Manchester United moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Middlesbrough’s first game since sacking manager Aitor Karanka ended in defeat. Ashley Young’s deep cross found Marouane Fellaini at the back post to head past Victor Valdes, before Jesse Lingard’s terrific strike doubled United’s lead after the break. Boro, with caretaker boss Steve Agnew in charge, were invited to apply pressure and when Chris Smalling made a mess of an easy clearance in the box, substitute Rudy Gestede pounced. But former United keeper Valdes slipped in stoppage time and Antonio Valencia’s tap-in secured the three points. sJose Mourinho’s side leapfrog Arsenal and Everton into fifth, while Middlesbrough remain 19th in the table and are five points from safety.
Tottenham overcame the absence of leading scorer Harry Kane to secure a hard-fought win over Southampton that ensures they remain second in the table heading into the international break. Goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, the latter a penalty, in an effective display underlined that Spurs are more than just their talismanic 24-goal striker. The win extends Tottenham’s club-record run of successive home Premier League wins to 10, the same number of points by which they trail leaders Chelsea.
Southampton lost in-form striker Manolo Gabbiadini to injury in the first half but gave a good account of themselves in the second, at the start of which James Ward-Prowse scored from close range. But they were unable to gain parity as Tottenham’s stubborn backline and industrious central midfield held them at bay. The defeat leaves the Saints 10th in the table and needing an improbable 30 points from the 33 left available to them in their remaining 11 games to match last season’s tally of 63.