In truth, neither Tottenham Hotspur nor Manchester United will be particularly overjoyed with how their dire Premier League seasons are currently playing out, with both sides shockingly stuck in the lower depths of the table.
But, come full-time on Sunday evening, it was Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs who would be given a much-needed boost as the topsy-turvy North Londoners got the better of Ruben Amorim’s dejected Red Devils to win by a single goal.
James Maddison would be the hero when it mattered most for his inconsistent side, with the return of the ex-Leicester City man from injury inspiring Spurs to surprise back-to-back victories in the league.
Standout Spurs performers vs Man United
Maddison would receive a gift on his return from his near four-week absence as Andre Onana’s poor goalkeeping presented the former England international with a simple tap-in during the first 45 minutes.
Away from this easy strike, Maddison would also complete one successful dribble during his hour or so on the pitch, alongside winning four duels to ensure his side weren’t breached at any stage by an out-of-sorts United attack.
The 28-year-old’s long-awaited return from the treatment room wasn’t the only positive addition Postecoglou could call upon to his starting XI, with usual first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also back in-between the sticks having recovered from his own setbacks.
Having the Italian ‘keeper back in the net was a saving grace for Spurs at points, and showed how costly Onana was in the opposition goal to gift Maddison the opener, with Vicario making six big saves to claim a clean sheet.
It was a real team effort overall that ensured the normal grumbles that reverberate around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were replaced with loud cheers, but there was one standout performer at the back who caught the eye by continuing to rewrite his Spurs story.
The Spurs star who's emulating Gareth Bale
Of course, Gareth Bale still remains in a league of his own when it comes to modern-day greats hailing from the white half of North London, with the Welshman becoming a blistering star in the left-back spot after some troubling beginnings at the club.
Amazingly, Spurs would fail to register a single victory during Bale’s first 24 games after a bumper £10m move from Southampton, with his sketchy injury record at the time making it a near plausible reality that he was sold on before his prime at White Hart Lane.
The rest is thankfully history now as Bale ended up etching himself into the hall-of-fame at the Premier League outfit, having gone on to amass 71 goals and 53 assists from a total of 237 Spurs clashes, often when lining up as a gung-ho option down the left flank.
Djed Spence could well be emulating Bale’s turnaround in fortunes, therefore, having once been seen as an outcast himself at the top-flight club – after enduring stints out on loan – only now to be visibly reborn in the left-back area.
Stat
Spence
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
86
Accurate passes
53/58 (91%)
Key passes
1
Shots on goal
1
Successful dribbles
2/3
Blocked shots
2
Interceptions
2
Total duels won
6/8
It was a top-drawer showing from the 23-year-old down the left, with Spence showing himself to be a nuisance when marauding forward – much like Bale – by accumulating two successful dribbles and one shot on the United net, on top of also being defensively solid with six duels won alongside four blocked shots and interceptions being tallied up.
18 of Spence’s 24 Spurs appearances have come this season, and following his current trajectory, he could be the club’s next iteration of Bale, with London Evening Standard journalist Dan Kilpatrick even heralding the revitalised defender as “undroppable” after the match amidst a 9/10 post-match score.
Spence will hope there are plenty more standout performances from him to come, as Postecoglou’s side attempt now to string together a positive patch of form to rise up the league standings, away from Amorim’s battered and bruised outfit.
Spurs nearly signed gem for £450k, now he's worth way more than Son & Kane
Spurs certainly made a huge mistake in not pursuing a move for his signature.
ByEthan LambFeb 15, 2025