Manchester United back to winning ways as Martial scores winner

Nine minutes remained in the game between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League’s second and third placed teams. United had won all four of their home league games so far this season.

Something had to give, but on a grey Mancunian day of swirling rain which dampened fans sitting 30 rows back from the pitch, nothing was giving.

United appeared to be heading for a third consecutive league game without a win. A third disappointing, scrappy match which continued to deflate supporters’ expectations. Jose Mourinho's side had started well, with his three-man defence pushing up as his team attacked. Ashley Young and Romelu Lukaku crossed into the box, but United’s forwards weren’t around to finish.

Tottenham, who had lost 20 of their previous 25 games at Old Trafford, improved, with Moussa Sissoko so surprised that a 27th minute chance fell to him that didn’t have time to compose himself before shooting over David de Gea's goal. Delle Alli came close to losing his head, but in Eric Dier and Heung-min Son, they had effective players helping make up for the absence of top scorer Harry Kane. They were soon singing about being fine, when ten minutes before the end they weren’t.

One goal changed everything, the 10th time that United had scored in the last 10 minutes of a league game this season and the third time in succession that United have been Spurs 1-0 at Old Trafford. Tottenham have been vastly superior in recent games against United at White Hart Lane.

United have won five from five at home this season without conceding a goal. The rain didn’t stop all afternoon, but the clouds that had gathered after one point from their previous two games have cleared.