Sancho saw another effort cleared off the line after his goal and Bruno Fernandes stuck the bar when clean through after the break. They would have been home and dry on Thursday night had other chances been taken. A sense of control proves elusive in too many fixtures. Yes, tiredness and missing players are mitigating factors but their game management with a two-goal lead must be better. If United seriously want to challenge them for the title next season, they need to adopt some of those traits. It doesn't happen as often as under previous managers but it remains a worrying trait.Ĭompare and contrast with City, who are absolute killers in their games and get the job done with a minimum of fuss. Just when it looks like United have stamped such things out and rediscovered the ruthless streak of old, they fold. 'It was so easy for them and it kept coming.' We didn't squeeze out.īut they're a long way off possessing the kind of ruthless edge powering City's Treble bid We have to come out and block the shot with the second long ball. 'With the goals, we didn't block the crosses and we have to be proactive there. Have a defensive organisation, which we didn't always have. I had the subs ready but it was too late. 'When we conceded a goal, you could see goal coming. I think it's been that for a few games where we are sharp and coming ahead and kept it going. 'We took a bit of the gas off and that was our problem. 'I know they are not robots and fatigue is an issue but you have to give it everything on every occasion. 'Some thought 90 per cent was enough,' he told BT Sport. The casualness of United's second-half play predictably left Ten Hag fuming. Now fans will be sweating when they host Aston Villa this Sunday and travel to Brighton next Thursday. United's makeshift defence - without injured trio Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire - came under the cosh and buckled as Son Heung-min earned Spurs a point that had seemed impossible at half-time.Īt least United didn't lose the game late on but they let slip a position of strength from which the top four race could have been effectively wrapped up. In such situations, an equaliser just becomes inevitable.

Just a bit ruthless