Match Report: Man United 2 Spurs 2 (we could have won it, should have won it!).

 

Match Report: Man United 2 Spurs 2 (we could have won it, should have won it!).

Considering our injury list and suspensions, we did well and were unlucky only to get a draw at Old Trafford. The match showed you how well Ange is keeping us in a good position to challenge for a top-four place. But to be fair, United were dire. They won’t be finishing the season in the top four. Their whole club is in a mess… but that isn’t our concern; what is important is the brilliant job Ange is doing at Tottenham. Other clubs are starting to tremble when they know they are going to have to face us.

We came back from behind twice against Manchester United in front of their new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Yes, Ratcliffe, attending his first game since a proposed 25% purchase of his boyhood club, was confirmed on Christmas Eve, witnessed the appalling problems at United while under the powerful gaze of the Glaziers.

Ratcliffe's pre-match assertion that United "normally do well against Spurs" wasn't quite borne out here. So; they’ve not only got a new investor joining United, but at the same time an asshole. Nothing changes at United. Since City became Manchester's kingpins, United have been digging their grave.

Richarlison levelled with his sixth goal; we were without three top players, including captain Son - away with South Korea at the Asian Cup.

Marcus Rashford put the poor-quality United ahead before the break. Still, Rodrigo Bentancur wiped out the advantage a minute after the restart with a blistering shot, his first goal since April. During that time, he recovered from a cruciate knee ligament injury and an ankle problem.

Thoughts…

The rest of the game would have been an education for Ratcliffe, who sat next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the directors' box. United had less than 40% possession, nine shots against our 16 and only a third of the six on target.

A draw did not take us above Arsenic and Old Lace and into the top four. But the draw did allow us to maintain an eight-point advantage over United, who could drop to 10th before they are next in action against Wolves on 1 February.

Our manager, pundits, and fans thought we should have won.

Betancur had an eventful day as he worked his way back from the ankle injury that followed a month after his recovery from cruciate surgery. He had an early effort cleared off the line by Dalot and then earned himself a caution for kicking the ball away after a flag had gone up for offside, arguing he was giving it back to United when he had sent it yards away from where it needed to be. That’s our boy! No flies on him. Anyway, his first goal was an excellent effort since the day he suffered his injury. Debutant Timo Werner (our first January signing) provided the pass, after that, Bentancur steadied himself before belting a drive past Andre Onana at his near post.

A draw was the least we deserved, as the £25m new arrival Radu Dragusin debuted as a late substitute. However, we will hope the injury that forced off Micky van de Ven near the end is nothing more than fatigue-related, given he was returning after a two-month absence with a hamstring injury.

After the game, Ange Postecoglou praised the players as he revealed that some of the squad had struggled with illness during the week. Dejan Kulusevski was one of those who missed out because he had been unwell; Skippy [Oliver Skipp], Destiny [Udogie], and three others also had struggled this week.

Two new players in so far, and I am hoping for a creative midfield to add to the squad before the January transfer window closes.

The game proves we will be untouchable once our squad fully returns to fitness. Many of the fans thought – at the beginning of the season – we would find ourselves battling in the relegation zone… but Ange was having none of it… he has given the team confidence. We have faith in Ange, and Levy better take note… if he doesn’t back his man, he might find somebody who will. And if that happens, watch the shit hit the fan.

Now we’ve got nearly a two-week winter break, then back to face City at our Tottenham stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Hopefully, by then, we’ll have most of our players back.

With Ange in charge, our hearts are beating a little bit faster. You can almost smell the success waiting for us at the end of that magic rainbow.

One other quick note about the day: it was blistering cold, and we had to wear extra layers of clothing. On the day a quick stop at Birmingham to pick up two friends (Steff & Janet) at the train station – and on to Manchester. Mel had picked me up at 9.30 that morning. After the game and taking Janet & Steff back to Birmingham station, I finally arrived in Cheltenham at 10.30 pm. Janette had a hot Ovaltine waiting for me. We then watched MOTD together. All good stuff… a happy ending to a nearly perfect day!

Happy New Year.

COYS!

Glenn