Premier League

TOTTENHAM 2 (Tel 84, Richarlison 90+1)
MANCHESTER UNITED (Mbeumo 32, de Ligt 90+6)

HOW Thomas Frank must be yearning for a fit Dominic Solanke.

As the season reaches the quarter way stage, Frank’s impact can be judged by the way his Tottenham side are now a trickier outfit to get through defensively.

The signing of Joao Palhinha has made those wide open midfields of the Ange Postecoglou-era nothing more than a horrible memory.

But Frank has not found the creative chemistry yet, and in a close-run game like today’s (Saturday) against Manchester United, having Solanke out there could be the difference between three points and the draw.

Spurs would end up feeling aggrieved after fighting back from a goal down to take a late lead via finishes from Mathys Tel and then Richarlison, only to be undone by United’s stoppage time equaliser from Matthijs de Ligt.

But with a fit Solanke playing, this game could have been done and dusted. Tottenham have consistently lacked a Number 10 this term, with Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani unconvincing.

Speaking after the match, Frank said: “We are still searching for the right balance up front and I think when we watch the game back, there were positive things going forward. We created a big chance after five minutes – and small things like that can change the game.

“We constantly work on the relationship and try to improve the players and find what the right balance is. We are taking small steps in the right direction.”

Spurs began aggressively – Richarlison and Kolo Muani had points to prove and gave United’s back-three no time to build.

Early on, Brennan Johnson carved space and dinked a delightful cross into the danger area. Richarlison rose, but completely missed a free header.

Up the other end, Bryan Mbeumo showed his opposite number how it’s done.

On 32 minutes, Spurs failed to clear and the ball came back from Matheus Cunha to find Mbeumo under close attention. The forward executed a textbook header – the type Richarlison had tried earlier when he got his timing and shape all wrong.

Tottenham enjoyed some swift, flowing interplay with a vigorous Xavi Simons at its heart. But Frank’s team were frustrated by poor final balls and finishes.

Frank had seen enough at half-time to hook Kolo Muani: perhaps the loanee was unfortunate – he was no less involved than any other.

On 53, a cheeky near post dink by Djed Spence saw Cristian Romero ghost in. United keeper Senne Lammens had to be smart to push round the post. Two minutes later, the keeper was called on again, this time from a Palhinha volley.

Throughout the second 45, United were content to defend in hope of earning a cushion on the break. But in spite of being invited on, too often Tottenham’s attacking efforts were like playing through treacle.

Frank rolled the dice by hooking playmaker Simons – to loud boos – and shoved Tel up top.

It paid off handsomely.

The forwards’ first-touch controlled an awkward ball with his back to goal. He swivelled and fired home the equaliser.

On the 90th minute, Wilson Odobert hoovered up a clearance. No United player was close to stop him setting his sights. The stationary Richarlison got a whiff of a glancing header to his curler and it was enough to bamboozle Lammens.

Tottenham had surely won it. It felt like a morale boosting jail break.

Then, in the last minute of stoppage time, over-elaborate defending saw United win a corner at the death. Swung deep, it was met by De Ligt and his far post header was enough to give Ruben Amorim a share of the spoils.

Tottenham: Vicario, Romero (Danso, 86), van de Ven, Porro (Udogie, 66), Spence, Sarr, Palhinha (Bentancur, 78), Simons (Tel, 78), Richarlison, Johnson, Kolo Muani (Odobert, 45)
Substitutes not used: Kinsky, Scarlett, Akhamrich, Rowswell

Manchester Utd: Lemmens, Mazraoui (Sesko, 58), de Ligt, Maguire (Yoro, 71), Shaw, Fernandes, Cunha (Mount, 71), Dorgu (Dalot, 80), Diallo, Casemiro (Ugarte, 71), Mbeumo
Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Heaven, Fletcher.