Dominic Solanke rues missed chances as Tottenham rescue point at Manchester United

Tottenham left Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw, and Dominic Solanke knew exactly what the story was. Spurs controlled long spells, created enough to win and still needed a stoppage-time equaliser to avoid another miserable result.

That is the problem in simple terms. The performance had substance, the finishing did not.

Solanke eventually delivered the moment that mattered, getting in front of Lisandro Martinez and steering a glancing header beyond Senne Lammens deep into added time. It was deserved on the balance of play, but it also rescued a night that should have been settled far earlier.

Missed chances define Tottenham display

Spurs had the better of the game for much of a blustery night in Manchester. Solanke was central to that. He pressed well, found space and kept getting on the end of openings. He also missed two very good chances.

First, he failed to punish a mistake from Lammens when the opportunity was handed to him early on. Later, he stretched for a Savio cross and could not apply the finish. By the time Bryan Mbeumo put Manchester United ahead with just over 15 minutes left, Tottenham were staring at another damaging defeat shaped by their own wastefulness.

Solanke honest after Manchester United draw

There was no spin afterwards. “In the first half we dominated,” he said. “We weren’t clinical enough – a story of the season. We could have been a few goals ahead. We’ll take a point.

“The character shown was magnificent. A few times we haven’t reacted in the right way when going a goal down but today we showed fight and grit.

“I should have had a hat-trick. I wasn’t clinical enough. I know that. But I kept going. I was getting in the right position to put one away.

“It’s my first time being captain, for a great club. To score as well. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my career.

“It’s something to build on. We haven’t been good enough at this. Hopefully this is the start of something good.”

Premier League table still grim for Spurs

One point lifts Tottenham off the bottom, but the bigger picture remains poor. This was encouraging in parts, yet encouragement does not move you far when you are still in the relegation zone. Spurs need goals, not moral victories.