It was an important week for Spurs as they had to put last week's FA Cup exit against Aston Villa behind them, this time it was back to league action against another out of form and injury plagued side in Manchester United. The Lilywhites were glad to see number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario back available, who got the nod to start, as well as attacking midfielder James Maddison. Young wingers Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were back but only on the bench. The full lineup was: Vicario, Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence, Bergvall, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Maddison, Son (c), Tel.
Vicario would be called into action early on into the match, firstly saving a close range effort from Rasmus Højlund, and just after Alejandro Garnacho would curl a shot heading for the top corner, but was once again well saved by the Italian. Warning signs for Spurs despite having control of the game so far.
Just two minutes later though, Spurs would capitalise on United's inability to finish. Porro laid it off to Rodrigo Bentancur who crossed it deep to the back post where Son would volley across goal that was blocked by a United defender, it came out to Lucas Bergvall who shot low to Andre Onana's left. The Cameroonian international saved it, but James Maddison was Johnny on the spot to easily tap in from close range in what is his first goal against Manchester United.
He celebrated by doing his classic 'dart throw' and a shushing gesture towards the camera, which could be directed to Manchester United legend Roy Keane, after he had some choice words for the 28-year-old on the Overlap podcast in the week. 1-0 to Spurs.
Half way into the first half Manchester United should have been level. A poor goal kick from Spurs was intercepted and Bruno Fernandes found himself in a bit of space. He rolled it down the left to Garnacho, and albeit having so much time he lent back and blazed his effort over the bar, a really open first period of the game making it really fun for the neutral!
New man Tel would come close to getting his first league goal for the Lilywhites after netting his first in the cup last week, a nice pull back from the captain Son would be met by the left foot of the Frenchman, but was well saved by Onana.
Not too much to report on the rest of the first half, but manager Ange Postcoglou would have been content with that. Sometimes it's important to slow the game down and take the sting out of it. 1-0 to the good for the Lilywhites going into the break.
No changes for either side at the interval, with both managers feeling okay with how things have gone in the first period. Spurs would again start off the better side when Tel would have half a chance nearly ten minutes into the second period, but he'd slice his effort wide of the mark.
Manchester United would come forward moments later when it was Garnacho yet again who would go one versus one with Vicario, and even though he kept this one on target, it was well saved by the returning shot stopper. The Argentine would AGAIN come at the Italian, when a deep cross was headed out only as far as the winger, and this time he controlled it beautifully and struck his effort low to Vicario's right, but the keeper would get down quickly and come out on top for a second time in just minutes.
Goalscorer Maddison would be replaced just after the hour mark by Brennan Johnson, and Bergvall would make way for Pape Matar Sarr to try and sure things up on the centre of the park.
The Red Devils would keep knocking on the door, and this time it was Joshua Zirkzee who really should have levelled. Bruno Fernandes put in a first time cross deep from the right that was met by the Dutchman's head but luckily for Spurs it drifted wide. More warning signs for the Lilywhites and they needed to get that second goal.
More substiutions from Ange would follow shortly, with Danso leaving the field for Archie Gray. The Austrian had a really good game and had had a really good start to his Spurs career. The other change would see Yves Bissouma come on for Bentancur in what was a straight swap in midfield. With a few minutes of normal time remaining, Son would make way for Wilson Odobert, making his first appearance since the end of October.
That was all she wrote, as Spurs finally have a home win in the league for 105 days. Maddison's goal on thirteen minutes was enough to give Tottenham a first league double over Manchester United for 35 years, and one in the Premier League for the first time ever. The Red Devils had their chances but Ange will be delighted with that result and it means Spurs win back to back games in the league for the first time since September, when they beat the same two opponents! (Brentford and Manchester United.) Spurs now go to Ipswich and then it's back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face the other Manchester club, City.