Wednesday, 11 February 2026

1983/84: Manchester United v Ipswich

It sometimes feels as if we are only ever a minute away from a statistic appearing on our television screens during a live football match. You know the kind of thing. Most goals from a corner, every time Arsenal line up their next training ground routine. Possession in the last five minutes. Number of successful passes by a certain player on Tuesday nights since 2002.

But putting my cynicism aside for a brief moment, every now and then a fact appears that makes you sit up a take notice. A snippet of information that you had no idea about, something that you could possibly bore your friends with the next time you go to the pub. 

Watching Manchester United defeat Tottenham in the recent Premier League match at Old Trafford, TNT informed us that the last time United had led at half-time in a league match and went on to lose was back in May 1984. A distant time before football began - if you believe some - consisting of a staggering 329 games of half-time leads leading to 303 wins and 26 draws.

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

1986/87: Manchester United v Tottenham

Anyone associated with Manchester United must have been a little bit sick of Tottenham by the end of the 2024/25 season. Four times the clubs met, each time the north London club victorious, most memorably in the final of the Europa League. 

The final in Bilbao may have been rewarding to Tottenham supporters, their 16-year trophy drought finally ending. Yet to any neutrals who chose to watch that match, the entertainment was in short supply. Let us hope that the live Premier League match between the two clubs at Old Trafford this weekend is slightly more exciting.

A repeat of the corresponding league fixture 40 years ago would be more than acceptable. The live BBC match in December 1986 gave us goals, mistakes, moments of brilliance, comedy, bravery, and a welcome palate cleanser after the depressing EastEnders omnibus. As an armchair supporter, it was a very enjoyable way to spend a Sunday.