James Maddison’s early goal proved decisive as Tottenham Hotspur edged past Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday, securing their first home Premier League victory in over three months.
Returning to the starting lineup after injury, Maddison capitalized on a rebound in the 13th minute, tapping in from close range to settle an entertaining contest where both teams displayed their vulnerabilities.
The long-awaited home win eased the pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, with his side climbing to 12th in the table with 30 points, leapfrogging United in the process. Meanwhile, United’s struggles continued under Ruben Amorim, who has now lost eight of his 14 league matches in charge. The Red Devils slumped to 15th place with 29 points, marking the first time since the 1989-90 season that they have suffered a league double defeat to Spurs.
Amorim: "I Hate to Lose"
Despite the disappointing result, Amorim remained resolute about his position.
"I am not worried. I understand our fans and the media's concerns," the Portuguese manager said. "I hate losing—it's the worst feeling. But I have confidence in my work. The league position is my concern, not my job security."
United’s performance lacked conviction, although they had their opportunities. Alejandro Garnacho squandered a golden chance in the first half, failing to capitalize on one of United’s best moments.
Spurs Strengthened by Returning Stars
Tottenham’s injury crisis is finally easing, with Postecoglou able to welcome back key players, including first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and playmaker Maddison. Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, and Brennan Johnson also returned to the bench, offering much-needed depth.
United, however, suffered another setback this week with the confirmation that Amad Diallo, one of their few bright sparks this season, is likely to miss the rest of the campaign. Their bench on Sunday reflected their struggles, featuring nine players aged 19 or younger.
Before kickoff, home supporters voiced their frustration with club chairman Daniel Levy in a pre-match protest. While this win won’t solve all of Spurs’ problems, it marks a step forward after their recent exits from both domestic cup competitions.
A Crucial Win for Tottenham
"It was important we won today," Postecoglou said. "The last couple of months have been tough, but we see a massive opportunity in the second half of the season."
With 13 league games remaining and both teams still contenders in the Europa League, there’s plenty left to play for.
United started brightly, with Rasmus Højlund forcing a sharp save from Vicario, who also reacted well to deny Garnacho’s follow-up effort.
But Spurs struck first when Son Heung-Min’s volleyed cross found Lucas Bergvall, whose shot was pushed away by André Onana—only for Maddison to pounce and slot home the rebound.
Garnacho had another chance to equalize but sent his effort over the bar despite having a clear sight of goal.
Spurs Hold Firm for a Rare Clean Sheet
Spurs’ new signing Mathys Tel struggled in attack and missed a decent chance from a Djed Spence cross, while United gradually built momentum, sensing an opportunity to equalize.
Garnacho tested Vicario twice more, but the goalkeeper delivered a confident performance in his first appearance in nearly three months. Joshua Zirkzee also wasted a promising opportunity, glancing a header wide.
Despite United’s late pressure, Spurs held firm to secure back-to-back Premier League clean sheets for the first time in 16 months—an encouraging sign as they aim for a strong finish to the campaign. Photo by Hzh, Wikimedia commons.