MANCHESTER: Manchester United profited from Tottenham captain Cristian Romero's red card to stretch their perfect start under Michael Carrick to four games with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes ended an eight-game winless run against Spurs for the Red Devils, who cemented their position in the Premier League's top four.
United close to within two points of third-placed Aston Villa and open up a five-point cushion over Liverpool in sixth.
A place in the top five is likely to secure a place in next season's Champions League due to the strong performance of English sides in European competition.
Spurs' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League through their league position have long since disappeared as another damaging defeat for Thomas Frank leaves Tottenham in 14th.
But there could be lasting consequences for Romero after his ill-discipline cost his side just days after a social media outburst aimed at the club's hierarchy.
Frank said the Argentine international had been "dealt with internally" after he described Tottenham's threadbare squad as "disgraceful" following the closure of the transfer window.
Romero's future as skipper had already been called into question and the 27-year-old will now be suspended for four matches after his second red card of the season and sixth of his Spurs career.
The centre-back lunged in to catch Casemiro on the ankle on 29 minutes after playing himself into trouble just outside the Tottenham box.
United had been the better side during the opening half hour even against 11 men and made their numerical advantage count.
Mbeumo stroked into the bottom corner for his third goal in four games since Carrick took charge after a clever corner involving Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo freed the Cameroon international at the edge of the box.
Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha had goals ruled out for offside as the home side dominated but had to wait until nine minutes from time to make the points safe.
Fernandes showed Romero how to lead from the front with another fine individual display.
The United captain prodded in Diogo Dalot's cross at the back post for his 200th goal or assist in 314 games for the club.
Carrick said before the game that United cannot afford to rush their choice of a new permanent manager.
But the former midfielder, who enjoyed a stellar playing career at Old Trafford, is making his case for that job as he continues overseeing United's stunning turnaround in fortunes since the departure of Ruben Amorim last month.
Romero sorry for letting Spurs down, says Frank
Under-pressure Tottenham boss Thomas Frank said captain Cristian Romero has apologised to his team-mates for a first-half red card in his side's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.
Romero had unleashed an outburst towards the club's hierarchy earlier in the week by describing the threadbare squad Frank has been left to deal with during an injury crisis as "disgraceful".
Frank said the Argentine international had been "dealt with internally" for that social media post, but brought fresh questions over his status as club captain with another act of ill-discipline.
Romero lunged in on Casemiro after losing possession just outside the Tottenham box to leave his side a man down for the final hour.
The 27-year-old will now be suspended for four matches after having already been sent off this season -- bringing his tally of dismissals at Spurs to six.
"Cristian first and foremost, there is no intention to do the follow through and get a red. He clearly goes for the ball," said Frank.
"Unfortunately, the way the rules are, it becomes a red. Cristian apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room.
"We need to deal with it. I think a big area we've been working hard on is the resilience.
"We didn't get the result out of it today, but what they showed out there on the pitch today, the players, was incredible."
Tottenham are now winless in their last seven Premier League games and could find themselves just six points above the relegation zone should West Ham beat struggling Burnley later on Saturday.
"The reality is that in terms of results we have struggled a lot. Two wins in the last 16 (league games) is not acceptable for this football club," said goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Frank has so far been handed a stay of execution by the club's board despite repeated fan calls for the former Brentford boss to be dismissed.
"Just focus on the next game," said Frank when asked about his future. "That is Newcastle on Tuesday night."