Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED 0
TOTTENHAM 3 (Johnson 3, Kulusevski 47, Solanke 77)

ANGE Postecoglou says he knows what he wants Tottenham to look like.

He says it takes time.

And the Spurs boss says his side have put in good performances this season, but not got good results.

Today (Sunday) his team stuck three past Manchester United at Old Trafford, and got a result the performance deserved.

Brennan Johnson gave Tottenham the lead within minutes of the kick off, Dejan Kulusevski capped an all-guns-blazing display with another, while Dominic Solanke poached a third. It was as perfect as it gets.

Speaking after a fourth win on the spin, Postecoglou noted the style. He said: “Today was a joy to watch. The quality of our football and the hard work the players put in, we had a real conviction about who we are as a team.”

And Postecoglou said the victory showed his players were not fazed by reputations. He added: “We want to go at the opposition, irrespective of where the game is played.”

Tottenham did not mess about, beginning with Micky van de Ven’s third-minute, 70-yard dash that set-up Johnson for the opening goal.

“The first goal set the tone and we should’ve been out of sight by 20 minutes,” said Postecoglou. “I felt the lads were not dwelling on missed chances, they were focussing on what’s next. We have guys in good goal scoring form in Dominic and Brennan, and that’s helping us.”

Spurs were at it from the off. The opener came from an extraordinary individual moment. Van de Ven won possession from Marcus Rashford in the Tottenham half, and romped through United shirts before squaring to Johnson to tap home his fourth goal in four games.

United looked like they’d walked into a Wild West shootout holding a custard pie.

James Maddison was scheming, while Kulusevski offered raw power and direction. He made nine chances for others, and bagged one for himself.

Solanke offered a classic centre forwards performance, a focal point. And Johnson’s goal with his first touch gave him even more confidence.

United keeper Andre Onana had to stop Maddison after he played a give-and-go with Kulusevski. Destiny Udogie went for power and sent his effort high, Johnson nearly repeated what has been a trademark this season – firing low, back across the goal, but this time struck the far post.

United found scratchy pickings up the other end, with their best chance seeing Joshua Zirkzee testing Guglielmo Vicario. But not much of note came from the home side until a few sporadic efforts in the second half.

Other chances came and went for Tottenham. Timo Werner was thwarted twice when he scampered in to face Onana. Cristian Romero, captain for the day in Heung-Min Son’s enforced absence, crouched, leapt and twisted to volley wide.

United’s cause was not helped when captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off just before the break for a slipping lunge at Maddison. Within minutes of the restart Tottenham made their extra man count when Kulusevski lifted a deft finish over Onana after a fine break by Johnson.

Postecoglou’s side enjoyed plenty of possession, letting United have a spell before finishing the game off via Solanke. Substitute Lucas Bergvall popped a corner onto Pape Sarr’s head, and Solanke reacted first to the knock down. The home stands quickly emptied while the striker reeled away in celebration.

Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte (Eriksen, 72), Mainoo (Mount, 45), Mount (Diallo, 85), Rashford (Hojlund, 73), Fernandes (sent off, 42), Garnacho, Zirkzee (Casemiro 46)
Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Evans, Lindelof, Antony

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven (Dragusin, 81), Udogie (Spence, 46), Bentancur, Maddison (Sarr, 77), Kulusevski, Werner (Bergvall, 77), Solanke, Johnson (Moore, 76)
Substitutes not used: Forster, Gray, Bissouma, Lankshear