Tottenham Hotspur finally ended their home league drought with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, marking their first Premier League win at home since early November. James Maddison’s decisive goal proved to be the difference, as Spurs climbed to 12th in the table, while United’s struggles continued, dropping them to 15th place.
The match was a tale of resilience for Tottenham, who had failed to secure a home win in their previous seven league outings (with two draws and five losses). Maddison’s goal, his first ever against Manchester United, came in the 13th minute after Lucas Bergvall’s initial shot was saved by André Onana. The rebound fell perfectly to Maddison, who calmly slotted it home to give Spurs the lead.
Ange Postecoglou’s side showed signs of rejuvenation, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario making his first appearance since late November. Vicario’s return was crucial, as he made several key saves, including a brilliant stop to deny Alejandro Garnacho in the second half. On the other hand, Manchester United’s bench highlighted their injury woes, with Victor Lindelöf being the only player over 19 years old. Manager Ruben Amorim had limited options, making just one substitution by introducing young Chido Obi-Martin for his senior debut in stoppage time.
Manchester United’s season continues to unravel, as this defeat marked their 12th league loss of the campaign. Their struggles were evident throughout the game, with Garnacho missing two golden opportunities to equalize. Bruno Fernandes set up the first chance, but Garnacho fired over the bar. Later, Vicario denied him again with a sharp save at the near post.
Tottenham dominated large stretches of the game, particularly in the second half, where they unleashed 12 shots between the 49th and 69th minutes. However, only two of those efforts tested Onana. In total, United faced 22 shots, a concerning statistic that underscores their defensive vulnerabilities. This was only the second time this season they’ve allowed 20+ shots in a Premier League match, with the first being their earlier encounter with Spurs in September.
The game saw moments of end-to-end action, with both teams pushing for goals. Joshua Zirkzee came close for United with a header that flashed just wide, while Dejan Kulusevski was denied by Onana. Djed Spence also made a crucial block to stop Rasmus Højlund from equalizing late in the game.
Postecoglou’s tactical substitutions, including the return of Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert from injury, added fresh energy to Tottenham’s attack. The much-needed three points brought relief and joy to Spurs fans, who have endured a challenging season so far.
For Manchester United, the defeat raises further questions about their form and consistency. With only one substitution made and a lack of experienced options on the bench, Amorim’s side looked disjointed and out of ideas. As the season progresses, both teams will need to address their shortcomings, but for now, Tottenham can celebrate a hard-fought victory that reignites their hopes for a stronger second half of the campaign.
