Why Micky van de Ven did not see Brennan Johnson goal after stunning Tottenham assist vs Man Utd

Spurs defender Micky van de Ven was in superb form as Tottenham thrashed Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford

Micky van de Ven admitted after the game that he "didn't see" Brennan Johnson score despite doing all the hard work for the strike in the third minute of Tottenham's game at Manchester United.

Van de Ven was exceptional throughout but his standout moment came early on in the contest at Old Trafford. He picked up the ball midway inside his own half and, much like he did against Everton earlier in the season, drove at the United defence.

He was allowed to stride forwards, getting all the way to the United byline, before driving a cross across the six-yard box for the gleeful Brennan Johnson to tap home the opening goal.

Van de Ven, however, did not see his Tottenham teammate put the ball in the back of the net though. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match had ended, the Dutchman said: "I intercepted the ball and I saw the gap, I looked up and I saw the gap and I thought 'I'm going'.

"When I was in the box I knew Brennan is always coming to the second post so I thought 'hit it hard between the goalkeeper and the centre-back' and I didn't even see the goal to be honest because I was falling downstairs! But I heard the away fans celebrating."

When van de Ven talks about "falling downstaris" he means the fact he had sprinted to the byline and his momentum kept him going and he was faling down the runoff behind the pitch and into the advertising hoardings.

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It was an incredible run and assist and Johnson was quick to run straight to the centre-back, pointing to him for the ball for the goal. It was a goal all down to van de Ven.

Spurs would go on to win the match 3-0, against the ten men of United after Bruno Fernandes was sent off just before half-time. Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke added second half goals to secure all three pointsin what was a dominant display.

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