Manchester United’s momentum under new boss Michael Carrick continued with a fourth straight win.
But this was a match that turned after Tottenham Hotspur’s 29th minute dismissal Christian Romero (£5.0m), which saw red for a second time in 2025/26.
Here are our scouting notes from Old Trafford.
ROMERO’S BAN LENGTH + UDOGIE INJURY
Since this is Romero’s second broadcast of the season, he will receive an extra game, coupled with a three-game suspension for serious foul play.
So in total it is a suspension of four games. Now that Spurs are no longer participating in the FA Cup, this ban will also fully apply to matches in the Premier League.
We won’t see him again until Gameweek 30.
Thomas Frank has further concerns at the back Lot Udogie (£4.3m) last on the injured list. Details are scarce at the moment, but it appeared to be a hamstring problem for the left-back.
“We’ll evaluate him tomorrow. So of course, I’ll probably see you in about two days or less and we’ll know more. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow.” – Thomas Frank about Destiny Udogie
EVEN MATCH UNTIL THE RED CARD
This is a difficult match to judge from an FPL perspective as Spurs were heavily involved in the match up until Romero’s dismissal.
The xG was almost flat for the first half hour, with Conor Gallagher (£5.4m) had Spurs’ best chances just outside the six-yard box.
After that, the numerically disadvantaged visitors found it more difficult to cut out much.
After starting with a 3-4-3 in recent weeks, Thomas Frank went back to a more 4-3-3 here. The Lilywhites wouldn’t let United settle, and after some improved performances from Spurs at home and abroad, this game could well have gone in a similar direction. Unfortunately, we will never know how it could have ended.
With beleaguered Newcastle United next, there could be some quiet optimism that Spurs can get a result on Tuesday night.
Xavi Simons (£6.5m) has improved considerably of late and although the status of the game meant we didn’t see much of him from an attacking perspective, he whistled an effort narrowly wide in the second half.
BRUNO’S CLEAN SWIPE
Bruno Fernandes (£9.7m) topped the pile on Saturday for shots (eight), chances created (six) and non-penalty expected goal involvement (xGI, 1.24).
A little stat padding against 10 men? Perhaps, but three of his efforts and two of his chances created had already come before Romero’s dismissal, so he was well on his way to more eye-catching underlying numbers anyway.
His first goal since Gameweek 16 came in the 80th minute when he scored a far post to meet the opposition Diogo Dalot‘s (£4.5 million) cross.
It really should have been a 14-point draw and not 10 as well. Benjamin Sesko (£7.2m) missed an absolute sitter from Bruno’s injury-time cross; If that had gone in, Fernandes would have stolen Dalot’s maximum bonus.
CUNHA ABOVE
Carrick continued with his starting team unchanged on Saturday, at least in terms of personnel.
But there was a tactical adjustment Matheus Cunha (£8.1m) at the top and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.5m) plays on the left.
In any case, it was a pretty fluid setup, with Mbeumo driving centrally and Luke Shaw (£4.5 million) left.
It didn’t exactly help Cunha either, who had a single shot the entire match – from distance. Mbeumo, meanwhile, scored his goal from a well-worked set play and improved enormously Kobbie Mainoo (£4.6 million) on Fernandes’ corner against the Cameroon international.
Even Bruno ended up playing on the left in the closing stages, and he did indeed score his goal, setting up Sesko from that position.
The question is: will Carrick leave things unchanged again on Tuesday? Things are moving quickly, but United don’t have a game for almost a fortnight after that, so there’s plenty of time to rest away from West Ham.
“It works both ways sometimes. We play on Tuesday and then we have a bit of a gap when we come to Everton. We have to control the rhythm of the games, as much as anything. Sometimes the rhythm can help and sometimes it gets a bit heavy and can hinder you. So I think we just have to take what is in front of us. It’s another big game on Tuesday night, against West Ham, then we will regroup, rest, recover and tighten up for the game after that.” – Michael Carrick on the turnaround in the match
Mbeumo seemed to be limping heading to Old Trafford, so that’s something to listen to in Carrick’s pre-match presser.
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