Man Utd news: Red Devils outclassed by Tottenham as Ruben Amorim’s nightmare continues

Manchester United lost 1-0 at Tottenham on Sunday night in the latest chapter of a nightmare season for Ruben Amorim’s side.

James Maddison’s early goal was the difference as Ange Postecoglou’s beleaguered team found a willing victim in the struggling Red Devils.

Now sitting a remarkable 15th in the Premier League table, United must find a way to end their season on a high or risk being dragged into an embarrassing relegation battle.

Sports News Blitz football writer Robert Bore reports on the capitulation in London.

Dark clouds gather before kick-off

If into every life a little rain must fall, Amorim must be wondering whether to buy himself one of those big golfing umbrellas, order a few sandbags from Jewsons, or just go the whole hog and build himself a big bloody ark.

It's hardly been a welcoming arrival to English football for a man who six months ago could have taken his pick of European football royalty.

Fast forward to today and his team languish in their lowest league position since baggy jeans and the Berlin Wall.

Granted, a proverbial hand grenade appears to have gone off on the United training ground this week leaving Amorim to start with the 'surplus to requirements' Casemiro as his engine room in the absence of the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer.

Throw into the mix the loss of the season's only real shining light in Amad Diallo, seemingly for the season, and the Portuguese coach might as well have called a witch doctor instead of his medical team.

It left Victor Lindelof to sit on the United bench looking like an embarrassed PE teacher on a school trip, parked amongst academy talent with a combined squad number of 365, not counting Lindelöf or young Ayden Heaven.

The latter was, of course, signed from Arsenal as a first-teamer at the end of the transfer window but has only one senior League Cup appearance to his name so far.

It was also only the second time Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee had started the same Premier League game, and the previous one did not go well with the Dutchman hauled off after 33 minutes of the 2-0 loss to Newcastle before Christmas.

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Hosts grab first-half lead

Spurs were understandably lively early on, but it was United who fashioned a flurry of efforts in the ninth minute.

First, Hojlund was denied after getting in behind Ben Davies and then Alejandro Garnacho tried to curl an effort into the far corner which was palmed away by Guglielmo Vicario. From the rebound, Dalot was blocked yet it was a glimmer of hope for the travelling United faithful.

Glimmer turned to 'glummer' just two minutes later when Spurs went ahead.

Son flashed a volley wildly across goal that fell to Lucas Bergvall. His effort was smashed goalwards at Andre Onana, but he could only parry the ball to the feet of James Maddison, who reacted quicker to the rebound than the United defence and tucked home.

Zirkzee was denied by the Spurs ‘keeper as the visitors went in search of an equaliser and Garnacho sent one into orbit when he really should have scored seconds later.

Onana then saved smartly from Spurs new-boy Mathys Tel after another Son cut-back and the hosts were just about good value for their lead.

It didn't help that there was a chasm in the United midfield, presumably by tactical design, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro sat acres apart despite being United's middle two.

And it was the Brazilian who was shown the game's first yellow card after a lunge on Son as a United attack broke down five minutes before the break.

But it was all good for the home side at half-time. Who better than United to roll into town when you are winless in your last seven home league games?

Big LOLZ.

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United grow into the game

There were unconfirmed reports that the United bench were late getting back for the second half as they had gone to the shop for some sweets and a can of pop and there was a big queue.

Presumably, Lindelof held the money for them so they didn't lose it.

On the pitch, Tel shot weakly at Onana as we resumed and then spooned another over in the early knockings, while the home fans began their massively irritating renditions of ‘When The Spurs Go Marching In’.

Just awful.

Garnacho subsequently saw his shot saved then scuffed the rebound before Fernandes misread a Matthijs de Ligt cross-field ball to increase the frustration, even though it was better from the visitors.

A strong arm low down to his right by Vicario denied Garnacho again and it really felt like there was pressure building.

But then, as is United's way, Spurs wrestled back some control, Tel wasting another half chance and Noussair Mazraoui doing well to block Son.

Tottenham looked more dangerous but Zirkzee should have levelled, heading Mazraoui's curling ball wide with his big mop of fluffy hair, his attempt dropping agonisingly past the far post.

Casemiro then went down like a Hollywood stuntman looking for a penalty as United continued to press but was rightly waved away.

At the other end, Dejan Kulusevski fired straight at Onana when he could have put the game to bed.

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Red Devils slump to another loss

The big question was would Amorim turn to his teenyboppers and if so, when?

But they were still sat nice and warm as the clock ticked through 80 minutes.

United continued to press and while they were increasingly susceptible on the counter, Casemiro headed a free-header from a corner over the top.

Onana bought Patrick Dorgu a yellow card with an awful throw out before United threw on 17-year-old Chido Obi-Martin for the final three mins, more in hope than expectation.

He became the club's third-youngest ever Premier League player.

And there it was. Another sob story. A familiar hard-luck tale from the season. Another energy-sapping defeat.

United left London slumped in 15th, albeit plenty clear of the drop zone but with their BUPA excess premiums probably meaning Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have to fire half of the cleaners tomorrow.

It won't get any easier either, with a resurgent Everton next up at Goodison Park next weekend.

The Premier League storm clouds show no sign of abating.

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