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Divin Mubama scored one penalty and missed another as Lee Carsley’s England Under-21s maintained their perfect start to Euro 2027 qualifying.

Amid the wind and the rain of Storm Claudia, St Andrews took a battering as the two sides slugged it out in treacherous conditions.

England should have gone in front in the first half when Mubama’s penalty, won by Chelsea’s Tyrique George, was excellently saved by Ireland’s Noah Jauny.

Chances would be at a premium all night long, Ireland left to rue a near-stunner from distance when Manchester United academy star Jacob Devaney almost picked out the top corner from 25 yards.

Carsley’s side dominated the ball, just as they did in their previous qualifier against Andorra, and the breakthrough on the hour mark brought palpable relief.

Lewis Hall, who will hope to catch the eye of seniors boss Thomas Tuchel for the next international break in March, burst down the left wing and was fouled by Jad Hakiki, leading to a second penalty. Replays showed it was harsh on the visiting Ireland players.

Mubama scored, despite Jauny getting a hand on it, and George added a second in stoppage time as England’s perfect record - which includes not conceding a single goal through five games - goes on.

Daily Mail Sport picks out three key takeaways from a sodden St Andrews…

Tyrique ripe for loan

Tyrique George won’t be going to the World Cup next summer - but he absolutely can solidify himself as a bonafide Premier League starter between now and then based on this confident and classy display in Birmingham.

Chelsea Confidential exclusively reported last month how the Blues will sit down with George in the coming weeks to work out what the future holds.

The youngster nearly left in the summer - a £22million deadline-day transfer to Fulham broke down in the final few minutes - but he has since been welcomed back into the fold by Enzo Maresca and Co with open arms.

While he typically plays as a striker for Chelsea, he was operating wide on the right here in a 4-2-3-1, allowing him to dominate in a one v one match-up.

George stood out among his peers in England Under-21’s last qualifier, a narrow win over Andorra in which he scored, and he was very bright here, further underlining why a January loan move could be best for all parties.

Chelsea don't intend to try and force George to leave this January, either permanently or on loan, but will hold talks with the teenager and his camp to see what is best for everyone.

George, 19, is one of the focal points of this new-look Lee Carsley side and it was his clever run that won the first half penalty Divin Mubama would go on to miss. He later

But having not started a league game for Chelsea yet, a loan exit would give George the minutes he needs to go to another level, while also buying Chelsea time to work out whether he is one they can risk letting get away.

Hall makes World Cup pitch

Back in his first England camp in a year, Lewis Hall played like a player who had a point to prove. Not just to himself, or Carsley, but also to Tuchel, who will receive a glowing report card on the Newcastle United full-back.

Hall got 71 minutes here in the driving rain, effortlessly comfortable defensively and a willing runner in attack.

Asked in the lead-up to this qualifier if he was more cautious on the pitch now after two troubling injuries - a broken foot kept him out for months, while he has recently come back from a torn hamstring - Hall said the opposite is now true.

‘Not at all if I’m honest,’ he said.

'If anything it’s made me more hungry and given me that extra bit of desire to get back to the levels that I was at last year.’

Tuchel likes Hall having known him from his days at Chelsea.

And while Hall is behind some of his peers in terms of making his case to go to the World Cup, there is absolutely no clear No 1 out of Nico O’Reilly, who started against Serbia, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was left out of the squad, Djed Spence, and Hall as left back options.

All bring something a bit different but here was Hall, the best player on the night for England in a hard-fought win, sending a timely reminder that now back to fitness (and form), he is on course to peak at the right time for Tuchel’s World Cup plans.

Melia is a diamond that needs polishing at Spurs

From an Ireland point of view, it was good to get a proper look at Mason Melia ahead of his January move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Melia has not really hit the radar on these shores but he will pitch up in north London in January as the record sale for a League of Ireland player.

The deal, which could rise to £3.2m in add-ons, is a statement from Tottenham that they believe they’ve found a diamond in the rough.

This was a good test here up against Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong, arguably Melia’s toughest to date against a Premier League caliber defender.

Melia battled hard and got one opportunity in the box, only for the ball to get trapped under his feet.

But there was plenty of off the ball work that showed coaches will love his running and work rate as he prepares to team up with Tottenham starlet Luca Williams-Barnett in their Under-21s.

Quietly Spurs’ academy are building a devastating front line.

Even in the crazy world of rock and roll, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose has got a reputation for being a bit of a wild man: fighting, showing up late – or failing to show up at all, and much, much more.

And it can be revealed that the latest chapter in a big book of bad behaviour came when he insisted, bizarrely, on spending the night at Tottenham Hotspur's £1billion football stadium in North London.

Rose was booked to play consecutive nights with GNR at the 62,850-seater stadium – then brand spanking new.

But he ended up staying, and sleeping on an IKEA bed in the away dressing room, after throwing a wobbly and refusing to go back to his five-star hotel in Mayfair.

A perfectly placed source says: 'Axl said he didn't want to go back to the Dorchester between his two consecutive nights at Spurs' stadium.

'He said, ''Find me a nice suite in the stadium'. You don't really say no to him when he is insisting.

'This was the first music gig in a brand new stadium, but the problem was that there is no such thing as a suite in it.

'So someone was sent out to the Ikea on the North Circular to buy him a bed and bedding.

'They weren't sure where to set it up and thought about one of the hospitality boxes, but that felt like a bad idea.

'In the end, they put him in the away dressing room. Apparently he was really happy with it.

'The next day, the roadies packed the bed and the bedding and everything away into one of their vans, and off they went with it.'

The stranger than fiction eventshappened in July 2022, during the band's Covid-delayed UK tour.

And he's coming back! Earlier his month it was announced that Guns N' Roses – whose hits include Sweet Child O'Mine, Welcome To The Jungle and Paradise City – will headline the Download festival at Donington in June 2026; their only UK gig.

Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit are the other headliners. Presumably he won't be wanting to kip backstage this time around.

AXL, whose real name is William, has fallen out with pretty much everyone in his time. He reportedly had a fist fight with David Bowie in 1989, after Bowie showed too much interest in Rose's then-girlfriend Erin Everly.

He also had a brawl with fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger in a nightclub in 2006, which was captured on camera.

The band's lead guitarist Slash quit in 1996, saying: 'Axl and I have not been capable of seeing eye to eye on Guns N' Roses for some time.

'I'd like to think we could work together in the future, if we were able to work out our differences.'

That took some time — he returned in 2016.

The box office on Sydney Sweeney's latest film – the boxing drama Christy – may have disappointed, but you can't fault the girl for her efforts to hype up an audience.

After learning to box for the film, Sweeney, 28, has told a sports website that she fancies stepping into the ring for a charity fight – perhaps even a pay per view bout.

In an interview with SportsCasting she said: 'There was a moment in the middle of filming where I was like, ''Should I give it all up and fight? Because I love this''.

Christy [boxer Christy Martin, on whose life the film is based] said she'd sign me up. So, this isn't as hypothetical as you actually think it is.

'Yeah, I'd totally do a charity bout. That'd be so sick.'

She added: 'It's a surprise, you'll have to wait, I'm serious. You gotta stay tuned for the pay-per-view and you'll see it.'

Christy Martin, who trained with Sweeney and says she will promote the fight, added: 'I have some names that we can't throw out yet.'

GARY OLDMAN says that he is preparing for the day when his great role as slobbish spy chief Jackson Lamb in Apple TV's Slow Horses comes to an end.

Oldman said: 'For the past five years, I've had to sort of carry around whiskers and long hair. When I'm not being Jackson Lamb, I'll tie up my hair.

'I've got a bit of a tummy. I carry him around with me a little. It will be a mix of sadness and joy to finally let him go. I hope to get my boyish figure back!

'But it'll be a sad day. He's been really good company.'

Fans need not panic – yet. Next week Oldman starts filming Slow Horses series seven in London, which will be based on Mick Herron's book Bad Actors.

Herron published a further book in the Slough House series, Clown Town, in September this year, which looks likely to form the basis of an eighth series. But after that, who knows?

After a career in which he has played (among others) Dracula, Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black and Winston Churchill, the Oscar-winning actor has found that Jackson Lamb has become a part of him, too.

'I loved him when I first met him – and I still love him,' he said, adding: 'The more I find out about him, the more fascinating and kind of intriguing he is.

'In season three, I had my shirt off, and I think it was a critic that said that I looked like a garlic bulb that had learned to walk.

'And you may think that people would be insulted by that comment. But I laughed, and I was actually rather chuffed, because it's sort of what I've been going for.'

He said becoming Lamb was now 'second nature' to him. 'I put the glasses on, and the clothes, and you sort of fall directly back into him. I just feel like he's really part of me now.'

Oldman reflected that he would love to be as thick-skinned as Lamb, who seems to actually enjoy being insulted. 'You can't judge him, because he doesn't care!' he marvelled. 'You know, the shell is impenetrable... In a sense, it's his spy craft.'

He added that it would be fun to introduce Lamb to Dracula, who he played in 1992. 'I think Lamb and Dracula would be an interesting match. Dracula would come to him and say:, ''I have crossed oceans of time''.

'And Lamb would say, ''I couldn't give a s*** what you've crossed''.'

SHE was criminally underused in the first series of Landman, but Demi Moore has a bigger role in the second series, which starts streaming on Paramount+ from Sunday.

The show, which is set in West Texas, stars Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, the titular 'landman' whose job it is to find, and set up, potential new oil fields.

Fans may remember that Moore's character Cami Miller was widowed at the end of the first series.

Now, though, she is stepping up to run her husband's oil company.

In real life, Moore is far removed from the dog-eatdog world of the oil business, and her favourite piece of land is her ten-and-a-half acre plot in Aspen Lakes, Idaho – the holiday home where she spent most of Covid with her daughters and their partners.

'This land, for me, is like a grounding of my soul,' she said. 'It is home in the deepest sense of the word. As somebody who moved around a lot as a kid, [it's] truly a sanctuary to me.

'I rescued baby ducks before the summer started, released those ducks – and now I have 36 coming to be fed on a daily basis.'

Introducing the banknote which is also an Easter Egg: an Arnold Schwarzenegger $100 bill.

The money features in the remake of The Running Man, which is out this week, and is a neat reference to Arnie, who starred in the 1987 movie of the Stephen King book.

Director Edgar Wright said: 'We called before we started filming, because he had given his permission to put him on the money, and I told him on the call, ''Oh, we made you the hundred''.

'And he goes, ''I'm very happy about that''. He got the highest denomination of the money.'

Wright even handed over a giant version of the note to actor and politician Schwarzenegger in an Instagram video this week.

Superstar author Richard Osman may have found his next big idea. The Thursday Murder Club writer told Ruthie's Table 4 podcast that he's a big fan of the hotel breakfast buffet.

'I always think it could be a great restaurant: a hotel breakfast restaurant... but in the evening. People would go nuts for it.'

Former Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis has received a pardon from Donald Trump after being fined £3.8million and given three years on probation by a New York judge last year.

The east London-born billionaire, 88, whose family is still in control of Spurs, was spared jail when he admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and two counts of securities fraud in January 2024.

Lewis initially denied all the charges against him, with his lawyers accusing prosecutors of making an 'egregious' error, but later changed his plea to guilty after a non-custodial sentence was agreed.

He was accused and ultimately convicted of passing on tips about companies in order to benefit friends, personal assistants, private pilots and romantic partners.

But now Donald Trump has chosen to pardon Lewis for his 'terrible mistake', as the Brit dubbed it at the time. The news is expected to be officially announced by The White House later today.

Lewis, who also owns Mitchells & Butlers, said in a statement: 'I am pleased all of this is now behind me and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses based on the quality and pursuit of excellence that has become our trademark.'

A source close to the family added: 'Joe and the Lewis family are extremely grateful for this pardon and would like to thank President Trump for taking this action.

'Over his long business career, Joe has been a visionary, creating businesses across the world which multiple generations of his family are now taking forward. There is so much more to the Joe Lewis story than this one event.'

Lewis's crimes were alleged to have been committed between 2013 and 2021 while he was still the owner of Tottenham. It was thought his 'brazen insider trading scheme' enabled him and his accomplices to make millions of pounds in profit.

He told a judge in a Manhattan court last year: 'I am so embarrassed and I apologise to the court for my conduct.

'While I possessed material non-public information about certain publicly traded companies, I agreed to make recommendations. I knew at the time what I was doing was wrong and I'm so embarrassed.'

Lewis handed over his majority ownership of Spurs to his family in 2022, a year before he was charged.

The club has since been overseen by Lewis's daughter Vivienne, his son Charles and Vivienne's son-in-law Nick Beucher.

The family took full operational control of Spurs earlier this year upon Daniel Levy's departure.

Lewis, who has been retired since 2022, has received one of 75 pardons handed out by Trump this week.

Among those to have been let off are Rudy Guiliani and Mark Meadows, who were accused of trying to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.

Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday that a 19-year-old man had been arrested after allegedly abusing Manchester United star Mason Mount when Ruben Amorim's men travelled to Tottenham last weekend.

The former Chelsea star received a welcome to be expected from the supporters of his former derby rivals on Saturday afternoon when he was brought on for Matheus Cunha in the 72nd minute.

But as per a statement from the force, one member of the crowd was forcibly removed after he allegedly targeted the midfielder with specific vile abuse.

A statement shared with Daily Mail Sport read: 'On Saturday, 8 November a member of the crowd was removed from a football match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

'The man had been heard making an offensive comment by a member of staff, who reported it to the police.

'The man, aged 19, was arrested that day on suspicion of intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress. He was later bailed pending further enquiries.

'No specific victims have been identified during the investigation.'

Tottenham had previously released their own statement to the Athletic condemning a potential offense and threatening the 'strongest possible action' against any of their supporters who might use discriminatory language.

'The club is aware of a supporter being arrested for alleged verbal abuse of an opposition player during Saturday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United,' Spurs' statement began.

'Prior to the game, all ticket holders received guidance regarding discriminatory chanting and, specifically, homophobic chanting.

'We will now support Met Police in their investigation and, once concluded, any supporter found to have used discriminatory language will be a subject to the strongest possible action in accordance with our Sanctions and Banning Policy. We will also ensure they take part in a fan education programme,' continued the Spurs statement.

'We work tirelessly with all our supporters' associations to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans on matchdays, and have a zero tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination.'

Tottenham were forced to issue a similar statement when Man United faced off with the London club at Old Trafford at the start of last season, when away supporters targeted Mount, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with homophobic chants.

The club were later hit with a £75,000 fine after their fans were found guilty of the offence - after halving their initial £150,000 sanction as they admitted to the breaches.

Mount has been dogged by homophobic abuse as a former Chelsea player, with Blues loanee Ben Chilwell similarly targeted last season on duty for Crystal Palace.

Earlier this month, a Man United fan was given a three-year banning order for making a homophobic comment about Chelsea on social media.

It is understood that the supporter referred to fans of the west London club as 'rent boys', a slur that has been used for decades and which has been deemed a hate crime by the Crown Prosecution Service.

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Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will do battle once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the bitter rivals hoping to muster another Fight of the Year contender.

The boxing duo captivated the nation seven months ago when they traded brutal blows in a back-and-forth 12 rounds at the same venue.

In the end, Eubank Jr got the nod on the judges scorecards and honoured his family name - with father Chris Eubank Sr sharing two famous battles with Conor's father Nigel in the 1990s.

So, will Benn avenge April's loss and restore family pride this Saturday night?

Everything you need to know about the event is below.

How to buy Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn tickets

Boxing fans can still get their hands on last-minute tickets for Saturday night's fight.

A ticket limit of eight per person and per card applies, with lowest ticket prices starting at £64.85 each via Ticketmaster at the time of publication.

Tickets are restricted to persons over the age of 14. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over 18.

Can't make it? How to watch Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn

The entire fight night will be streamed live on DAZN PPV in over 200 countries.

The pay-per-view is a one-off payment of £24.99. In the United States, the price is $59.99. You can find out prices in your region.

Purchasing the PPV for Eubank Jr vs Benn II gives viewers access to the entire DAZN platform for seven days.

What UK time is Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn main event?

The first fight of the card is scheduled to begin at 5pm local time, with Eubank and Benn expected to make their ringwalk at 9.35pm local time.

The bell for the first round is due to be sounded at 10pm.

Who is on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn undercard?

Jack Catterall v Ekow Essuman: Welterweight

Adam Azim v Kurt Scoby: Light-welterweight

Richard Riakporhe v Tommy Welch: Heavyweight

Sam Gilley v Ishmael Davis: British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles

Mikie Tallon v Fezan Shahid: Super-flyweight

What weight is Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn?

As was the case in the first fight, the contest will be fought at a middleweight limit of 11st 6lb (160lbs).

And the pair will have to abide by a strict rehydration clause - stipulating that neither fighter can put on more than 10lb between the weigh in on Friday and Saturday morning.

Back in April, Eubank Jr was hit with a £375,000 fine after missing weight by 0.05lb.

Tottenham have been told Randal Kolo Muani does not require surgery on his broken jaw.

Kolo Muani was checked over by a specialist on Monday to assess the damage from a collision with Harry Maguire during the first half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League.

He was replaced just before half time and later withdrawn from the France squad.

It is another blow for Spurs boss Thomas Frank and for the 26-year-old striker who has endured a disjointed start to his season on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and yet more positive than it could have been.

After making his debut as a substitute in the Champions League against Villarreal, Kolo Muani missed five games after picking up a dead leg in training.

He returned to make his first start for his new club at Everton and impressed with an assist for Wilson Odobert against Copenhagen last week, but is now facing another fight for fitness with big games on the horizon.

Tottenham’s next fixture is the derby at Arsenal on the first game back after the international break before they travel to PSG in the Champions League.

Kolo Muani is available to play against his parent club according to the terms of his loan agreement, but it leaves Frank with limited room for manoeuvre if he is ruled out by this latest injury.

A protective mask will be needed to get him playing again sooner rather than later.

Spurs have injuries stacking up. Centre forward and record signing Dominic Solanke has not started a game all season.

Solanke was troubled by an ankle problem throughout pre-season, tried to solve it with rest and rehabilitation before having an ankle operation at the start of October.

Mathys Tel, who replaced Kolo Muani on against United on Saturday, is not named in the Champions League squad.

Spurs had to leave him out because they did not have the space because they have not maximised their homegrown quotas.

They will be hoping none of their key personnel, such as Micky van de Ven, pick up knocks when on international duty this month.

Van de Ven is enjoying a fine season for the north London outfit - including scoring a stunning goal in the Champions League - and recently attended the launch party of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 in London's Toshin Matcha Bar.

Usain Bolt pleaded with Rio Ferdinand to 'go to the team and say something' after Manchester United drew at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

The eight-time Olympic champion watched on as Ruben Amorim's men scraped a point against Spurs despite leading until the 84th minute.

Bryan Mbeumo put the Red Devils ahead with a first-half header before Thomas Frank's side scored two in a five minute blitz at the death to leave the visitors staring down the barrel of a defeat. Matthijs de Ligt nevertheless spared his manager's woes with a last-minute header to make it 2-2.

However Bolt, an avid United supporter, struggled to hide his frustrations in a voice note read out on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand's podcast.

The Jamaican icon complained: 'I just watched the United game, one of our biggest problems is when we invite pressure onto ourselves. They're always running back, all we do is invite pressure.

'Please (Rio), I'm begging you man. Get to the team and say something. You are one of the greatest defenders Man United ever had, please bro, it's stressing me out.

'I know you have nothing to do with this but tell the guys to pass the ball quicker. Oh my god bro. They don't know how to defend one-on-one. Shaw is the only one that seems like he understands. All they know is system, lineup and play well.

'They don't know how to step up, push the defender and then go back into your line. I push up (as a defender) and the midfield slots in. Please Rio, get to somebody.'

Yet Ferdinand was less scathing in his analysis of his former club's second consecutive draw, urging fans to 'temper their expectations'.

After a dire start to Amorim's second campaign at the helm, United have weathered the storm in recent weeks and now sit seventh in the table and one point off a Champions League spot.

'There were times against Spurs where it (United's defence) wasn't working as a cohesive unit,' Ferdinand admitted, 'but it's going to happen!

'We're still in this rebuilding phase and I think that's why we've got to manage the expectations of fans. I've seen some people going off on one, going crazy saying, "the manager ruined it with his substitutions."

'But if he didn't make any subs and we still got the same result, everyone would be going, "why didn't he change it?" He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't sometimes.

'Arne Slot won the league last year, went to City this year and got it totally wrong. It does happen.'

United were ultimately left a man down for the final 10 minutes in north London after Benjamin Sesko was forced off following a challenge by Micky Van de Ven. Amorim had already used his five substitutes having introduced Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro and the Slovenian.

The Portuguese later admitted that he was forced into changing Harry Maguire and the in-form Casemiro because both players picked up knocks.

Despite seeing his side reduced to 10 men, Amorim was adamant that United could have 'done better' and taken the three points back to Manchester.

'We have a lot of problems,' he said after the game. 'We are just in the beginning. I know that sometimes the results show to people that we are improving. We are improving but we have a lot to do.

'If you look at the rest of the game (other than when Spurs scored their two goals) we were comfortable but I think we should do better, be more aggressive, feeling the environment in the stadium that the three points were there, the space was there and I think we felt too comfortable during the game.

'We need to expect that in one play, anything can happen and change the mood of the stadium - and today was that. So I think we controlled it well, the game, but we need to do better because the game was there to take.'

The Old Trafford club are back in action after the international break with a home clash against Everton.

It presumably wasn’t lost on any of the locals that Tottenham highlighted their greatest shortcoming by rolling out Glenn Hoddle for an interview at half-time of the 2-2 draw with Manchester United. What they would give for a fraction of his creativity among the current crop.

There ought to be a limit to the criticism that follows such a result against an in-form side and especially any wider inquisitions when the league table, in isolation, makes for vastly improved reading on last season.

And yet the manner in which it has been compiled does lend itself to questioning about where Tottenham truly stand under Thomas Frank.

Once again, as we have often seen so far this campaign, the style of play on Saturday failed to stir any pulses. Nor did it secure that rarest of rewards – a home win. As with the defeat against Chelsea, there were times when patience at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium appeared to be awfully thin among elements of the Spurs support.

Here, Daily Mail Sport runs over what went wrong and what went right…

Pondering the ponderous

If the low point of the season was the 0.1 expected-goals statistic against Chelsea, then a performance that generated two actual goals ought to be a signifier of progress. But once again, Tottenham’s forward movement against United was almost robotic.

At best, we would call it slow and predictable. With regards to the latter, opposition now know that all roads will lead to the wings and prepare accordingly. In the case of this match, Frank’s plan was clear – get the ball out to Brennan Johnson on the right or Richarlison on the opposite flank. Johnson, in particular, had some initial success against Patrick Dorgu but frequently then found himself swallowed up by Luke Shaw as United acclimatised to the threat. What did that leave? Not enough.

The lack of variety in Tottenham’s attacks was frustrating, especially through the middle, where United can look vulnerable. Indeed, Frank badly misses the versatility and ingenuity of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, which says nothing for the absence of Dominic Solanke as an effective striker.

There could be a positive wrapped in that point – if Tottenham have reached the higher places in the table without them, then how will things look upon their return?

But that also risks disguising some glaring issues. For one, the temporary absence of Mohammed Kudus appeared to suck air from the balloon on Saturday. At times, there has been an overreliance on his creativity.

It is equally true that Frank remains unsure of his best combinations – against United, he tried Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani together for the first time and it didn’t work. Kolo Muani was hooked at half-time and Richarlison botched a free header prior to his latest goal for that brief 2-1 lead.

For the time being, far too much onus under Frank has been placed on set-pieces and hopeful crosses into the box. The orchestration of quick, dynamic moves? The routing of traffic through central areas? Not so much. Three touches in the United area in the entirety of the first half was a stat every bit as damning as that XG tally against Chelsea.

Thin grounds for defence

Naturally, there has been an upturn in this area since Ange Postecoglou moved on. And no doubt Micky van de Ven’s hamstrings will thank the new manager for a deeper defensive line, but the rear-guard unit was a weak point on Saturday.

It will certainly disappoint Frank that against a limited United side, Spurs conceded twice from uncontested headers in their area. That they were United’s only two shots on goal told a story, though it should also be stressed that Ruben Amorim’s team deserved at least a point. If anything, it was United’s complacency at 1-0 up hurt them most, as Amorim later indicated.

Within discussions about the goals conceded, a question might also be asked about why Johnson was tasked with marking Matthijs de Ligt. It had appeared a mismatch earlier in the game and was highlighted more glaringly with the equaliser in stoppage time.

The mood factor

This might merely be the Tottenham condition, whereby an accumulation of decent numbers is never quite enough. To dare is to do, etc. But there is a palpable frustration around aspects of Frank’s approach.

The booing against Chelsea was replicated on Saturday when Frank moved to substitute Xavi Simons in the second half at a point when Spurs were drifting hopelessly towards a fourth home defeat in six.

That is a troubling scenario and quite possibly unfair given the timeframe and the scale of adjustment needed from Postecoglou’s brand of football.

Cause for optimism

The same substitution that was booed was one that helped turn the match – Mathys Tel got the goal for 1-1 – and Frank’s other in-game alterations also proved decisive. Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie were central to the fight back and amassed one assist apiece, and more subtly redressed the balance of the game.

As a pairing on the left, they were a substantial upgrade on the starting collaboration between Djed Spence and Richarlison, before the latter moved to a central position.

Frank warrants credit for making those changes and ought to have enough in the bank from his Brentford years for a bit of faith in his wider tactical work.

Matthijs de Ligt's header deep into injury-time salvaged a draw for Manchester United at Tottenham and extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Bryan Mbeumo put Ruben Amorim's side in front, but goals from Mathys Tel and Richarlison looked to have handed Spurs a fifth straight win over United before De Ligt struck in the 96th minute.

Daily Mail Sport looks at the key issues for United from a rollercoaster game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...

Sesko woe

Amorim admitted on the eve of this game that Benjamin Sesko was struggling to live up to expectations and handle the criticism from pundits and ex-United players, and it went from bad to worse for the big Slovenian.

Dropped to the bench so Matheus Cunha could play through the middle with Mbeumo and Amad Diallo in the No.10 positions in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, Sesko came on for Noussair Mazraoui as part of a reshuffle in the 58th minute but lasted just half an hour before limping off with a knee injury that left United with 10 men for a dramatic finale.

During his time on the pitch, United's £73.7million summer signing wasted the two chances that came his way and looked short on confidence again. Asked if that was the case, Amorim said: 'That is not the biggest concern now. That happened in the same way that he was not scoring and then he scored two goals in the next two games (against Brentford and Sunderland) so that happens, especially with a striker.

'I'm more concerned with an injury because it's in the knee and I don't know. We need Ben to be a better team.'

United will hope Sesko's injury isn't too serious, but it's clear he hasn't settled as well at the club as other summer signings Mbeumo, Cunha and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Double trouble

For the second week in a row, United led away from home and seemed to be in control of the game, but then conceded twice and had to rely on a late equaliser to salvage a point. In fact, they became the first Premier League team since Manchester City in 2012 to draw in game in these circumstances in consecutive matches.

At Forest last weekend, United let in two goals shortly after half-time before Amad Diallo equalised in the 81st minute. On this occasion, they were ahead until the 84th minute before Spurs turned the game on its head and needed De Ligt's late goal to save them from defeat.

It will be a concern for Amorim and even more so because De Ligt admitted afterwards that United were 'tired' in the second half.

Surely, the silver lining of losing to Tottenham in last season's Europa League final and being out of Europe this season was that United would be fresher for Premier League games. While they had a free week, Spurs were in Champions League action against Copenhagen on Tuesday evening.

Asked about his team dipping in the second half again, Amorim said: 'Today was different. We had a different energy. I felt more control from the team today than against Nottingham.

'If you want to compare both games, against Nottingham the energy wasn't there. Today we dropped a little bit second half because we were comfortable in the game.

'But we should do better; be more aggressive and feel the environment in the stadium. We controlled the game well but we need to do better because the game was there to take.'

Flying Bryan

Mbeumo underlined his growing importance to United with another goal and another strong performance despite having to switch to the left wing.

The Cameroon international moved across to allow Diallo to stay on the right after the Ivorian struggled on the left at Liverpool last month. But Mbeumo was still a real handful for Pedro Porro, who was eventually take off midway through the second half, and headed United in front with his sixth goal since a £71m summer move from Brentford.

Amorim also lent on Mbeumo's experience so the 26-year-old could keep an eye on Patrick Dorgu on his return to the starting line-up for the first time in five games. That made more sense than having a younger partnership of Dorgu and Diallo on the same wing.

Diallo played in front of Noussair Mazraoui on the right until he replaced Mazraoui at wing-back in the 58th minute when Sesko came on for the Moroccan, and Mbeumo and Cunha switched to their more natural positions on the right and left respectively.

United will miss Mbeumo – who was voted the Premier League's player of the month for October this week – Diallo and Mazraoui when they go to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

Classy Casemiro

When Amorim was asked about Casemiro's contract situation this week, he attempted to kick the issue down the road. 'I'm really happy with Casemiro,' said the United boss. 'But let's focus on this season and then we'll see the next season.'

The problem is that the Brazilian will be out of contract in the summer unless United activate a 12-month extension, and can talk to foreign clubs from January 1, so the issue needs addressing before the end of the year.

It's clear that Casemiro's £375,000-a-week wages are a problem for United, and it might be better to agree a new deal on lower terms or let him leave as a free agent in the summer.

Either way, his value to this team was demonstrated again in his absence when Tottenham scored twice after he went off in the 72nd minute. It was a similar story against Brighton two weeks ago when United's opponents struck twice once he left the pitch, having set up the first goal for Cunha and scored the second himself.

United miss Casemiro's steadying influence and knowhow in midfield. They might not think it's enough to pay him the thick end of £20m-a-year at the age of nearly 34 when a central midfielder will be top of the agenda in the summer, but he leaves a big gap.

Matthijs de Ligt salvaged a point to extend Manchester United's unbeaten run to five games in a ding-dong of a clash at Tottenham Hotspur.

Ruben Amorim's side were in cruise control for 45 minutes but, much like they did at Nottingham Forest a week ago, faded in the second as Spurs came from behind to lead 2-1 thanks to goals from Mathys Tel and Richarlison.

United’s never-say-die spirit shone through once more. Just as Amad Diallo rescued a point a week ago, this time it was De Ligt - left unmarked at the back post from a corner - who came to the rescue.

Daily Mail Sport's NATHAN SALT was on hand at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to rate both sets of players...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1)

Guglielmo Vicario - 4.5

Hard to be overly critical about the first goal he conceded - the second is much more suspect - but his distribution often put his team on the back foot, the opposite of what he should be doing. The groans every time his long ball went awry (only 2/13 were accurate to a Spurs player) told a story of a fan-base that has lost confidence in their goalkeeper.

Pedro Porro - 5

Got caught napping when Mbeumo went in behind him to head in the opening goal. Often so adventurous, Porro found himself caught in two minds whether to stick or twist due to the complex nature of trying to contain Mbeumo. Put in some good deliveries but nowhere near enough.

Cristian Romero - 6

Undoubtedly a good player but he makes too many rash decisions. Was fortunate not to pay a heavier price when Benjamin Sesko got in behind him after a brilliant through ball by Mason Mount. Booked.

Micky van de Ven - 6.5

Made a crucial last man tackle in the second half that allowed Tottenham to hang in there long enough to steal the lead. Wasn't at his imperious best like he has been so often this season but his dominance elevated as the game wore on.

Djed Spence - 6

Failed to create a chance or produce an accurate cross in 90-plus minutes of football. Deserves credit for limiting United down that side for most of the game but the United opener did come down his side, which he will need to legislate for when analysis kicks in.

Pape Matar Sarr - 7

Completed the most passes of any player on the pitch in a frantic occasion here in North London. He was central to ensuring Spurs had greater control in the midfield after a disjointed first half where they looked miles off it.

Joao Palhinha - 6

Had one of Spurs' best chances when he stung the palms of Senne Lammens in the early onslaught to start the second half. Saw a lot of the ball but didn't manage to create a single chance in the 79 minutes he got on the pitch. Even as a defensive midfielder, that's just not good enough.

Brennan Johnson - 5

Did slide the ball into the back of the net around the hour mark but was comfortably offside. He was giving Patrick Dorgu fits in the early stages but a bit like his team-mates, he eventually ran out of steam and ideas. Booked for a penalty box tussle with Matthijs de Ligt, who would punish him in the closing seconds when he evaded him to score the equaliser at 2-2. Replays showed Johnson was totally lost keeping tabs on De Ligt and it was costly.

Xavi Simons - 5.5

Started with purpose and was always trying to look forward with his passing and his runs. Tottenham went big on Simons in the summer and on the other side Manchester United showed just why Premier League proven was the way to go. Simons' lack of end product encapsulated that, even if fans booed the decision to substitute him.

Richarlison - 7

Looked like he would be left to rue a chance just 15 minutes in when he missed a free header eight yards out 15 minutes in. Got to make amends in the most spectacular of fashions when he headed in what he thought was the winner in stoppage time. Booked for taking his shirt off - but he didn't care one bit!

Randall Kolo Muani - 3

Started through the middle, had an Expected Goals of 0.01 by the time he went off. Got 45 minutes as the most central attacker in Tottenham's 4-2-3-1 system and mustered just one touch in the United box. Completely and utterly anonymous.

MANAGER: Thomas Frank - 6

His substitutions made much more of an impact that his counterpart's did. Deserves credit for helping inspire his team back into the game… but fundamentally something isn't right here at home. If he can't get to the bottom of it soon, this problem will run and run.

SUBS

Wilson Odobert (for Randall Kolo Muani, 46) - 6.5

Destiny Udogie (for Pedro Porro, 67) - 6

Rodrigo Bentancur (for Joao Palhinha, 79) - 5

Mathys Tel (for Xavi Simons, 79) - 7.5

Kevin Danso (for Cristian Romero, 88)

MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-2-1)

Senne Lammens - 7

Gave a real fright to the travelling fans, as well as his manager, just 40 seconds in when he miscalculated a back pass as it ran under his foot. What followed was a series of super saves, the first to deny Cristian Romero, and the second to keep Joao Palhinha's acrobatic effort out. Will be disappointed with Richarlison's goal at 2-1 but the blame lay elsewhere.

Matthijs de Ligt - 7.5

He was really aggressive, particularly in his press, and was the most dominant player on the pitch at set pieces. Looked like he was to be the villain of the piece when he allowed Mathys Tel to spin him in the box to equalise six minutes from time. His gritted teeth in the immediate aftermath showed he knew he'd cost his side. But what a way to make amends, heading in with seconds left. A goal his performance, bar one error, deserved.

Harry Maguire - 7

Brought into the side as part of a reshuffle back to the approach that United took away to Liverpool at Anfield. Nullified Randall Kolo Muani to completely anonymity before he was hooked in the first half, then made Richarlison look very ordinary indeed. Pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury 20 minutes from full time and limped off.

Luke Shaw - 7

With every passing week he's making his lack of an England recall all the more peculiar. Manchester United are reaping the rewards of a fit Shaw, one who has bags of experience and broad shoulders to deal with the pressure when the going gets tough. One of the most underrated Premier League players this season in my view.

Noussair Mazraoui - 6.5

While the Moroccan doesn't offer a great deal going forward as right wing-back, he's experienced, rarely puts a foot wrong and is someone Ruben Amorim can rely on. Plugged in a valuable hour here. Those types of players are worth their weight in gold.

Casemiro - 6

The away end gladly chanted his name during a comfortable first half but as Casemiro lost control in the second, so did United. He's still plugging in a valuable hour from the start of matches but his substitution looked only a matter of time from when the second half began.

Bruno Fernandes - 6

One of his more understated displays this season as the United captain took a backseat role to proceedings. Part of that credit goes to Tottenham for shutting him down. Could do with a rest… not that he'll get it during a busy international break.

Patrick Dorgu - 5.5

Struggled early on in what is his first start since the brutal defeat at Brentford. Got the runaround by Brennan Johnson and soon had Ruben Amorim shaking his head when he didn't pass forward. With the guidance of Bryan Mbeumo, who was helping babysit him down the left, he grew into this contest.

Amad Diallo - 6.5

Playing as a No 10 alongside Bryan Mbeumo for the first time since the Manchester derby, only this time he was the one kept in his preferred right-sided position. It paid off with a sublime assist for Mbeumo to open the scoring. Finished this one pretty quietly at wing-back once Benjamin Sesko came on.

Bryan Mbeumo - 7

Man of the moment right now for United and it was he who scored in front of the away end with a smart header to make it 1-0. He caused Pedro Porro all sorts of problems and ultimately he got into his marker's head, which is always a good place to be as an attacker. Faded with the rest of the team as it wore on.

Matheus Cunha - 6.5

Was tasked with playing through the middle with Benjamin Sesko dropped and it can be a thankless task in a Ruben Amorim system. Managed just the one shot before he was taken off - although his defensive contributions out of possession shouldn't go unnoticed. Did a lot of the dirty work he often gets accused of shirking.

MANAGER: Ruben Amorim - 6

Produced the perfect game plan for 45 minutes, then what could go wrong in the second 45 did go wrong. Finishing the game with 10 men after Benjamin Sesko limped off encapsulated how this very winnable game somehow went wrong. Escaped with a draw to keep the unbeaten run going but this was two points dropped.

SUBS

Benjamin Sesko (for Noussair Mazraoui, 59) - 3

Manuel Ugarte (for Casemiro, 72) - 4

Mason Mount (for Matheus Cunha, 72) - 6

Leny Yoro (for Harry Maguire, 72) - 6

Diogo Dalot (for Patrick Dorgu, 80)