Thank you all for joining me. Here is Suzanne Wrack’s report from The Hive.
Here is the goal.
Another @TobinHeath assist as @MillieTurner_ breaks the deadlock! 🙌#MUWomen lead 1-0, with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining.pic.twitter.com/wb9xQwSv78
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) October 10, 2020
Spurs coach Juan Amoros on the difference: “I think it is quite obvious, it is that goal.
“I am gutted for the girls, they are working so hard. We are almost there, but then something happens and we concede a goal.
On being winless: “When you don’t win, it doesn’t help but the girls will tell you they believe in what they are doing.”
He adds he does not know if Morgan will be available to play in the next game against Arsenal.
Heath and Press go over to see Morgan and baby Charlie, not to mention the mother-in-law. A nice moment for all. I think Covid rules permit it.
Casey Stoney: “[I am] relatively pleased. I am always a realistic - I don’t think we started well enough.
“After the first 10, 15 minutes we were the better team.
“They got physical and stood up when they needed to.
“I am pleased for Millie as she had to turn it around as she knows she had to put in a performance after Wednesday.
“What we needed to today was a win and we did it.
“Their experiences and the stories they can share, you can’t buy those.”
Mille Turner on scoring: “It’s a very very good feeling. [It was] a great delivery from Tobin.
“We know she [Heath] has got that unbelievable delivery and we know it’s our job to get on the end of it and we did that.
On Press and Heath: “The experience that they [Press and Heath] have is unbelievable for us and incredible to learn off and hopefully they are learning a bit from us, too!”
A special mention to the ref who had a poor game. She started off being very lenient and let far too much go, before being a disciplinarian in the second half. However, she still missed plenty when it came to key decisions. I guess it’s a tricky balance as a ref but she underwhelmed me.
Full-time
United were not at their best but they got the job done thanks to a Millie Turner header. The quality was lacking from both sides with United taking one of the few clearcut chances. United will just be pleased to now be four unbeaten in the league and top of the table for now.
90+4 mins: More images of Morgan in the stand. They are certainly missing some quality in their side but also could do with something extra in midfield as well as a striker. Morgan can do nothing without someone creating chances.
90+2 mins: United waste some time by keeping a corner next to the flag for as long as possible.
90 mins: Six minutes added on.
Worm is being treated for a ball to the face, so we will be going even longer.
89 mins: A triple change for Spurs with a minute to go. Seems a bit late to me. But who knows?
87 mins: Spurs have not had a shot on target in this half, potentially not in the game at all but they need a goal here. They win a corner which is swung into a dangerous area but no one attacks it. Not the best there from Spurs.
85 mins: Neville, who is already on a booking, slides in from behind on Galton and does not get the ball. Looks like a second yellow to me but the referee shakes her head.
83 mins: Millie Turner then loses the ball and is required to pull down the Spurs player on the edge of the box. What a bad few minutes of the United defender.
Worm lines it up but curls her shot a couple of yards wide.
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81 mins: Godfrey pushes over Russo to give away a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Milie Turner spends 15 seconds standing in front of Spencer trying to put her off before running away just before Staniforth whacks it well over the bar. What a waste of time those mind games were.
79 mins: Daniel Strauss emails: “I live in Seattle, and became a Liverpool fan back when Fernando Torres was a red, so seeing former Portland Thorn Tobin Health in Manchester United shirt is a bit too far. Here’s to Spurs!”
Loyalty is a fickle thing.
77 mins: Heath is bundled over by Neville just inside the box but the referee has given a free-kick on the edge. It is Heath’s last action as she is replaced by Smith. Additionally, Staniforth is on for Zelam. Staniforth takes the aforementioned free-kick and whacks it out of ground. Things can only improve from here.
75 mins: Kennedy finally succumbs to that ankle injury and is replaced.
Toone spins 20 yards from goals, gets the ball out of her feet and takes aim but it goes straight at the goalkeeper.
73 mins: Hanson bundles over Kennedy who is once again in pain on the ground. The referee does give this as a free-kick on this occasion.
71 mins: Neville is bundled over by Heath on the right flank. The full-back clashes heads with the United player and needs treatment. Not a clue why the referee did not see that as foul but she has had a bad game, in my opinion.
69 mins: Amy Turner adds to the growing list of players in the referee’s notebook, getting her yellow minutes after Groenen was booked.
GOAL! Spurs 0-1 Manchester United (M Turner, 67)
Russo drives at the defence and fires a shot on goal from 14 yards but Spencer does well to turn it behind. The resulting corner is lifted to the back post where Turner is waiting and her looping header goes across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
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65 mins: Zelam takes aim from 35 yards for it loops high and wide.
Moments later, Zelam slips in Heath but her shot is turned behind by a sliding Neville.
63 mins: Millie Turner is facing her own goal as she receives the ball on the edge of her box but does superbly well to spin and get away from Green.
Dean has come on for Ayane who has worked very hard today for little reward.
61 mins: A well-worked free-kick allows Galton to ping a fine cross into the box which Worm heads over her own bar before Toone can get on the end of it.
59 mins: Neville is the latest to go in the book for a foul on Zelam.
57 mins: United are being hounded by Spurs whenever they get the ball, which is putting them under pressure and resulting in some poor passing. It’s all a bit scrappy out there now.
55 mins: Hanson coming on for United, replacing the US international Press.
53 mins: Worm is the latest Spurs player to go down injured after a clash on the left flank. The cynic in me would say Spurs are trying to waste some time here.
51 mins: Spurs have barely had a kick since the break. It could be a tough second half for their players if it carries on like this.
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49 mins: Groenen tackles Kennedy but it penalised for a foul, as the Spurs midfielder has inadvertently suffered an ankle injury. Not great refereeing. The Australian looks to be struggling and could need to come off.
47 mins: United made a change at the break with Toone replacing Ladd, who had been booked.
Second half
Here we go again!
Spurs will be hoping they can create a few more chances in the second half, having not troubled Earps in the opening 45 minutes. They are working hard but will probably need to score to get anything out of this game, as United look dangerous.
Some half-time reading.
Half-time
United have certainly been the better team but have lacked composure in front of goal. Spurs have also had their chances but have suffered from a similar affliction.
45 mins: Ladd goes into the book for a poorly-time challenge on Addison.
Two minutes added on.
44 mins: Ayane wins Spurs a corner on the left but United clear the ball at the front post.
42 mins: WHAT A SAVE! A well-worked corner ends with Heath playing the ball to Zelam inside the area from where she takes curling shot is tipped over superbly by Spencer.
40 mins: The referee is being very lenient today, which is making for a fun contest, although there has been a couple of occasions when the discipline has been lost.
38 mins: Green ends up facing her own goal after ball is put into the box by United. The Spurs player dithers as she debates what to do and eventually puts it out for a corner, which is slung into Spencer’s hands.
36 mins: Neville gets some treatment after a clash in the box. After a bit of time on the turf she does get up with the aim of carrying on. She has had a tough game up against Heath thus far but has coped well.
34 mins: Ladd is left in acres of space in the box but rather than shoot she essentially controls the ball towards the net for Spencer to scoop up.
32 mins: Heath has looked United’s most dangerous player on the left but Galton joins in the final third and swings in a cross which Spencer palms straight to Russo who cannot control the ball, allowing Spurs to clear.
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30 mins: A few rough challenges in the centre of the park result in two players going down injured but the referee lets them all go. The ball then runs to Heath on the left, she cuts in and eventually takes a shot from 18 yards but it whizzes just over.
28 mins: Neville is in trouble for taking down Galton in a delayed manner. She does avoid a booking, though.
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26 mins: Ayane’s main role for Spurs is to chase balls sent into channels and harass defenders. She is pretty good at both, to be fair.
24 mins: Heath really should put United in the lead. Press slips the ball through for Heath to latch onto but when through one-on-one she hits it straight at Spencer who does well to close the angle and make the save.
We have had a first reference to “soccer” from the commentator. Who had 23 minutes in the sweepstake?
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22 mins: Spurs take a deep corner to the back post which Zadorsky decides to try and chest down, rather than head it back into the danger area, but cannot control it and the ball dribbles out of play.
20 mins: Russo gets on the ball just inside the Spurs half. She spots Press in space on the left but the pass is way off the mark and goes out for a goal-kick.
18 mins: United get two corners in succession after the first is diverted behind by Pervival. Heath swings in the second but it does not beat the first defender and the ball ends up with the goalkeeper.
16 mins: United are pinging it around at pace currently, looking to split open the Spurs defence in the process but the hosts are standing firm.
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14 mins: A late tackle from Green on Groenen earns her a booking. Not a great challenge to be fair. On the upside for Spurs, Zelem sends the free-kick into the stands.
12 mins: United are looking good on the ball and enjoying plenty of possession but Ayane looks the most dangerous on the pitch.
10 mins: Our first view of Alex Morgan in the stands. She looks quite cold.
8 mins: Spurs are certainly playing positively at the moment and at a high tempo but I have some concerns about whether they can keep this up for 90 minutes.
6 mins: A shambles at the back for United as Galton taps the ball towards the edge of her own box but it goes straight to Ayane who should score but drags her shot pitifully wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Ayane gets another chance soon after as United once again fail to pass it out from the back thanks to a strong press but the Spurs forward sees her shot blocked.
4 mins: Spurs take the simple option as Zadorsky smashes a ball into the channel for Ayane to chase. She takes the ball into the box and flashes a shot across goal but it heads towards the corner flag rather than the net.
2 mins: United create a chance to take early lead as good work on right by Russo leads to a cross going into the box but Zelem heads the ball well wide from six yards out.
Kick-off!
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Phil Neville is at the game and has just pulled his mask down to speak to someone, which seems to defeat the point. Well done, Phil.
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We are closing in on kick-off. It’s not particularly warm in London today but it is clear and currently not raining, so the conditions are pretty good considering it’s now mid-October.
Christen Press is happy to be here.
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There is no doubting that United look the stronger team here and a strong favourites, especially since they can call upon their American stars. Spurs will need to be at their best to stop them today, that’s for sure.
Remind yourself of last weekend’s action.
A nice day for it.
Checking in for today's game! 📍#MUWomen pic.twitter.com/pIBElHdId9
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) October 10, 2020
Alex Morgan might not have featured for Spurs yet but she is already having an impact at the club, according to one former midfielder Wendy Martin.
Morgan has 9.2million Instagram followers compared to Tottenham men’s 8.8million, a sign of her influence in the sport.
“Alex has more followers on social media than the actual men’s club, so that level of interest and sheer volume of people following her progress is great to give Spurs more exposure,” Martin told PA Media.
“It is great for the women’s game, the WSL and for Spurs. In addition to that, even in training her experience and composure, so many of her qualities, will be translated into the rest of the team.
“You have young players there, like Rianna Dean a young striker, and she will learn a lot just to train alongside someone like Alex.”
Another relatively new arrival in north London is Jill Roord. Suzanne Wrack spoke to her this week.
Starting lineups
Tottenham: Spencer, Zadorsky, Green, Davison, Percival, Addison, Worm, Kennedy, Ayane, Godfrey, Neville
Subs: Whitehouse, Leon, Harrop, Filbey, Dean, Graham, Quinn, Sulola
Manchester United: Earps, A. Turner, McManus, M. Turner, Galton, Ladd, Groenen, Zelem, Russo, Heath, Press
Subs: Ramsey, Okvist, Smith, Staniforth, Hanson, Toone, Ross, Sigsworth
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Preamble
Good morning!
We are still waiting for Alex Morgan’s Tottenham debut following her arrival in north London. The US forward is on loan in order boost her fitness levels going into the Olympics next year. Morgan gave birth in May to a daughter, so has not played competitively for a while. Making her first appearance against Manchester United would have been a nice way to start her Spurs career. Alas, she is absent today.
United are one of five unbeaten teams in the WSL after three games. Their only dropped points came in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, which is an impressive result for Casey Stoney’s side. They have some American stars of their own in the form of Tobin Heath and Christen Press, who will be in the country for a similar time to Morgan. The increase in quality from last season has definitely boosted the WSL’s reputation and hopefully this game will do the same.
Here’s to a cracking match!
Kick-off: 12.30pm BST
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