Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford sealed up a priceless victory for United; Manchester United ended four winless games in the Premier League and climbed to fifth in the table, while the Spurs won just one of their last four games in all competitions, dropping to eighth
United eased the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford scored in a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in saturday night football.
Ronaldo performed well, volleying late in the first half in United's opening game before giving Cavani an equally fantastic assist in the middle of the second quarter as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side took the first step back after Sunday's 5-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived in north London with his tenure pending but ensured he could play another day as his squad's options and tactics – mostly switching to the bottom five, and the attack of their partners Ronaldo and Cavani – won the day and ended four – with a winless match in the Premier League that lifted United to fifth in the table.
In contrast, the pressure on Solskjaer appeared to shift to his opponent Nuno Espirito Santo, who endured the anger of the home supporters and was booed throughout the process as Tottenham's challenge barely started and then disappeared without them having a shot. Targeting as a substitute Marcus Rashford scored third for the away team.
"It was a bad show, simply put, we didn't play well and Manchester United were better than us," Nuno admitted.
The Ronaldo star rescued Ole from the brink
After United's second goal, Cristiano Ronaldo hugged Edinson Cavani
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moved to the bottom five at Tottenham and United made a guaranteed start, limiting Spurs to Son's early shot, which was harmlessly deflected off target.
But with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, two players as guilty as Liverpool's failed culprits, cracks began to emerge before spurs created their first definitive chance.
Oliver Skip and Lucas Mora joined forces to pass a delicate ball to United's defence and Son pulled the ball brilliantly out of the air, but the South Koreans kicked the ball off near the post.
United rose straight up at the other end and reacted almost perfectly, with Cavani scoring an inch into the goal with a precise cross from Bruno Fernandez.
The Spurs hit the ball into the United goal in the 28th minute only as Christian Romero's bundled back post efforts were properly ruled out of offside before Fred stabbed goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the palm of his hand with a sudden long-range shot.
Christian Romero scored for Tottenham, but the goal was ruled offside
Six minutes before halftime, the visiting team made a breakthrough, Fernandez delivered another inch of the perfect ball for Ronaldo on the Spurs defense, and Ronaldo pumped a powerful shot into the far corner to give United a well-deserved lead in the half.
The Spurs were supposed to equalise within three minutes of a restart, but after Lucas Mora intercepted a loose pass from David De Gea's backcourt, Son curled up outside the door.
A few seconds later, United thought their advantage had doubled, but Ronaldo was ruled offside before he shot unmistakably into the top of the Loris net.
It marked the beginning of Spurs' decline, with Nuno replacing the lively Lucas Mora with Steven Bergween and when United doubled their lead.
Skip was snatched by Fernandez in midfield and the ball was sent into Ronaldo, who lost his balance and somehow managed to get Cavani through the goal and the Uruguayan completed a delicate finish on a hurried Loris.
Tottenham Hotspur failed to respond and were relieved from their pain when the combination of substitutes Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford and the England international's composure finished the night they showcased their steel at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United.