(Football news) The FA Cup saw both teams go to the fourth round to start 2024. Ange Postecoglou’s club defeated Burnley 1-0, while the Red Devils defeated Wigan Athletic 2-0.
The old adage that “football is a game of two halves” is still valid, but for Erik ten Hag and Man United in particular, 2023 was undoubtedly a year of two halves. By increasing their prospects of winning another domestic championship, Manchester United has at least begun 2024 as they intend to.
In the FA Cup, Ten Hag’s team defeated League One team Wigan with two goals to none. Bruno Fernandes’ controversial penalty kick preceded Diogo Dalot’s excellent strike at the DW Stadium on January 8. It would not have been a Red Devils game without a few near-misses along the way.
Fans of Newport County and Eastleigh will already be licking their tongues at the possibility of a fourth-round glamour encounter with Manchester United – who will face the victor of that replay later this month – but Ten Hag’s side now resume Premier League duty after a wholly poor start to the new season.
The feel-good factor from their stunning Boxing Day comeback over Aston Villa swiftly dissipated in a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on December 30, a result which sees Manchester United begin a depleted gameweek languishing in eighth in the rankings, nine points away of a Champions League position.
Manchester United might lose ten games in the top division for only the sixth time since the Premier League’s founding this weekend as they get ready to play in front of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s critical eye for the first time. In three of the four prior campaigns, the Red Devils have chosen to have a new management team.
Ange Postecoglou, who managed a 2-0 victory over the 20-time English champions in just his second Premier League game as manager, has significantly more job security than Ten Hag, who is not seen to be in danger of losing his post as Man United’s manager anytime soon.
Ever since that glorious day in North London, things have not been entirely perfect for the Lilywhites. In the FA Cup, Postecoglou’s team was also in danger of losing to a resilient Burnley team in a replay, but Pedro Porro’s incredible goal ensured the capital giants’ safe advance to the next round.
The slender success over the Clarets represented a fifth win from six matches in all tournaments for Tottenham, as they concluded 2023 with a praiseworthy 3-1 beating of an in-form Bournemouth side to move within one point of fourth-placed Arsenal, who can be usurped by their bitter adversaries this weekend while they enjoy an extended break from competitive action.
Although they have not failed to score on rival territory in the top division since a 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the beginning of March, Tottenham has struggled to be consistent on the road recently, as evidenced by the fact that just one of their last four Premier League away games has ended in victory.
Tottenham is only 90 minutes away from winning their first double against the Red Devils since the 1989–90 campaign, but the hosts’ 24 home victories against Spurs are tied for most by any team against a single opponent in Premier League history. Spurs ended a five-game losing streak against Manchester United back in the summer.
