• Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored as Manchester United defeated 10-man Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Saturday, tightening their grip on fourth place and piling the pressure on Thomas Frank.

United move to 44 points from 25 games, four points ahead of Chelsea in fifth, though having played a game more. Tottenham remain in 14th with 29 points from 25 games.

Mbeumo gave United the lead on 38 minutes when a well-worked corner routine created a shooting chance for the Cameroon international, before Fernandes added a second with 10 minutes remaining.

Tottenham lost captain Cristian Romero to a straight red card after 29 minutes following a reckless tackle on United midfielder Casemiro, deepening the selection woes for his side, who are already without a host of players through injury.

ROMERO RED CARD SECOND OF SEASON

United are unbeaten in their last seven league games and have won all four since Michael Carrick returned as manager.

In contrast, Tottenham are winless in their last seven league games, and the limp performance will have done little to ease the pressure on manager Frank.

Romero could have few complaints about his red card and, as it is his second of the season, will miss Spurs’ next four games.

His sending off comes in a week in which he criticised the club’s hierarchy for failing to act in the transfer window amid an injury crisis within the squad.

He said it was “disgraceful” that only 11 fit players were available during the previous weekend’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester City, but has not helped their cause himself.

Since making his debut for Tottenham in 2021, Romero has been sent off six times, more than any other Premier League player over the same period.

Mbeumo was left unmarked from an excellent corner routine as the ball was flicked into his path by Kobbie Mainoo and while his shot from 15 yards was scuffed, it ended up in the bottom corner of the net.

Fernandes added a second late on to seal a fully deserved win for United in which they never looked unduly troubled by the visitors, who managed a single shot on target in the game.