A winning feeling – but United's problems still plain to see
Ruben Amorim had highlighted the importance of the result to execution before Man Utd's 1-0 win at Fulham and his hope will be the momentum to pick up three points on the road could give his side a boost.
They certainly looked like they needed one for most of this match. United's caution was evident as they defended in numbers and looked for the safe option in possession. It was notable before the match that Fulham had been listed as favorites – and the visitors played their underdog tag.
This result does not mask the problems that Amorim needs to solve. He himself noted the lack of drive in the final third and the question marks over both Rasmus Hojlund and his replacement Joshua Zirkzee remain. Alejandro Garnacho, a player they could sell before the deadline, looked most likely to provide a spark amid an otherwise uninspiring attack. Fulham, despite a poor attacking set-piece record themselves, almost made up for that well-documented United weakness late on.
Still, with a Europa League trip to Bucharest on Thursday followed by home games against Crystal Palace and then Leicester in the FA Cup, there may be a chance for United to build a positive rhythm to improve their short-term prospects. The bigger picture remains a major work in progress. Pete Smith
'Boring, boring Tottenham Hotspur?'
Ange Postecoglou is famous for his attack, attack, attack style. You score two, we'll score three, mate.
It has been the foundation of why he has reached the top table of football management. But there are signs starting to emerge that his football is quite easy to stop. Even Leicester, who have conceded an average of 2.5 goals per game in their last nine games, managed to keep traces down to crumbs in terms of fortuitous creation in their 2-1 win.
Yes, fatigue is a big problem for Postecoglou and his injury-hit side, but to create 1.1 in expected goals against a team that could be looking to play Championship football again next season is not good enough again if you consider the highlights this team considers having beaten the big Aussie.
As the clock ticked down chasing an equalizer, even the boost of having seven minutes in their favor didn't turn any sort of momentum. That figure could have been 70 minutes and yet Spurs would not have found an equalizer. Their attacks were predictable and lacking in quality. In their last 13 games, Spurs are only averaging 1.3 expected goals per 90 and have struggled to break down Wolves, Ipswich and now Leicester.
Are you not entertained? No, it wasn't me today. Lewis Jones
West Ham show improvements under Potter
Four games in and West Ham are starting to show signs of life under Graham Potter. After a lukewarm performance against Crystal Palace last weekend, something was needed to prove that things are moving in the right direction.
And Hammers fans may have feared the worst in the opening 10 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa – but once their team found a foothold they didn't let up.
They may have been helped by Villa's disarray once Tyrone Mings was replaced, but taking advantage of those situations shouldn't be passed on.
Max Kilman must be credited with keeping West Ham in the game when they were under pressure, and Lucas Paqueta for spearheading the Hammers' comeback.
Since Potter arrived, West Ham's numbers have steadily increased. Their performances, especially in the second half, are more akin to what Potter does and what the Hammers want to see.
Now it's a case of consistency. Can they shake off the slow start? Can the draw be turned into a win? Hopefully these questions will be answered in the coming week. Charlotte Marsh
Quirky Brentford Penalty Trick sums them up as a club
Brentford are a football club constantly looking for marginal gains and in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace we saw another.
With Bryan Mbeumo stepping up for his recovered penalty, both Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter were seen even as Brentford's Talisman moved up to make contact with the ball.
“That's like a distraction to maybe delay the goalkeeper,” Jamie Redknapp said. “I've never seen that in my life, it's crazy!”
Asked whether it is a tactic or just trust, Thomas Frank added: “They are very good friends, they know each other very well and so probably a little bit of both.”
So no wonder Brentford have a 95 percent penalty rate in the Premier League, the joint best ratio in the history of the competition.
As well as the score-in-the-first-minute reputation they have delighted fans with this season, it is another in a long list of quirky tactics in the bees.
Esse's Dream Palace Debut
For two seasons, Romain Esse had torn it up in the Championship as one of Millwall's most promising players and by the time he left the club on January 18 he had made 66 appearances for the Lions. He won't be 20 until May.
So there was no surprise when he was snapped up by Crystal Palace for a fee that could reportedly rise to £14.5 million.
Esse has been immediately integrated into the Eagles' first team, making his debut as a late substitute in the match against Brentford, with Oliver Glasner's side winning 2-0. His impact was almost immediate, with his first goal coming just 119 seconds after his introduction.
He became the first teenager to score on his Premier League debut (19 years, 258 days) since Rayan Ait-Nouri for Wolves in October 2020 (19y 146D).
It didn't make the comeback palace want, but it immediately lambasted Esse to the Selhurst Park faithful and as a new player you can't ask for much more.
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