Spurs stun Man Utd to kick-start Postecoglou era

Manchester United’s Cameroonian goalkeeper #24 Andre Onana (back 2ndL) jumps for the ball as it hits the bar after a kick by Tottenham Hotspur’s Spanish defender #23 Pedro Porro (C) during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

Tottenham earned their first Premier League win of the Ange Postecoglou era as Pape Sarr inspired an impressive 2-0 victory against Manchester United on Saturday.

Postecoglou’s first home game as Tottenham manager served as the perfect introduction for the Australian, whose side played with the kind of flair sorely lacking from the north Londoners in recent years.

Senegal midfielder Sarr opened the scoring early in the second half with his first goal for Tottenham since signing from Metz in 2021.

Lisandro Martinez’s late own goal capped a dynamic Tottenham display that sealed Postecoglou’s first victory in his second game in charge.

After a draw at Brentford last weekend, Postecoglou will hope this eye-catching result against sloppy United can kick-start his reign.

Following Antonio Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho’s drab spells in charge, this was more like the ‘glory game’ that Spurs fans regard as their birthright.

But while Postecoglou earned plaudits for his success and attacking football in two seasons with Scottish champions Celtic, achieving similar feats with star-crossed Tottenham will be far harder.

Pre-match fan protests outside the stadium over an increase in matchday ticket prices underlined the simmering discontent among a fanbase frustrated by years of underachievement.

Postecoglou has already had to deal with Harry Kane’s departure to