Fernandes sent off as dismal Man Utd lose to Spurs – follow live

While Ten Hag was serenaded by the Spurs fans with chants of “sacked in the morning”, one of United’s leaders actually did get his marching orders. Bruno Fernandes’ red card was a symptom of United’s problems; passive for too long, they were petulant at times, their attempts to halt Tottenham verging on the desperate, their plans falling apart.

On Thursday, Ten Hag claimed that United had turned a corner. Instead, this season feels a continuation of the last, a campaign that could be littered with ignominies. An eighth defeat in 20 league games at Old Trafford underlines how far they have fallen. United’s new hierarchy can talk of winning the title by 2028 but they are already six points off fifth, in the bottom half and with a negative goal difference.

The table may not lie. Just as Liverpool did last month, Spurs exposed the gulf with rivals. Tottenham have similar immediate aims, of Champions League qualification this season: but whereas United’s looked built on delusion, there seems a realism to theirs.

“We should have been out of sight after 20 minutes. But they weren’t dwelling on missed chances, we were focused on what’s next.

“We have guys in good goalscoring form. I can’t fault any of them, it was an outstanding performance.

“Things don’t happen suddenly. We know what we’re about and our journey towards being the team we want. We’re having consistency in our performances, today’s an indication of that.”

The Portuguese was shown a straight red card by referee Chris Kavanagh shortly before half time with United a goal down at Old Trafford.

Fernandes, who was sent off for the first time in his United career, received the red card for “serious foul play” despite protesting his innocence.

Tottenham, who led thanks to Brennan Johnson’s early goal, added two more after the break with Old Trafford emptying rapidly after Dominic Solanke’s third sealed all three points.

It meant there were barely any fans left to boo the team as United fell to successive 3-0 defeats at home in the Premier League, following Liverpool’s comfortable win at the start of the month.

Spurs started quickly and were ahead inside two minutes, Brennan Johnson tapping in from close range. And they hardly let up their assault on United’s box for the remainder of the first half, with the hosts managing just three shots and 37 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes, compared to Tottenham’s 12 efforts and 63 per cent.

Despite that, Ten Hag felt his side were close to coming back on terms after Alejandro Garnacho hit the outside of the post and Joshua Zirkzee saw an effort on the stretch comfortably saved, with Fernandes’ dismissal for a knee-high challenge on James Maddison the turning point which prevented his side finding a route back into the game.

Tottenham, who led thanks to Brennan Johnson’s early goal, added two more after the break with Old Trafford emptying rapidly after Dominic Solanke’s third sealed all three points.

It meant there were barely any fans left to boo the team as United fell to successive 3-0 defeats at home in the Premier League, following Liverpool’s comfortable win at the start of the month.

Spurs players talking at fulltime now.

Brennan Johnson first after scoring the opener: “We completely dominated the game, did things exactly as we wanted. We had a clear game plan and did a great job.

“Micky’s one of the quickest once he gets going. The manager demands we be at the back post, the goal like that it’s easy but it’s about getting there first.”

And Micky van de Ven, who assisted his goal in such style:

“We controlled the game, we knew they are quite dangerous on counter-attacks but we controlled it.

“I intercepted the ball and saw the gap. I was like ‘now I’m going!’ and I knew he’s at the second post. I didn’t see the goal because I was falling down the stairs but I knew he put it in!

“We showed we have the quality to play at this intensity all game so it’s a deserved three points.”

Full time stats, Man United 0-3 Tottenham:

Spurs up to eighth then, three points behind Chelsea in fourth. Early on still, but they’ll feel happier at being that close to the Champions League spots after being midtable. United down to 12th with a minus three goal difference.

The whistle goes, Man United fans boo, Spurs fans cheer and Gary Neville calls the first-half performance from his former side “disgusting”.

Quite the result for Spurs, a really good performance – awful from start to finish for United, who had Bruno Fernandes sent-off.