Match ends, Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
- From the section Football
Henrikh Mkhitaryan's first Premier League goal gave Manchester United victory over top-four rivals Tottenham.
United, still six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, led when Mkhitaryan raced on to Ander Herrera's through ball and hammered into the roof of the net.
Victor Wanyama should have levelled with a header from six yards out, although visitors Spurs created few chances despite plenty of possession.
Paul Pogba almost made it more comfortable for Jose Mourinho's side when he hit a free-kick against the post, but United ended a run of three games without a win in the league.
The game ended in disappointment for Mkhitaryan, who was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the final 10 minutes at Old Trafford.
Spurs missed the chance to replace Manchester City in fourth and remain fifth, three points above United.
Follow the latest reaction from Manchester United's win over Spurs
Are United finding their form?
There had been a sense that Manchester United's performances were improving this season without the results - particularly in the league - following suit.
But this was an assured display, coupled with a positive result, and will give Mourinho hope that his side can now build on a troubling run of three wins in 12 league games.
A defeat would have proven extremely costly to United's hopes of claiming a Champions League spot and would have put them nine points behind the visitors.
United were able to name the same starting line-up that drew 1-1 at Everton a week ago and that consistency appeared to give them the confidence to allow Spurs plenty of possession, without feeling threatened.
Tottenham produced very little, despite their command of the ball, and it was United who were the more dangerous side through the counter-attacking pace of Anthony Martial, Herrera's neat passing and Mkhitaryan's link-up play.
It was Herrera who created the goal, dispossessing Harry Kane in the middle of the park and releasing Mkhitaryan, while Pogba showed occasional signs of menace, forcing a fine save from Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris after curling a free-kick against the woodwork.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Man Utd
- 1de Gea
- 25A ValenciaBooked at 32mins
- 4Jones
- 5Rojo
- 36Darmian
- 21HerreraSubstituted forFellainiat 90+7'minutes
- 16Carrick
- 6PogbaBooked at 64mins
- 22MkhitaryanBooked at 76minsSubstituted forBaillyat 85'minutes
- 9Ibrahimovic
- 11MartialSubstituted forRashfordat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bailly
- 8Mata
- 10Rooney
- 17Blind
- 19Rashford
- 20Romero
- 27Fellaini
Tottenham
- 1Lloris
- 2WalkerBooked at 78mins
- 4Alderweireld
- 5Vertonghen
- 3RoseBooked at 82mins
- 12WanyamaBooked at 58mins
- 19DembéléSubstituted forWinksat 67'minutes
- 23EriksenSubstituted forNkoudouat 83'minutes
- 20Alli
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forSissokoat 57'minutes
- 10Kane
Substitutes
- 13Vorm
- 14Nkoudou
- 15Dier
- 17Sissoko
- 27Wimmer
- 29Winks
- 33Davies
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 75,271
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home3
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Marouane Fellaini replaces Ander Herrera.
Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).
Phil Jones (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Antonio Valencia.
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).
Foul by Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).
Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Eric Bailly replaces Henrikh Mkhitaryan because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou replaces Christian Eriksen.
Booking
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Delay in match Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) because of an injury.
Foul by Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur).
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Danny Rose.
Attempt blocked. Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Booking
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United).
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Carrick (Manchester United).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford replaces Anthony Martial.
Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.