LONDON -- Manchester United's veteran strike force of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani came to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's rescue in London today as both scored goals in a crucial 3-0 win for the Red Devils at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In a match of precious little quality outside of the United attack, it was three expertly taken goals, one from each of the veterans and a late third from substitute Marcus Rashford, that eased the pressure on Solskjaer, who is fighting to save his job after last week's heavy 5-0 loss to Liverpool.
The United manager certainly showed a willingness to shake up the formula, switching to a five man defense and pairing Ronaldo and Cavani together for the first time this season with Bruno Fernandes in behind. It hardly made for the most free-flowing, progressive football but when moments of quality were required the front three delivered.
In the 40th minute, Fernandes drifted into space down the left channel, his floated cross to the back post a dangerous one, albeit a delivery that Ben Davies ought to have been able to get something on. The Spurs left back missed the ball entirely while Ronaldo could scarcely have hit it more sweetly, a swing of his right boot sending the ball fizzing beyond Hugo Lloris and inside his far post.
Two of the front three having combined for the opener, all of them got in on the act for the second. Oliver Skipp mismanaged Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's sideways pass and Fernandes stole in. He moved the ball on to Ronaldo, whose slipped pass unleashed Cavani behind a backline. He coolly clipped the ball over Lloris, killing off a contest that was hardly threatening to burst into life.
United's hosts failed to register a shot on target in a display that, even by the low standard they have set in attack this season, was utterly bereft of any creative qualities or ideas for how to test a solid trio of center backs. It was the final indignity for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium spectators when Rashford burst in behind the defense to collect Nemanja Matic's through ball and make it three.
Rather than Solskjaer, it was Nuno Espirito Santo on the receiving end of fan fury with supporters chanting "you don't know what you're doing" as early as his first substitution. What threatened to be the final act for the Manchester United manager may instead prove to be the beginning of the end for his Tottenham counterpart.
More wretched defending from Spurs. The entire stadium seems to be on their feet as Rashford breaks in behind to score United's third. The issue is rather that most of them are heading for the exit.
