LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur ramped up the pressure on Jose Mourinho after beating Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Three second-half goals saw Spurs and move six points ahead of United with only three games played.

Harry Kane headed his side in front with his first Old Trafford goal shortly after half-time, and within three minutes their lead was doubled as Lucas Moura directed Christian Eriksen’s cross into the United net.

Moura, particularly impressive throughout, then finished things off by leaving Chris Smalling in his wake, a direct, powerful run taking him clear of the England defender before finishing past David De Gea on 84 minutes.

It was an assured and authoritative display from the visitors, who restricted United to half-chances, but Jose Mourinho will rue Romelu Lukaku’s failure to put the home side into what would have been a deserved lead early on.

The Belgian had several opportunities, none better than when rounding Hugo Lloris before dragging his shot wide from an angle with an open net to aim at as United began the game firmly on the front foot.

Soon after, Spurs ought to have been given a penalty when Moura was barged over by Phil Jones, who later went off injured, but they were perhaps still content to go in level at the break.

The second half was an altogether different story, though, as Kane found space to loop a header into the far corner before Moura struck twice to maintain Spurs’ perfect start to the season, and inflict back-to-back defeats on United.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” chanted the visiting fans after Spurs piled the pressure on Mourinho and ended their run of four successive Old Trafford defeats, with United losing two of their opening three fixtures for just the second time in Premier League history.

Mourinho is the bookies’ favourite to be the first Premier League manager to leave this season ahead of Mark Hughes and Rafael Benitez.

Mourinho, who stayed on the pitch to applaud the United fans after the game, said: “We worked very, very well during the week, the players have a fantastic attitude, at half-time the result should be two goals different minimum.

“Then something changed the game, and the (score) was 2-0 but the team was in the game, and I think everyone could feel that one goal could change the game.

“If anyone that watched this game, one thing they know for sure – the team is united. A team doesn’t fight the way they fought, if the team is not united.”

Next for United is a trip to Burnley while Spurs travel to Watford, who have also won their opening three games.

Kane said: “To come here and win the way we did, it’s a big statement. We didn’t play great in the first-half. In these big games, the first goal is so important. We got it, and then we punished them.

“That’s the only way we’re going to win the league. We haven’t started well in previous years.

“This will give us huge belief, we’re not getting too carried away (but) these are the games we need to win.”

##########