthens Manchester United’s hold on fourth place in the Premier League, moving them four points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea. Under interim manager Michael Carrick, the team has now won four straight league matches against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham Hotspur. This is a feat his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, did not achieve during his tenure.
So how many wins before Carrick is seen as the preferred option.
For Tottenham, the defeat is compounded by the suspension to their captain, Cristian Romero, who will now miss the team’s next four matches and won’t play again till mid-March when they play away to Liverpool.
