Will the real Spurs please stand up? They beat Manchester City and Aston Villa in their last two games in this stadium and some were calling it the best week of Ange Postecoglou’s reign. It was bookended by defeats to Galatasaray and Crystal Palace and now this muddled struggle against Ipswich, who hung on for the first win of the season.
They might be flaky, but Spurs are usually solid at home, Ipswich meanwhile were waiting for their first Premier League win in 22 years. The gap in experience and class would surely show, instead Spurs’ defence were bullied by a 21-year-old.
Liam Delap played with the aggression of a dynamically-priced Oasis fan, arriving late to the gig but determined to make his way to the front. He made their first goal by leaning over Cristian Romero, forcing him to deflect Jens’ Cajuste’s cross high into the sky. As it fell back to earth Sammie Szmodics sized it up and surprised everyone with a low-trajectory overhead kick, including Brennan Johnson who was standing off the winger, meekly watching the ball flash past his goalkeeper.
There were plenty of contributions to the big book of unwise defending from Kieran McKenna’s team, resolutely determined to play it out from the back in spite of mounting danger. Spurs mostly spurned the opportunities this gave them, with Son Heung-min guilty of a couple of vague balls across the box which longed for a proper target.
One was hoiked clear towards the touchline, where Axel Tuanzebe kept it in improbably. This set Ipswich away on a counter-attack with Omari Hutchinson resisting a Rodrigo Bentancur foul to tee up Leif Davis. Szmodics crossed, Guglielmo Vicario parried untidily and Delap poached, saving the panicking Radu Dragusin from an own goal but doubling his team’s lead.
Ipswich were dangerously deep from the beginning of the second period, inviting a series of rangefinders and corners. One brought an apparent deficit-halving goal but it was ruled out for a Dominic Solanke handball. But given Ipswich’s habit of squandering points from winning positions and Spurs’ ability to come on strong at the end of games the mood was set: Next goal wins.
Spurs had to wait another 20 minutes for it, when Pedro Porro’s beautiful outswinger was headed in by Bentancur. More presentable chances from outside the box followed, sub Timo Werner went close with one, ballooned over another. The rancour is never far away for Spurs fans but you could understand the boos at half time and when James Maddison put a late corner straight into Arijanet Muric’s arms.
What had started as an onslaught ebbed away. Spurs were disjointed and tired by the end, Ipswich growing into the role of obdurate defenders. Eight minutes of injury time brought hope for the home side but no clear chances, and by the end Ipswich fans were rewarded with their “I was there” moment. The celebrations were ferocious as Spurs supporters trudged out, wondering again about the true identity of their team.
04:14 PM GMT
The Spurs report
will appear above. Grim reading for those of a Tottingham persuasion! Cheers for following and TTFN.
04:06 PM GMT
Ruuuuuuuuuud
Ruuuuuuuuud….. is the chant from fans at the final whistle. Not to be mistaken for boos, it is for the caretaker manager who has overseen an unbeaten spell since Erik Ten Hag’s dismissal. He wants to stay under Amorim and has put in a good case.
04:03 PM GMT
Full time scores
Man United 3 Leicester 0
Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle 3
Spurs 1 Ipswich 2
03:57 PM GMT
GOAL! Man United 3 Leicester 0 (Garnacho 82)
Garnacho wraps it up.
03:49 PM GMT
Challenges for new boss
Rasmus Hojlund taken off after 75 minutes and he looks a dejected player, shrugging as he heads to the bench. He is struggling with all aspects of the game – holding the ball up, creating chances for others and just does not look like scoring himself. Just one shot all afternoon, which didn’t go in. The ball did not stick to him when United played it forward to his feet. Plenty of work for Ruben Amorim here. He made Viktor Gyokeres one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, so Hojlund will be hoping some of the magic can be applied to his game.
Ruud van Nistelrooy la la la la la….. United fans are giving their caretaker manager a send off. He has been given a fairly comfortable spell in charge but will end it with a better percentage of wins than Michael Carrick. Carrick had two wins a draw back in 2021. Van Nistelrooy will end up with two wins against Leicester, victory against PAOK and a draw against Chelsea.
03:45 PM GMT
GOAL! Forest 1 Newcastle 3 (Barnes 83)
That’s surely it?
And when you have a talented manager, who improves every player, who has secured two top seven finishes in two years, reached one cup final, who understands the club and the style of football fans want to see, you don’t turn on them at the first hint of a bad patch. That’s when…
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) November 10, 2024
03:33 PM GMT
GOAL! Spurs 1 Ipswich 2 (Bentancur 69)
A lifeline for Spurs.
And here is Thom: “It is all Spurs and despite time being against them you would be highly surprised if Ipswich hung on for three points. Even one feels like a bit of a stretch. The visitors have been dangerously deep and occasionally error-prone all second half and Spurs’ onslaught of corners and presentable shots from outside the box always seemed likely to lead to a goal. Bentancur scored it from a gorgeous Porro corner. Delap and Szmodics both off for Ipswich, two of their most threatening players. Werner on for Spurs and looking lively.”
03:32 PM GMT
GOAL! Forest 1 Newcastle 2 (Joelinton 72)
Forest back off, and keep backing off, as Joelinton receives the ball on the right. He cuts inside and first with his left foot. A sweet strike!
03:27 PM GMT
Isak miss
Ooh Newcastle! They should be ahead. Forest opened up real easy, cross comes in… Isak steadies himself… he’s got time… he scuffs it wide!
03:25 PM GMT
‘Strange from Bruno’
Strange behaviour from Bruno Fernandes here. Okay, he took a knock but was fine on his feet so decided to sit down to get treatment. United have made subs with Marcus Rashford enduring a frustrating afternoon. He looks short on confidence and his form will be fairly high on the priorities of Ruben Amorim’s in-tray.
Boos from Leicester fans when Jonny Evans comes on for United. Yes, that villainous player who played a huge part in their FA Cup triumph and was released at the end of his contract.
03:12 PM GMT
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle 1 (Isak 54)
The Toon are back in it! A set piece, big Dan Burn putting it about a bit, all pretty scruffy in there but it drops for Alexander Isak who puts the ball in the back of the net.
03:04 PM GMT
We are back underway
around the Premier League grounds.
03:02 PM GMT
Poor travellers
Yates should have been sent off. Not even on a booking. Two borderline red cards but Taylor didn’t even blow for a foul
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) November 10, 2024
02:55 PM GMT
HT: Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle 0
Murillo goal the difference at the interval.
02:53 PM GMT
HT: Man United 2 Leicester 0
Bruno with the first, an OG for the second.
02:51 PM GMT
HT: Spurs 0 Ipswich 2
Half time at Spurs and the home team need to have some honest conversations about how much they want this, perhaps with some choice language thrown in.
Liam Delap in particular is bullying their defenders, all over Radu Dragusin for the second goal and poaching what would have been an own goal from the centre back. Lots of bright performances from those in pink, Omari Hutchinson causing problems and Caljuste looking dangerous on the ball every time he gets it.
Ed Sheeran is here and looking pleased with himself. Plus ça change.
02:50 PM GMT
GOAL! Spurs 0 Ipswich 2
Delap set up the first for Ipswich and now he has scored a second!
02:46 PM GMT
GOAL! Man United 2 Leicester 0
Mike McGrath: “Kristiansen has had a proper Regi Blinker in this first half. The own goal tops off 40 minutes where it has all gone wrong. The Denmark full-back, who was loaned out to Bologna last season, may not make the second half if Steve Cooper decides to change it up at the break. He needs to do something as the game is slipping away from Leicester, even without United playing that well.”
The OG came from a Fernandes shot and it’s still being established to whom the goal will be awarded… it’s an own goal as Mike says.
02:44 PM GMT
James Ducker
United and Leicester both seem intent on turning possession over to each other. It’s like pinball.
02:37 PM GMT
James Ducker at Man United vs Leicester
We’ve just had a snapshot of De Ligt’s poor positional sense and struggles to read the game. Ayew is marshalled by Ugarte but De Ligt is sucked in towards the Leicester striker allowing Winks to clip a vertical ball over the top into space for Ndidi, running in behind, to get on the end of. Onana is out quick and blocks the shot, with Ndidi unable to generate enough power.
02:37 PM GMT
Mike at United vs Leicester
Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi have had a right pop at Abdul Fatawu for trying to score from his own half. Bit harsh really, Andre Onana was off his line and the chance was there to be taken. Ndidi’s chance when through was a more conventional way to get behind United – a simple move over the top. Leicester are getting back into this. It is a quiet atmosphere at Old Trafford. The calm before the storm, perhaps, with the new manager waiting to arrive next week. Bruno’s goal has hardly lifted the roof off the stadium.
02:36 PM GMT
GOAL! Spurs 0 Ipswich 1 (Szmodics 31)
Sam Szmodics is the man. Over to Gibbs…
Ever seen a non-spectacular overhead kick goal? Think Sammie Szmodics has just pulled it off for Ipswich. Lovely cross from Jens Caljuste and with Liam Delap looking to impose himself, Cristian Romero could only help it on to the Ipswich winger.
He went over in slow motion, so close to the ground it seemed impossible, and got enough on the ball to sneak it past Guglielmo Vicario into the bottom corner. Exciting all the same, especially for what it will do for the game.
02:35 PM GMT
More on Murillo
Murillo told Telegraph Sport in July of his determination to finally score a goal for the club, and he has just delivered.
A simple downward header from Anthony Elanga’s free kick has given the Brazilian a moment to remember.
It’s been a decent few days for the 22 year old, who was called up to the Brazil senior squad for the first time last week.
02:30 PM GMT
Which Ipswich?
Only 20 minutes gone but this is already a game of two halves for Ipswich. They are aggressive and promising in attack but docile at the back. Equally frightening, for different reasons.
Spurs forwards being allowed to do as they please. Son had a jinking run which took him past practically half the team but couldn’t find a finish, Johnson prodded wide when it looked easier to score from a Son cross and Solanke was able to ward off his man to turn and shoot, well saved by Muric. But Ipswich have started well in attack. Burgess headed onto the bar from a corner and Szmodics went close too.
02:25 PM GMT
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Newcastle (Murillo 21)
Murillo opens his account for the Tricky Trees. Anthony Elanga with the freekick delivery, and a very fine one it is too, and the 22-year-old Brazillian does the rest.
Kevin Nolan says: “It’s about getting across your man and that’s what Murillo does. Because he is on the move there is no chance for the defender. He attacks it really well and it’s a fantastic header.”
02:21 PM GMT
GOAL! Man United 1 Leicester 0
Bruno the man!
Yes, it is Bruno’s goal and a lovely one – curled into the far corner. But that just isn’t a goal if Kristiansen clears properly from an up-and-under moments before. Amad chased the ball down after Kristiansen allowed the clearance to bounce, winning a throw. From there Amad teed up Bruno with his backheel assist.
02:20 PM GMT
Burned
Dan Burn has taken an early yellow card and it’s going to be a long afternoon for the Newcastle defender.
With Forest possessing so much pace on the wings, you would expect the home team to target Burn now.
Another interesting subplot to this game is the inclusion of Anthony Elanga in the Forest team.
Newcastle failed with a bid worth around £50m to sign the Sweden international on deadline day this summer.
02:11 PM GMT
Burn yellow
Dan Burn has gone in the book for rugby tackling Morgan Gibbs-White on the breakway.
02:10 PM GMT
Midfield battle at Old Trafford
Amad Diallo v Victor Kristiansen looks a mismatch that United could take advantage of. Amad was passed fit after taking a knock during his match-winning performance against PAOK. Leicester formation looks quite fluid in midfield – three in the middle but Wilfred Ndidi is pushing into an advanced position.
02:07 PM GMT
But Spurs have woken up
Son Heung-min crosses and Brennan Johnson pokes it wide.
02:07 PM GMT
Ispwich bright start
Ipswich have made a good start. Spurs sluggish. Omari Hutchison finds Sam Szmodics, Sam draws a save from Guglielmo Vicario at the near post.
01:55 PM GMT
Kick offs coming up
Who do you fancy in the three PL fixtures? Let us know below.
01:46 PM GMT
Chris Wood: eight and counting
What a season this is proving to be for Chris Wood.
He’s the Premier League player of the month for October and faces his old club Newcastle with eight league goals this season.
A £15m signing in January last year, Wood endured a slow start to his Forest career until the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo.
Now the Kiwi has emerged as the focal point of their attack and is in talks over a new contract at the City Ground.
Newcastle’s main centre forward, Alexander Isak, has three goals in as many games and produced an absolute thronker of a header for the winner against Arsenal last weekend.
01:44 PM GMT
Ruud
It was nice to have Ruud van Nistelrooy as United manager… there seemed to be a calm at Old Trafford over the last few weeks. I hope he stays in some capacity and if he doesn’t, best of luck to him. If today is his last involvement at United, let’s hope it ends in a high. pic.twitter.com/xHp3aGaXgo
— Stanley Chow (@stan_chow) November 10, 2024
01:37 PM GMT
‘Big Coat season is here’ at Spurs
Afternoon from Naming Rights stadium in North London, where it is the first undoubted Big Coat afternoon kick-off of the season. Pre-match DJ to the left of the press seats is brave, he has just removed his Letterman jacket to reveal this season’s home shirt and is giving it plenty to a crowd so far unmoved by his gentle house stylings.
It’s going to be an enjoyable game of guess the formation from Ipswich this afternoon, who start Axel Tuanzebe for the first time since September after a lesser-spotted thumb injury. He’s usually played at right back, but so has Ben Johnson who also starts. Think we might be looking at wing-backs, but Kieran McKenna has played a bit of verboten 4-4-2 this season so perhaps one of the usual defenders will be pushed up.
Less intrigue for Spurs, but relief that Cristian Romero has been passed fit to hold the hand of Radu Dragusin at centre-back, who had a stinker against Galatasaray on Thursday. Tidy bench for the home side, Bissouma, Maddison and Werner available for Ange to call upon.
01:27 PM GMT
In the frame
01:22 PM GMT
Emotional for the ‘Geordie Maradona’
This promises to be an emotional afternoon for Elliot Anderson, the ‘Geordie Maradona’ Newcastle never wanted to sell.
On Friday, Eddie Howe spoke warmly of the former Newcastle academy product and how the dreaded Profitability and Sustainability Rules left the club with no alternative but to accept a deal.
Anderson is on the bench today but is certain to come on and face his beloved Toon at some point this afternoon.
For more detail on how Anderson’s £15m move to Forest went against Howe’s wishes, read this
01:15 PM GMT
Spurs and Ipswich teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Son. Subs: Forster, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall, Werner, Spence, Davies, Lankshear.
Ipswich: Muric, Johnson, Tuanzebe, Burgess, O’Shea, Davis, Hutchinson, Morsy, Cajuste, Szmodics, Delap. Subs: Walton, Harrison Clarke, Woolfenden, Burns, Chaplin, Townsend, Luongo, Hirst, Jack Clarke.
Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire)
01:14 PM GMT
United vs Leicester teams
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, de Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund. Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Lindelof, Mount, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Garnacho, Antony, Evans.
Leicester: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Soumare, Ndidi, Winks, Fatawu, Ayew, Buonanotte. Subs: Ward, Coady, Okoli, Mavididi, El Khannous, Choudhury, Skipp, Edouard, McAteer.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
01:12 PM GMT
‘Heady days at Forest’
These are heady days at the City Ground and Nottingham Forest start the afternoon in third place despite yesterday’s results.
It’s their highest position in a Premier League season for 25 years and the feelgood factor around this famous old club is tangible.
Forest have already played Newcastle this season, losing on penalties in a Carabao Cup tie in August.
Newcastle have not lost here in the last seven matches and come into it on the back of a stirring victory over Arsenal.
This will be a test for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, but they are targeting a fourth victory in a row.
01:11 PM GMT
Teams at The City Ground
Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Alex, Yates, Dominguez, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood. Subs: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Williams, Anderson, Awoniyi, Ward-Prowse, Jota Silva, Sosa, Boly.
Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton. Subs: Dubravka, Tonali, Barnes, Targett, Osula, Jacob Murphy, Almiron, Kelly, Miley.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
and an update from the top man Mr John Percy is incoming!
01:08 PM GMT
Shirty
Bruno Fernandes is scheduled to be presented with a framed shirt on the pitch ahead of the warm-up ahead of his 250th appearance for Manchester United. It is coming up to five years at Old Trafford since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon. He was sold by Sporting a month before Ruben Amorim was appointed in 2020.
12:58 PM GMT
United team news
“Van Nistelrooy has brought back Marcus Rashford to his final line-up as caretaker. Both centre-backs are changed from the team that defeated PAOK on Thursday, with Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs De Ligt recalled,” writes Mike McGrath.
Man United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Ugarte; Rashford, Bruno, Amad; Hojlund
12:57 PM GMT
Ruud’s last notes
Final programme notes for Ruud van Nistelrooy before Ruben Amorim takes charge. What happens to the caretaker manager is still unknown. He would like to stay (see below) but will talk to Amorim on Monday morning about his future.
“The support I have had from the stands at Old Trafford has been fantastic and I have taken memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” he wrote. “The history at this club is incredible and it will always be a huge honour for me to have played a part in that as a player. Now, however, I am here as a coach looking towards the future.
“When I do that, I see only good things for Manchester United. I absolutely believe that this club has all the ingredients to get back to the levels I knew as a player, but it will take a lot of hard work and determination from everyone around the club to get there.”
12:54 PM GMT
Good afternoon and welcome to our clockwatch
of the afternoon’s Premier League games. We will be focusing on the 2pm kick-offs:
Manchester United vs Leicester City
Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Ipswich Town
I will be bringing you the scores, team lineups, action etc with help from our men and women around the grounds. I feel like a poor man’s Jeff Stelling. If only. The excellent Mike McGrath is at Old Trafford for us and he’s ready to mark your card.
12:53 PM GMT
RVN to have talks
Ruud van Nistelrooy will meet new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Monday and believes the outcome over his uncertain future will be “good,” writes Ian Whittell.
The United interim manager ends his four-match caretaker spell at home to Leicester this afternoon and is adamant he wants to see out the 18 months remaining on his two-year contract as assistant manager.
Amorim, who starts work tomorrow after leaving Sporting Lisbon tonight, is bringing his own coaching staff with him to Old Trafford but that does not concern van Nistelrooy, should his future lie elsewhere.
“Yeah, let’s wait and see how that goes. I am calm to be fair,” he said.
“I am trusting the process. I believe the outcome will be good because I believe that as long as I’m, there is no news, I am here at Manchester United, so that is my focus.
“I am calm in that sense and whenever the communication will take place, I will see.
“But obviously we know what the time frames are so I am aware of that and for me it is tomorrow’s training session and Sunday two o’clock is the only thing that is on my mind to be fair.”
Amorim arrives at Old Trafford on a two-and-a-half year contract and with sceptics pointing to his relative lack of experience.
More established names such as David Moyes, Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal have all failed with United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement although van Nisterlooy insists that the 39-year-old’s talent, rather than the size of his profile, is what matters.
“It’s about the talent of a person that for me is the most important thing,” he said.
“Big name, small name, call it anything you want. In the end, it’s the person, and the talent and the qualities of that person who will make sure how things will go.
“So that’s why it’s not so important the name, in this sense.”
The 48-year-old Dutchman, a major success in his five seasons as a player at United, is all too aware of the task facing Amorim, however, and can cite first-hand experience of the responsibility involved in managing, or playing for, the club.
“For me, when we landed in Bangkok on a pre-season tour in 2001 and I saw 100,000 people at the airport, that’s when I thought ‘ooh!’” he said.
“That’s what I thought – then you realise what it is on a worldwide scale, and in Real Madrid it’s similar, wherever you go, the attention.
“In the end you learn to bring it down to focusing on your job and performing as a player or coach and dealing with those circumstances. That’s a big responsibility – we are all aware of it, but it’s also a challenge.
“In England and in the world really, United is there. But that’s also the challenge – to play and manage this club is a huge responsibility and I see that as a challenge whoever manages here.”
United’s decline has been precipitous, of course, since Ferguson’s retirement, certainly compared with van Nistelrooy’s spell in the early part of the century although he insists the spirit within the club remains unaltered.
“Leaving in 2006 is 18 years ago, it’s quite a time I wasn’t part of the club, so it’s such a big question to answer to see what happened in those 18 years,” he said.
“For me the challenge was to come back and the motivation to be part of this, I feel the potential of this club will always be there.
“The people who are here and are working, that’s what I experienced when I joined the club, that feels similar. It feels like the same club, that togetherness, that willingness to do better and to do well, that’s what the motivation is for all the people that work here and for the players.
“The target is clear, from where we are now, to improve. That will take time and it will take hard work, but that is the challenge for me, not necessarily to analyse what happened in the past but to make things better and that’s what I try to do every day.”
