Spurs 2-1 United

White Hart Lane received the finale it so richly deserved as we won the last-ever game to be staged at this famous old stadium on Sunday afternoon, beating Manchester United 2-1.

Early goals in each half laid the platform for the victory, our 17th home win in the Premier League this season, to ensure we went unbeaten at the Lane throughout the campaign, drawing the other two. We’ve not done that since the 1964-65 season.

It was also our 14th successive home win in the league, equalling a club record set across the 1986-87 and 1987-88 campaigns, and confirmed a second place finish in the top flight - our highest since 1963.

Victor Wanyama set the ball rolling with the opening goal after just six minutes, heading home unmarked from a Ben Davies cross to give an already fired up Spurs faithful exactly the start they wanted. It was Wanyama’s fourth goal of the season.

And just four minutes into the second period, we doubled our lead when Harry Kane flicked in Christian Eriksen’s free-kick to score his first goal against Manchester United on his seventh appearance against them. That means he has now scored against 24 of the 25 teams he has faced in the Premier League... Cardiff City being the only exception.

Hugo Lloris had barely had a save to make yet the visitors pulled a goal back on 71 minutes, Wayne Rooney converting the lively Anthony Martial’s low cross. There were a few moments of concern towards the end of the game, but we held on to win on this momentous occasion.

So our final statistics for competitive games at White Hart Lane read: Played 2533, won 1471, drawn 566, lost 496, goals for 5269, goals against 2793.

Team news

Mauricio Pochettino’s last-ever team selection for a game at the Lane saw him make just the one change to the side that lost at West Ham United last time out, Kieran Trippier coming in for Kyle Walker at right-back. Former Spur Michael Carrick made a return to the Lane for United.

Key action

Goal: Spurs 1-0 United – Victor Wanyama – 6mins
The buzz around White Hart Lane started so much earlier than usual for this poignant occasion and by the time kick-off arrived, the atmosphere was truly electric. Very little happened in the way of action in the opening minutes until Dele Alli won a corner in front of the Park Lane end. Instead of floating a cross into the box, Eriksen went short to Ben Davies 30 yards from goal and his left-footed centre was headed in by the unmarked Wanyama for the perfect start. As if the atmosphere needed lifting any more!

Save: Son denied by De Gea – 20mins
The visitors went close on 18 minutes when Rooney set Martial free down the left, he cut inside but then curled just wide of Lloris’ far post. And a couple of minutes later, Heung-Min Son burst through the middle and had just David De Gea to beat, but he drilled his effort straight at the United goalkeeper, who parried it away. Moments later, Trippier recycled a cleared corner back to the set-piece taker Eriksen and his cross was headed against the crossbar by Kane.

 
Above: Harry Kane tackles Eric Bailly.

Saves: De Gea keeps United in it – 31mins
We were continuing to enjoy the better of the game, creating chances while managing to keep United at bay when they did attack with pace, Martial in particular looking lively. But it was at the other end where most of the action was happening and when Kane flicked a pass into the path of Dele on 31 minutes, it needed a fine De Gea save to keep out his angled right-foot screamer. The Spanish stopper was there again just before half-time to deny Kane with another save and we went into the interval leading through Wanyama’s goal.

Goal: Spurs 2-0 United – Harry Kane – 49mins
Once again we were quickly out of the blocks and took even less time to score in the second half than we did in the first. Dele was upended out wide on the left as he looked to break through two challenges, Eriksen delivered another teasing free-kick and Kane flicked past De Gea at the near post to double our advantage. Moments later Son drilled a 25-yarder straight at De Gea and then Kane fired wide at the end of a swift counter-attack.

Goal: Spurs 2-1 United – Wayne Rooney – 71mins
The visitors got back into the game in the 71st minute with a goal from Rooney. Martial – who had earlier curled another effort just wide of goal – skipped past Trippier down the left and delivered a low cross which Rooney prodded home from close range. United pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but we were solid enough defensively and held out for the win.

Mauricio Pochettino said

"It was a perfect performance and we deserved that victory. I’m so happy for our fans and we’re so proud of everyone. The performance was fantastic and from the beginning, we were aggressive and played to win. We had control of the game, we played better and deserved the victory. Second position is fantastic for us, 80 points and unbeaten at White Hart Lane in the last season here, there are a lot of things to be proud of."

Match data

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c), Trippier (Walker 83), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Waynama, Son (Dembele 72), Dele, Eriksen (Nkoudou 90+1), Kane. Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Wimmer, Sissoko, Janssen.

Manchester United (3-4-3): De Gea, Smalling, Bailly, Jones, Tuanzebe (Herrera 61), Rooney (c), Carrick, Blind, Lingard (Mkhitaryan 61), Martial, Mata (Rashford 79). Substitutes (not used): Romero, Mitchell, Darmian, McTominay.

Goals: Spurs – Wanyama 6, Kane 49; United – Rooney 71.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Wanyama; United – Rooney.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Attendance: 31,848.

Up next

While our home Premier League campaign drew to a close this afternoon, we still have two away games to play. The first of those takes place this Thursday when we travel to the King Power Stadium to take on last year’s champions Leicester City. The Foxes were one of only two sides to hold us to a draw at the Lane this term and currently sit 11th in the table. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.