Tottenham 2-0 Manchester United: Ange Postecoglou’s impressive Spurs are too good for lacklustre Red Devils with Pape Matar Sarr’s strike and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal enough for all three points

Ange Postecoglou had said this week that Tottenham would have to suffer on their way to joy. Turns out there was a nicer way to get there – a match with Manchester United.

And how they loved it, with those small passes and that freedom to attack after so long in the stylistic handcuffs of other managers.

It worked like a treat and it was a treat to watch. They stayed in the game in the first half with time spent on the back foot, and they won it in the second half as they tiptoed and ran to a team with no ideas and more than a few problems.

The decisive contributions came from Pape Matar Sarr and an own goal from Lisandro Martinez, because those are the details on the scoreline, but it was more complex than that, because it involved Yves Bissouma’s multidimensional talents, James Maddison’s trickery and the cheerful appearance of a team with a clear goal.

Is it really a matter of days since they lost Harry Kane? That will stick with Spurs, and Richarlison certainly doesn’t have the look of a natural substitute, but if his departure has given Postecoglou a free hit this season then he’s ahead of schedule.

Indeed, this was a day that began with street protests over price hikes and ended with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, of all people, spinning a Cruyff twist on Jadon Sancho shortly before this place took on the air of a rave during the final whistle .

Things can change quickly, of course, but where’s the fun in thinking like that? Even if it’s the only reflex that might appeal to those who follow United.

This was a mess just as the performance against Wolves was abysmal but the difference was they left with no points instead of three. They got what they deserved here.

It wasn’t a mess – in the first half they dominated the chances 14 to seven, and they were good openings too, with Bruno Fernandes making an almighty hash from a free header from six yards out.

Other chances were shared by Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, as well as the VAR’s refusal of a penalty for a handball by Cristian Romero while blocking the latter’s shot.

Then, in the second period, trailing 1-0, Casemiro forced a fantastic save from Guglielmo Vicario, so it wasn’t a mauling. It wasn’t a walkover.

But again, we look at this side of United and wonder what Erik ten Hag is trying to achieve in terms of style, and how he hopes to make lasting progress when the quality of finish does little justice to a decent build-up game.

From there you can question the individual mistakes in defense – Martinez was questionable on both goals – and the difficulties in midfield for a second game in a row.

This time Ten Hag had tried to rectify it with an amended assignment for Mason Mount. Casemiro was repeatedly exposed to Wolves in the middle, but with Mount taking a deeper role here, it was a stronger unit. Firmer but not firmer – Bissouma had a great time in their company.

And yet it should be noted that United started stronger, relieved by that missed opportunity on Fernandes’ head, brought on by a superb cross from Luke Shaw.

There was also the surprising sight of Andre Onana pinging a 60-yard cross-field pass on the run to Alejandro Garnacho – the goalkeeper was drawn like a weapon with his feet and there are few doubts in that department alone.

With all that happening, United looked good, but losing their appeal against Romero’s handball seemed key as it was around the time something was moving in Tottenham.

Postecoglou, who had swapped Emerson Royal and Oliver Skipp from the 11 who drew at Brentford and brought in Pedro Porro and Sarr, had initially tried to hit United on the counter.

As the half progressed, with fractional looks on target for Heung-min Son and Sarr, that gradually turned into a more aggressive approach, with particular focus on targeting the space behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

It worked, with the highlights of successive shots against the frame in the same pass of the game by Pedro Porro and Sarr, but the roots of Tottenham’s improved presence in the game lay in Bissouma’s less noticeable contributions.

He was great – a shield in equal measure and also a rotator of quick passes, so perfect for Postecoglou’s style. Under Bissouma’s management, Spurs began to set the pace, although it was not until the second half that the subtleties gave way to the palpable return of a goal, scored by Sarr four minutes into the half.

It was Dejan Kulusevski who led the attack with a strike to the right, before his drop was deflected into Sarr’s path by Martinez. There was some luck in the ricochet, but the finish on the back post was beautiful.

Vicario made a great save to deny Casemiro on a set piece and Spurs were in turn denied a penalty when Martinez Romero clattered. Fortunately, the United defender was able to escape a penalty.

In response, Ten Hag executed a triple substitution and Postecoglou himself sent two substitutions, including the removal of Richarlison.

United’s substitutions seemed to add some momentum, but they were eventually buried when Martinez turned an Ivan Perisic cross past Onana.