Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason singled out a moment of ‘brilliance’ from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes as they combined to score Manchester United’s second during Thursday’s 2-2 draw in North London.
Déjà vu, anyone?
There were shades of Sevilla about the way Erik ten Hag’s side threw away two goals and two points against a Tottenham side who shipped six at Newcastle just four days earlier; lessons not learned and Mr Hyde giving Mr Jekyll a slap around the chops.
United were two up and cruising at half time; Jadon Sancho curling home a goal reminiscent of his Dortmund days before Bruno Fernandes – the supposedly ‘injured’ Bruno Fernandes – set up Rashford to score his 29th of a stunning campaign.
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes shine against Tottenham
Not for the first time, however, United supporters were wondering just what had been slipped into their half-time Gatorade; a terrific first ‘45 giving way to a horrific second.
Pedro Porro and Heung-Min Son turned a 2-0 lead into a 2-2 stalemate. The good news, at least, is that Champions League qualification is still in Man United’s hands. They are six points clear of Spurs with two games in hand.
And, in Rashford, Ten Hag has a forward who looks set to become the first player since Robin van Persie a decade ago to hit 30 goals in a single campaign.
“They were clinical (in the first-half),” Mason tells Football London. “The first goal (from Sancho), I feel we could have done better in terms of blocking the pass in between the lanes and showing them inside as well as allowing them to shoot.
“Second goal was a moment of brilliance.”
The most Rashford had ever scored in a single season – before Ten Hag’s arrival – was 22 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020. The England international also only needs two more in the Premier League to reach another personal milestone before the summer rolls around.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
