Substitute Anthony Martial scored a late winner as Manchester United beat Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday.
A game of few chances looked to be heading for a stalemate until Martial took advantage of a defensive lapse to latch onto Romelu Lukaku's flick-on and finish in the 81st minute.
Lukaku had headed against the post moments earlier while Dele Alli missed the best chance for Spurs, who were without injured top scorer Harry Kane, when he volleyed wide from close range.
The win is United's first in their last three Premier League games and keeps them in touch with leaders Manchester City.
For Spurs, it was another disappointing visit to Old Trafford, where they have now lost 21 of 26 Premier League matches, as they struggled to overcome the loss of Kane, not managing a shot on target in the second half.
Playing three at the back, United started positively, with Lukaku slicing wide from inside the box and Hugo Lloris tipping a long-range free-kick from Marcus Rashford around the post.
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Bailly (7), Valencia (6), Jones (6), Smalling (7), Young (7), Herrera (6), Matic (7), Mkhitaryan (6), Lukaku (6), Rashford (6)
Subs: Martial (7), Lingard (5), Darmian (5)
Tottenham: Lloris (5), Aurier (5), Davies (7), Alderweireld (6), Vertonghen (5), Dier (6), Winks (6), Eriksen (6), Alli (5), Sissoko (5), Son (5)
Subs: Llorente (5), Dembele (5)
Man of the match: Nemanja Matic
But Spurs settled after 15 minutes and appeared to grow in confidence. Moussa Sissoko had a shot from distance and then spurned the best opportunity of the first half when he missed the target after David de Gea collided with Phil Jones and dropped a routine cross.
With an extra man in midfield, Spurs started to take control of the game, subduing United and going close when Eric Dier saw a looping shot saved from a corner.
Man Utd made three changes from their defeat at Huddersfield last weekend, with Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial making way for Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford.
Davinson Sanchez, Kieran Trippier and Harry Kane missed out for Spurs, with Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier and Ben Davies starting.
There was little change immediately after the break, but United were nearly gifted the opener when Lloris spilt a low effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ben Davies had to whack the ball clear with Rashford waiting to tap in.
Mkhitaryan then fizzed a cross through the six-yard box and Antonio Valencia drilled over from the edge of the box.
Both sides went close late in the game as Alli missed the target from eight yards out after a brilliant chipped pass from Christian Eriksen before Lukaku headed against the post at the other end.
It was United who snatched victory, though, as a long ball from De Gea was flicked on by Lukaku and Martial finished after getting behind Eric Dier.
Jose Mourinho speaking on Anthony Martial:
"Sometimes he starts the match and his contribution is good but he doesn't score.
"I don't understand some reactions when people question 'are they Red Devils'? The two strikers were up against amazing central defenders. some of the best in Europe.
"Martial scores with a bad shot, but the bad shots can be the most beautiful.
"To play well against a very, very good team feels even better."
This is an interesting take from Anthony Martial.
Asked if his goal will help convince Jose Mourinho to start him more often, he said: "No. Me I want to play. I don't want to be on the bench. Rashford has been good too and the manager wants to give us a chance.”
Nemanja Matic:
"It was important for us. We were playing against one of the best teams in the league, thanks to this guy [points at Anthony Martial] we managed to score and win this game.
"Congratulations to the opponents, they were very good today. The fans enjoyed it and now we've got three points.
"They had more of the ball in the first half but we had more chances than them. They play great football but it's the result that matters in the end. If we continue like this we can challenge for the title.
"It's important to keep our record at home. The fans were great for 90 minutes. I hope we continue like this as these games are so important."
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