Tottenham Have Gone Almost Two Years Without a League Win After Conceding First
Solanke rescued a point at Manchester United, but Tottenham's long wait for a comeback victory continues.
Tottenham’s wait for a Premier League victory after conceding the opening goal is approaching two years, with Saturday’s late equaliser at Manchester United extending the run.
Dominic Solanke rescued a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, giving ten-man Spurs a point after Bryan Mbeumo had put United ahead. It was a valuable response, but Tottenham still could not turn a losing position into a victory.
The streak concerns matches in which their opponents score first. Spurs have won other league games during that period, but a comeback victory has continued to elude them.
Tottenham’s last comeback win came against Aston Villa
The contrast with November 2024 is striking.
On 3 November, Tottenham trailed Aston Villa at half-time before scoring four second-half goals to win 4-1. Brennan Johnson equalised, Solanke struck twice and James Maddison completed the scoring with a free-kick.
That performance showed how dangerous Spurs could be even after falling behind. Their inability to repeat such a turnaround has since become a persistent feature of their league form.
Saturday presented another difficult test. Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 73rd minute, before Rodrigo Bentancur was dismissed five minutes later for headbutting Luke Shaw.
Solanke’s stoppage-time header prevented defeat, but left Tottenham without a win from their opening six league matches this season.
De Zerbi sees encouragement in Spurs’ response
Despite the result, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi welcomed the determination his players showed after going behind and losing a man.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he praised their spirit and character, saying the performance had demonstrated the togetherness he wanted from his team.
The draw left Spurs with three points from six games and still in the relegation zone. Their response at Old Trafford earned something tangible, even if it did not end the longer wait for a comeback win.
Tottenham next host Coventry on 19 October, when De Zerbi’s side will have another opportunity to secure their first league victory of the campaign.
