The two sides went into the game looking to close the gap on leaders Manchester City but it was the hosts who took the spoils to heap the pressure on their city rivals.
The home side had the better of the opening exchanges, dominating possession and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to be alert after just two minutes to cut out Romelu Lukaku’s low cross from the left with Marcus Rashford lurking at the back post.
Spurs grew into the game though, with the work-rate and direct running of Son, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko standing out.
Lloris was almost left with egg on his face after 10 minutes when a poor clearance almost saw Rashford get in but the Frenchman’s blushes were spared by Eric Dier, who made a great last-ditch challenge to deny Rashford a shot on goal.
The England youngster was a constant threat early on, calling Lloris into action again with a low free kick from range after 12 minutes.
Despite starting to dominate possession from this point on, Spurs were unable to create a real gilt-edged chance.
Aurier, Sissoko and Alderweireld all took turns in peppering David De Gea’s goal from range, with the latter finding the side netting.
United dug in and were content to play on the counter-attack at this point, with the visitors recording 68% of the possession between the 25 and 35 minute mark.
Sissoko fired high and wide after a lack of communication between Phil Jones and De Gea saw the goalkeeper spill a routine cross before Alli and Dier threatened from corners but neither side was able to break the deadlock and they went in level at the break.
The second half started at a slow pace once again but United almost took the lead after 54 minutes.
Good feet from Mkhitaryan allowed him to get a shot away and Lloris made a hash of it, palming it into the path of Rashford six yards out but Ben Davies, making his 100th appearance for Spurs, made a great challenge to clear the danger. Seconds later a Mkhitaryan cross from the left dribbled past everyone and away to safety.
United had the better chances in the second half and Antonio Valencia almost broke the deadlock with a stunner but his volley from the edge of the box flew just over.
The game opened up as it entered the final 20 minutes, with the introduction of Anthony Martial proving key.
The Frenchman was involved as Lukaku was set away on goal but the Belgian’s effort was kept out by Lloris after the striker had burst by compatriot Jan Vertonghen.
Spurs ought to have taken the lead after 77 minutes with their first real chance of the game. Christian Eriksen sent a beautiful cross into the middle but Alli was unable to convert from eight yards, managing only to prod wide.
The visitors were almost made to regret that miss as Lukaku headed Jesse Lingard’s cross from the right against the post minutes later but the real drama was still to come.
Just seconds after Spurs had seen an effort chalked off for offside, United made the breakthrough.
David De Gea’s free kick was headed on by Lukaku and Martial raced through to fire past Lloris to give the ‘Red Devils’ the lead.
Spurs threw the kitchen sink at United in the final 10 minutes but were unable to find a route back into the game and United could have made it two when Lingard was sent racing through in the 90th minute but he was unable to capitalise.
The result means United will at worst keep pace with leaders Manchester City, with both teams now setting their sights on their Champions League encounters in midweek.
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