Match Threads Spurs vs Man Utd - Match Thread - Day 31

[Bulletspur]

SPURS 1-3 MAN UTD
Son Fred, Cavani, Greenwood​

Spurs: Lloris (c), Aurier, Rodon, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Ndombele (Lamela), Lo Celso (Sissoko), Lucas (Bale), Son, Kane.
Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Tanganga, Winks, Dele, Vinicius.

Man Utd: Henderson, Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Pogba, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Cavani.
Subs: De Gea, Alex Telles, Tuanzebe, Williams, Amad, Mata, Matic, Van de Beek, Greenwood.

Official Site Match Centre
Three changes from last weekend's draw at Newcastle with Aurier, Dier and Son coming in for Tanganga, Sanchez and Vinicius.

REFEREE: --------- Chris Kavanagh ???????

TEAM FORM: ---- Spurs WLLWD --------- Manu WWLWW ---------- (All Competitions)

We will be looking to boost our hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League when we welcome Man Utd to North London on Sunday afternoon. We are currently sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed West Ham United, while second-placed Man United are relatively secure in the Champions League spots with eight games left. Our shock elimination from the Europa League in the middle of March has placed enormous pressure on Jose to deliver a top-four finish in this season's Premier League, with the Portuguese potentially losing his job if he is unable to deliver Champions League football for next term. We will have the chance to end our long wait for silverware later this month when we take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, but there is simply no downplaying the importance of our next eight league games. Our club would have been looking to make it back-to-back league victories last weekend when we travelled to Newcastle United, but Joe Willock struck a leveller in the 85th minute as the Magpies recovered from 2-1 behind to secure a draw. We are currently sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed West Ham, while we are only two points off fifth-placed Chelsea on the same number of matches.

We will be eyeing a huge three points against Man United on Sunday, but we have only won half of our 14 home Premier League games this term, suffering four defeats in the process, including losses to Liverpool and Chelsea in the early stages of 2021. We have won each of our last three league fixtures at our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though, scoring 10 times in the process, and our home form could be key to our chances of finishing in the top four. In terms of what is ahead for us in the league, we will take on Everton at Goodison Park on April 16 ahead of a home game against Southampton on April 21, before opening the month of May with a clash against Sheffield United at home. The speculation surrounding Kane’s future continues to gather pace, and the England captain is likely to have a big decision to make this summer if there is no European football on offer at the club next term.

Man United, like us, have certainly had their problems this season, but the Red Devils will be in a confident mood heading into Sunday's clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium courtesy of a run of four wins from their last five matches in all competitions. Manu disappointingly lost to Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup before the international break but have won their last three in the Premier League to place themselves in a strong position to secure Champions League football for next term. The 20-time English champions are currently second in the table, 14 points behind leaders Man City but nine clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, and they are very much in control of the spot just behind Man City side. Man United's last away league game brought a 2-0 over Man City towards the start of March, while they have won their last two league fixtures at Old Trafford against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion to make it 10 unbeaten in England's top flight.

The Red Devils have also put themselves in a commanding position to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 2-0victory over Granada in the first leg of their last-eight tie. Rashford made the breakthrough in Spain with a well-taken goal in the 31st minute before Bruno scored a second from the penalty spot in the final exchanges, and it would be a shock if the club were not present in the final four of the European competition. Solskjaer's side have three more league games before the end of the month, facing Burnley and Leeds United after this weekend's clash; Liverpool will then visit Old Trafford at the start of May, but there is every chance that will be a much bigger contest for Liverpool 's side, who are also chasing a top-four spot. Not since January 2020 have Man United lost an away Premier League match, and the English giants have won nine of their 15 league fixtures on their travels this term, although four of their last five away from Old Trafford have ended in draws.

Team Selection

We will again be without the services of Doherty and Davies through injury, but we are otherwise in good shape approaching Sunday's encounter. Aurier and Toby are both in contention after missing out against Newcastle last weekend, and the former could return to the starting XI at right-back. Son featured as a substitute against the Magpies and now is expected to return to the side, potentially joining Lucas, Lo Celso and Kane as part of a front four.

As for Man United, Martial remains unavailable for selection due to a knee problem, while Jones is a long-term absentee for the 20-time English champions. Baily is also out following a recent positive coronavirus test, but Shaw and Pogba should be available despite being substituted against Granada on Thursday with minor problems. Rashford is nursing an ankle problem but should be in the starting XI on Sunday, while Henderson is expected to replace de Gea between the sticks. Fred is likely to return in the middle of the park, and the fact that McTominay is suspended for next week's second leg against Granada means that the Scotland international should start, with Pogba potentially moving out to the left and Rashford going through the middle.

Head to Head

Man United lead the overall head-to-head record between us, with the Red Devils winning 92 times to our 53, while there have also been 49 draws throughout history.

We recorded a thumping 6-1 victory in the reverse game at Old Trafford back in October, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.

Man United's last away league victory over us came in January 2019, when Rashford scored a 44th-minute winner for the 20-time English champions at Wembley Stadium.

Banner courtesy of @chrissivad

 

[Bulletspur]

I have been on a self imposed sabbatical since the end of the Newcastle game. I don't even know the scores from the PL games on Monday or the European games in the week ( I only learned of Man Utd's result because of researching the OP.) So pissed off I was at Spurs. I still feel very disillusioned and frustrated but the game goes on.

 

[ardiles]

If we start with our best players, I think we can get a win.

We’ve had a whole week of rest whereas United had a midweek game.

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

No excuses. Full week of prep, opponents played away on Thursday. 1-1.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Very tricky match prediction vote this weekend.


Edit: As always, thank you to @Bulletspur for a cracking OP. And also to @chrissivad for the banner.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Did I hear right in yesterday's press conference, United something like 20 away games without defeat?

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

Really can’t call this. Could easily see us coming out and really going for it - similar to arsenal/city home matches, but in the same way it could be very like the Chelsea/Liverpool games. First 10 - 15 mins will speak volumes for the relationship between players and manager.

 

[hughy]

When was the last time we "doubled" them in the league? Feels like we are long overdue.

 

[Locotoro]

When was the last time we "doubled" them in the league? Feels like we are long overdue.

The last time anyone doubled them in the league was the 1982 season I think - Dave Sexton's Coventry city

 

[TheChosenOne]

I honestly cannot see us winning this. Everything that has happened since the season started has ended up meaning nothing. Great goals on occasion but great embarrassments too many times.
.
Sad to say the individual mistakes and the fragile mentality of the team doesn't bring me any hope, Man U will get dodgy calls and a penalty as always.
.
I wish it could be different.
.
Sorry but having watched us for 55+ years I'm just sad - sad and mad.
.
Thanks for the thread start @Bulletspur and also @chrissivad of course. COYLW's

 

[TheTanguy]

When was the last time we "doubled" them in the league? Feels like we are long overdue.

1989/1990

Every chance of beating them tomorrow if we have a proper go at them.

 

[Shadydan]

I don't know what to expect from this, I don't know what team we'll put out, I don't know how we'll play, I don't know what kind of comments Jose will come out with at the end of the match.

Kinda exciting really

 

[VegasII]

Pterodactyl for Jose

 

[hughy]

1989/1990

Every chance of beating them tomorrow if we have a proper go at them.

Just looked a bit further in to this. We've never completed a PL double over United or Chelsea, and have only once ever done the double over Arsenal (92/93) and Liverpool (10/11).

Thats fucking appalling.

 

[slartibartfast]

I'll never forget that we once managed to lose 1.0 to those fktards without them even having a shot on target.
Takes a special kind of team to achieve that.
They'll wreck our defence tomorrow.
0.3

 

[slartibartfast]

Just looked a bit further in to this. We've never completed a PL double over United or Chelsea, and have only once ever done the double over Arsenal (92/93) and Liverpool (10/11).

Thats fucking appalling.

Not really.
We were appalling for decades and those teams weren't.
Plus the top 4 of old rarely, if ever, get beaten home and away by anyone so unlikely we'd be the ones to do it.
Christ we went an age without beating some of them home or away let alone doing the double.
It sucks we were shite for so long but thats history now and cant be undone.

 

[hughy]

Not really.
We were appalling for decades and those teams weren't.
Plus the top 4 of old rarely, if ever, get beaten home and away by anyone so unlikely we'd be the ones to do it.
Christ we went an age without beating some of them home or away let alone doing the double.
It sucks we were shite for so long but thats history now and cant be undone.

In the last decade we've been better for all of those teams for at least 2-3 years at a time (sadly not all at the same time). It's actually pretty incredible that in 100+ attempts in the PL era we've only won home and away against a specific team in a single season twice.

 

[spursfan77]

Did I hear right in yesterday's press conference, United something like 20 away games without defeat?

Got to lose sometime then.

I wonder when the last time we did the double over Man Utd was?

 

[Aphex]

Have a feeling we will lose narrowly. 1 nil or 2 - 1.

Will get even more toxic afterwards.

 

[slartibartfast]

In the last decade we've been better for all of those teams for at least 2-3 years at a time (sadly not all at the same time). It's actually pretty incredible that in 100+ attempts in the PL era we've only won home and away against a specific team in a single season twice.

I find it more shocking how shit we are against the bottom teams than the top.
Have we EVER taken 18pts from the bottom 3? I havent checked but Id be amazed if we have.