Solanke saves wasteful Spurs - analysis

[Getty Images] Like so many of their matches so far this season, Tottenham were the better team to start with and they penned Manchester United in with their high press and quick tempo. But once again they lacked conviction in front of goal and were left to rue missed early chances, with Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Conor Gallagher all failing to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes. For the 18th time in 2026, Spurs were unable to score in the first half of a Premier League game and they could not assert the same level of control after the break as United responded. They were ultimately punished when Mbeumo effortlessly strode past Jan Paul van Hecke and angled a strike past Antonin Kinsky and into the bottom right corner. Rodrigo Bentancur's two-footed challenge on Shaw - coming straight after a wild sliding tackle from van Hecke - perhaps warranted a red card on its own, but referee Stuart Atwell was left with no choice but to send him off when he planted his head towards the England left-back's face. Solanke's glancing header won't stop the growing scrutiny on Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who has won just four of his 15 games in charge, but it does at least show the team have a fighting spirit as they try to haul themselves up the table.