Manchester United were briefly reduced to nine men during their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a substitution mishap that summed up a humiliating afternoon at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils suffered a miserable defeat that increased the pressure on manager Erik Ten Hag as goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke gave Spurs a fourth successive win in all competitions.
With the away team ahead just before half-time, Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a challenge on James Maddison, giving United a mountain to climb to get back into contention.
To make matters worse, England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo limped off injured moments later as Ten Hag’s team began to falter.
At one point, United were reduced to nine men after they appeared to make a mistake in the substitution protocol, leaving replacement Mason Mount stranded on the bench.
Manchester United were briefly reduced to nine men during their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a substitution mishap.
The home team appeared to make a mistake in the substitution protocol, leaving substitute Mason Mount stranded on the bench.
United’s problems worsened when Kobbie Mainoo was injured and they struggled to get Mount on.
Play resumed before the former Chelsea player had a chance to enter the pitch as home fans booed in frustration at the ridiculous mishap.
When the ball finally went dead, Mount entered the fray, but the midfielder was later replaced himself after an injury left blood gushing from his head.
In the chaotic first-half incident, Mainoo also appeared to complain to substitutes Antony and Casemiro about something, as the two bib-clad men looked on in bewilderment.
The breakthrough in Sunday’s clash, which continued a trend of early goals in matches between the two, came from an unlikely source in the visiting team’s defensive line.
Micky van de Ven collected the ball inside his own half and channeled the spirit of Franz Beckenbauer as he glided unopposed down the left lane before beating three men as he reached the opponent’s box.
He then launched a low shot over the home goal, which was met by a cheerful Johnson who scored. The goal continued the former Nottingham Forest player’s run of form and gave him his fourth goal in four games.
He then almost doubled his tally for the day after Kulusevski found him in pockets of space inside the United box, but the right winger’s low shot crashed off the left post.
Alejandro Garnacho also hit the woodwork, but it was all Spurs and the home team looked like a group of ungelled individuals, as they have done so many times in recent seasons and Fernandes’ red card summed it up.
Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a tackle that grazed James Maddison’s shin just before half-time.
The expulsion gave United a mountain to climb with 1-0 down and Spurs well ahead.
When the ball finally went dead, Mount entered the fray, but the midfielder was later replaced himself after an injury left blood gushing from his head.
The result increased the pressure on Erik Ten Hag after a poor start to the season.
When Mainoo pulled away, Ten Hag’s team were desperate for half-time to come and when it did, Spurs left the field with mixed emotions: a spring in their step after a fluid team performance but a sense of sadness after a multitude of missed opportunities.
But they didn’t have to worry. Just over a minute into the second half, the visiting team repeated their quick trick with Kulusevski scoring his first of the season.
Johnson became a provider as he burst into the United box exploiting pockets of space that had become symptomatic of the home team’s chaotic defensive form.
He found Kulusevski in the box, who sped past Onana before racing away in manic celebration.
A stunning double save from Onana saw Werner pass the ball straight to the goalkeeper before the Cameroonian pounced to grab it from Solanke’s feet.
But these near misses served to embolden United, who returned to the game, backed by defiant fans who had braved the cold, wet September weather.
Lisandro Martínez was at the center of the action with the defender shooting wide and blocking a shot as the Red Devils searched for an unlikely goal to halve the deficit.
Substitute Casemiro all but silenced critics of recent weeks when he scored beyond the post on the half-volley with Spurs now squeaking.
Tottenham Hotspur produced a fluid attacking display to condemn ten-man Manchester United to a crushing 3-0 defeat.
Ange Postecoglou’s team has four consecutive victories in all competitions and could have achieved six or seven
The away team scored early in each half to set the tone, Brennan Johnson finishing after a spectacular run by Micky van de Ven in the first half.
Any vague hope of a miraculous comeback to save Ten Hag’s skin was demolished with 13 minutes left on the clock when new signing Solanke grabbed a decisive third.
Pape Sarr fired the ball from a corner and it fell into the path of the Englishman, who scored from just four meters, his third goal against United in three games.
Ten Hag stood motionless on the touchline as thousands of exasperated Red Devils fans headed for the exits around him. Another day closer to a long exit from the United bench.
