Premier League

TOTTENHAM 2 (Porro 56, Son 79)
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Sancho 7, Rashford 44)

RESOLUTE determination. Playing for each other and the shirt.

A coach who can inspire at half-time, and make tactical substitutions early enough to change the complexion of the match. A coach also brave enough to attempt an in-game reactive plan.

And a coach who creates a sense of unity in the squad, where players on the bench feel they are just as likely to start as those whose names are on the team-sheet.

That Ryan Mason should demonstrate these basic qualities once Tottenham had got their heads straight, and it be so noticeable, shows what this team has been lacking in recent times.

In this thrilling 2-2 draw against Manchester United tonight (Thursday) – which felt like a victory, due to the nature of the fightback – Mason shone like a beacon of hope on the touchline, a balm to the exaggerated anger and furious pain the terraces have felt, it’s nadir being the 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle on Sunday.

Speaking after the match, Mason said: “It was a difficult first half because of the scoreline but we were causing problems with the ball. I felt if we had been a bit more clinical the game might have taken a different rhythm.

“To come in two-nil down off the back of the weekend, we had to go and fight for each other. That is important – see a team together.

“It felt a long way back but the players stuck together and fought for each other. We played much of the second half in their pitch and created a lot of chances. The momentum was with us with in the second half. We had a few chances and we kept going and kept believing.”

Against Manchester United things started where they had left off at St James’ Park. Within just seven minutes, Spurs were all too easily cut open when Marcus Rashford smuggled the ball away from Oliver Skipp and played in Jadon Sancho.

As Cristian Romero stood off in a vain attempt to shuffle him away from danger, Sancho was having none of it – and fired home on the angle.

The doom-mongers could not help but fear another pummelling, and while Tottenham’s forward movement tested United, with Richarlison dashing about like a puppy let off the lead, when their opponents got forward, Spurs looked creaky.

They nearly caved in on 18 minutes when Fraser Forster was forced into a sprawling block. Bruno Fernandes almost tucked home the rebound, but Ivan Perisic had scrambled back to clear the ball off the line.

Two more big chances came United’s way. Forster pulled off another brave block after Rashford connected with a deep cross at the back post from close range.

Sancho was then freed by Christian Eriksen’s graceful cross-field pass – the sort of pass that Spurs fans once applauded, its execution tonight only further darkening the mood – but Forster was once again big enough to narrow the angle.

Just when it looked like Tottenham had held their ground after the early goal, the wobbly state of two key positions this season showed yet again. Perisic forced David de Gea to push a shot away, and United broke. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lost out in a tussle, and then the quick ball forward not only outfoxed Eric Dier positionally, but Rashford easily had him for pace as well. The England striker thumped home United’s second.

At half-time whatever Mason had to say brought the required response. Spurs came out in the second half with some intent. It was harum-scarum, but it was also attacking and taking risks.

When a delightful, outside-of-the-boot cross by Perisic was nearly scrambled home by Richarlison and then Harry Kane, the loose ball fell for Pedro Porro, who smashed a volley into the top corner. It was game on.

With 35 minutes to go, the home side could see some light and the fans responded. Heung-Min Son should have scored after Kane took out the United defence with a ball that just screamed finish it. And then Dier, central and all alone on the edge of the six yard box, lost his bearings and put his header wide.

Just when the game was starting to close down the breakthrough came. On 79 minutes, Kane snaffled up a loose ball, belted forward and swung the cross over deep. This time Son ghosted in and could not miss from a couple of yards out.

Having got the equaliser, Spurs had another little spell where they twisted instead of stuck. But United cleared their heads and regained possession to take the sting out of the crowd.

An exhausted Son was swapped for Japhet Tanganga and Mason passed on instructions that saw a shift to a 5-4-1 formation. It helped see out a battling draw that is worth so much more in terms of morale than it is in points.

Tottenham: Forster, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Porro (Danjuma, 76), Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic (Davies, 77), Son (Tanganga, 86), Richarlison (Kulusevski, 60), Kane
Substitutes not used: Austin, Sanchez, Moura, Sarr, Mundle

Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka (Malacia, 70), Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred, 60), Antony (Weghorst, 71), Fernandes, Sancho (Martial, 60), Rashford
Substitutes not used: Butland, Sabitzer, Pellistri, Williams, Elanga