Premier League 2: Manchester United under-23s 1 Tottenham Hotspur under-23s 3

Tottenham Hotspur’s under-23s moved off the foot of the Premier League 2 table and sent opponents Manchester United back to the bottom after a much-needed 3-1 victory at Old Trafford last night.

All four goals occurred in the second half and despite the hosts taking the lead, Spurs responded through Keanan Bennetts, Jack Roles and Kazaiah Sterling to claim the points.

It was United who started the better as Aiden Barlow tried his luck from range, but he was denied by a good save from Tottenham goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman on seven minutes when he pushed the ball away from goal.

Spurs created their first opening on 17 minutes as Roles was sent through on goal by George Marsh however he fired his low effort into the side netting.

In a frantic opening Ricky Sbragia thought his side had taken the lead when Joshua Bouhi crossed for Indy Boonen and his header beat Whiteman, but hit the post and bounced away to safety.

Whiteman was by far the busier keeper in the first half and he made yet another fine save in the 34th minute as he tipped away a whipped in Angel Gomes free kick that looked set for the top corner.

However, less than a minute later, Tottenham won a penalty as Shilow Tracey danced his way into the box before being pushed by Ethan Hamilton.

Sterling took full responsibility and looked to find the corner, but he was denied by Joel Pereira as he sprung low to his left.

In a first half full of goalkeeping brilliance Whiteman made yet another fine stop on 41 minutes as Barlow whipped in a perfect cross for Boonan, but the Belgian under-21 international saw his effort tipped away by the in-form Spurs stopper.

On the stroke of the break it was Periera’s turn to make a good save as he kept out a powerful low effort from Marsh from range.

United started the second half the better and took the lead on 50 minutes after Spurs were guilty of wasting possession cheaply.

Oliver Skipp tried to pick out Jaden Brown after an attack from the home side broke down, however his pass lacked power allowing Tahith Chong to run onto the loose ball before firing the ball into the net.

This goal seemed to fire Spurs up and they made amends by equalising on 59 minutes when Keanan Bennetts fired home as Sterling’s shot hit Hamilton, the ball fell for the forward and he thumped his shot across Pereira and into the net.

Wayne Burnett’s side turned the game around as they scored their second on 63 minutes when Ro-Shaun Williams played a back pass to Pereria the keeper tried to turn rather than clear the ball downfield this allowed Roles to win the ball and slide into the back of the net.

This goal brought Man United back to life and they had a good opportunity to level when Gomes curled in a cross for Bohui, but before he could head the ball into the net Skipp was in his way to clear it from danger.

Bohui then had another superb chance for Manchester United to equalise as he was played in by Darren McIntosh-Buffonge, but he fired his effort wide of the target when he should have levelled the tie.

Tottenham then sealed the victory on 70 minutes when Skipp beat Williams to the ball before sliding the pass through to Sterling and he rifled his effort into the roof of the net from 14 yards leaving Pereira with no chance.

Sbragia’s side then should have pulled a goal back minutes later as Nishan Burkart lashed a low effort wide of goal from 25 yards out.

This was how it was to finish as Spurs claimed a crucial victory to move them off the bottom of the league and next the Lilywhites take on title-chasing Liverpool at Stevenage’s Broadhall Way next Monday.

Manchester United: J. Pereira; Warren, R-S Williams, O’Connor, Riley; Hamilton, Barlow (Burkart 73); Chong, Gomes (McIntosh-Buffonge 79), Boonen (Kehinde 70); Bohui.

Used substitutes: Olosunde, O’Hara.

Tottenham Hotspur: Whiteman, Eyoma, Brown, Skipp, Maghoma, Dinzeyi (Duncan 57), Tracey (Griffiths 87), Marsh (c), Sterling, Roles (Pritchard 79), Bennetts.

Unused substitutes: Austin, Lyons-Foster.