A Critical View of Tottenham’s win over Manchester United at Old Trafford

William Gallas totally committed defensively for Tottenham in Old Trafford win

The euphoria of Tottenham’s win over Manchester United at Old Trafford has carried supporters through the past few days, as if walking on air. The first half display was outstanding and throughout every player showed commitment and endeavour to match their pre-match belief that they could win the game. Defensively, however, in the second half Spurs were stretched to breaking point and in the end their win was due to them riding their good fortune and the profligacy of United who failed to take the clear goal scoring opportunities that they created in the final forty minutes. On another day, Spurs supporters could once again have been lamenting the capitulation of their team with the loss of a two goal advantage enroute to another heavy away defeat.

First Half

Tottenham started the match with positive intentions to grab the early initiative and were duly rewarded with Jan Vertonghen’s opening goal inside two minutes. Spurs used their superior pace to good effect and counterattacked at the heart of United’s defence. The first half goals came as a result of forceful forward runs by Vertonghen and Gareth Bale. Spurs completely controlled the tempo of the game as Sandro and Mousa Dembele were outstanding in central midfield. In that first half Tottenham were well organised defensively with every player working hard to pressurise the United player in possession and limit their options by denying them space to threaten the defence. When in possession Spurs played a very controlled passing game playing out from defence to then strike at the United defence with the pace of Kyle Walker, Aaron Lennon, Vertonghen and Bale. Sandro and Dembele also showed a willingness to carry the ball forward when the opportunity arose.

Every player worked hard, covering back in support of the defence and were successful to such an extent that Brad Friedel’s first intervention to claim a cross was in the 37th minute when he dived to collect a low cross into the area. Andre Villas-Boas commented on the first half performance in his post match interview.

"“Our work-rate was immense, our spirit, we played extremely confidently in the first half. We really attacked, our goalkeeper didn’t make a save and we enjoyed most of the possession.”"

The commitment of the players was typified by the strong challenge by Willliam Gallas on Robin van Persie in the penalty area after eleven minutes. This set the tone for Tottenham’s defensive performance and the introduction of Steven Caulker for his first Premier League start for Tottenham didn’t unsettle the defence as he played his part in the team’s success.

Second Half

Tottenham knew that United wouldn’t be as poor in the second half as they had been in the first. The introduction of Wayne Rooney gave them purpose and he was a constant threat as he has been on previous occasions against Spurs. He created the first United goal with a cross into the box from the right for Nani to reduce the arrears. Tottenham responded, again using their superior pace to score. Jermain Defoe played a major part in the goal with his determination and strength to hold off Rio Ferdinand before setting off towards goal to release Bale whose powerful running was again too much for United. His shot was parried and fell for Clint Dempsey who was up in support, to score. United scored again in less than a minute with lack of concentration by the Spurs midfield and defence allowing van Persie time to thread a pass through to Kagawa.

For the remaining forty minutes it was a rearguard action from Tottenham as they defended gamely to stem the flow of United’s forward thrust. While fault could be found in the two goals conceded by Spurs it is their defensive play after the goals that is a concern as a similar performance in the week’s ahead could led to much disappointment. It was a fully committed performance from Spurs as United now had the momentum and gained the advantage to totally dominate and control possession for the remainder for the match. Gallas again led by example as he defended bravely late in the second half, colliding with a post in his effort to get the ball away for a corner.

Tottenham had men back in numbers as they conceded possession to United and defended deeper and deeper. Paul Scholes who had been ineffective in the first half, now took on the role of master orchestrator of the game, spraying passes from his deep lying position as United pulled the Totenham defence all over the place. On another day van Persie would have scored as he cut in from the left but shot past, Evra’s header would have gone a foot either side of Friedel while their two efforts against the woodwork would have gone in to turn a fantastic win into to another embarrassing capitulation.

No longer were Tottenham able to play out from the back in a controlled fashion, United had learned from their first half errors. Spurs were forced to play the long ball out from the back and every time it came straight back increasing the pressure on the defence. At times, Spurs had five men strung across the edge of the penalty area but United were able to pick holes in it at will. Defensively, Spurs survived but it was not in a controlled and organised manner. Tottenham have failed in the past to break down defences at White Hart Lane where two banks of four defenders and midfield players have comfortably coped with Spurs’ attacking threat. Tottenham’s defensive work didn’t have that sense of organisation and as the match progressed they were forced to resort to clearing it anywhere. In the second half Spurs midfielders were unable to put any pressure on the United player with the ball and in the latter stages Spurs counterattacking opportunities were fewer and fewer. The introduction of Gylfi Sigurdsson for Dempsey helped to stem the flow but United were still able to defend from inside the Tottenham half as the pressure continued to build. Spurs survived the four minutes of added time and claimed their historic win to the great delight of players, management and fans alike.

Tottenham will not meet a team of United’s attacking capabilities every week and Andre Villas-Boas deserves much credit for the win but he and his coaching staff need to consider how his team will cope in a similar situation with the threat posed by the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Other Premier League teams, given similar time and space, are also quite capable of building up a head of steam as an attacking threat.

Tottenham had a fantastic win at Old Trafford and after waiting for twenty three years it would be foolish not to take delight and pleasure from it but but there are areas defensively where work needs to be done to ensure Tottenham’s attacking threat isn’t nullified by defensive weaknesses.