Son nets for Spurs, Rashford shines for United
Son Heung-min produced the perfect response after being dropped as the South Korea forward came off the bench to seal Tottenham's 2-0 win against West Ham on Sunday. Son has struggled badly this season and his poor form convinced Tottenham's absentee boss Antonio Conte to axe him for the Premier League clash. Prior to this weekend, the 30-year-old had scored in only four matches this season. But Son made his point to Conte as he came off the bench to net Tottenham's second goal after Emerson Royal put the hosts ahead in the second half. Son's ninth goal in all competitions this season mirrored his hat-trick against Leicester in September, which came after he was dropped and then introduced as a substitute. Tottenham's win over their struggling London rivals lifted them one point above Newcastle into fourth place, although the Magpies have a game in hand. Conte was watching on television back home in Italy after deciding he had returned too soon following his gallbladder surgery, with assistant coach Cristian Stellini taking instructions from his recuperating manager. It was a much-needed victory for Tottenham, who were thrashed at Leicester last weekend, then lost 1-0 at AC Milan in the Champions league last 16 first leg. Stellini has now won all three matches while deputising for Conte this season. West Ham remain third bottom after a first defeat in four league games. Just 46 seconds had gone when West Ham went close through Jarrod Bowen, who hit a half-volley just wide. Tottenham were angered when a VAR check ruled that Richarlison's shot, which clearly struck Thilo Kehrer's out-stretched hand, was not worthy of a penalty. Tottenham struggled to find any rhythm as the half wore on and their first shot on target from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg drew sarcastic cheers from frustrated fans. Richarlison has struggled to make an impact since his £60 million (US$72 million) move to Tottenham from Everton last year, scoring just two goals. The Brazilian's lack of form was evident again when he took a poor angle from Harry Kane's pass, losing his position and allowing Lukasz Fabianski to save. Richarlison shot straight at Fabianski again early in the second half, but Tottenham finally made their territorial dominance count in the 56th minute. Ben Davies's pass split the West Ham defence and Emerson showed unexpected composure for a player with just one goal this season as the right-back drilled a confident finish past Fabianski from just inside the area. Fraser Forster preserved Tottenham's lead moments later with a fine save from Bowen's powerful drive. Son's exile ended when he came on for Richarlison in the 67th minute and he was on the scoresheet within five minutes. Kane's superb pass took two West Ham defenders out of the game and Son's touch was perfect as he controlled deftly before slotting past Fabianski from 12 yards. In the early game, Marcus Rashford showed Manchester United won't be distracted by the race to buy the Old Trafford club as his double inspired a 3-0 win against Leicester. United owners the Glazer family are considering rival offers from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of one of Qatar's biggest banks, and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. Further bids could still be made amid reports United may be under new ownership within six weeks – but Erik ten Hag's side have kept their focus firmly on the pitch. Rashford has been the key to United's impressive form in Ten Hag's first season and the England forward proved too hot for Leicester to handle at Old Trafford. Rashford has scored 24 times in all competitions for United this season, the highest goal tally he has ever managed in a single campaign. Remarkably, 16 of those goals have come in 17 appearances since he returned from the World Cup in December. The 25-year-old is also the first United player to score in seven consecutive home league games since Wayne Rooney in 2010. Rashford endured a difficult period prior to Ten Hag's appointment last season, sparking suggestions the forward might look to leave Old Trafford. But Rashford is now United's most influential player as he rediscovers the form that made him a teen sensation. United sit third in the table, just five points behind leaders Arsenal, after a third win in their last four league matches. Ten Hag has played down his side's hopes of catching Arsenal, who have a game in hand on United. But if United do fall short in the title race, there are other opportunities to make it a memorable season in what could be the final campaign of the unpopular Glazers' 18-year reign. United are without a major trophy since 2017, when they won the League Cup and the Europa League, while their last Premier League crown came 10 years ago. The silverware drought could end this term, with United hosting Barcelona in the second leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday before playing Newcastle in the League Cup final three days later. United are also through to the FA Cup fifth round, where they face West Ham in March. After drawing 2-2 at Barcelona on Thursday, Ten Hag made five changes to freshen up his team ahead of their pivotal week. David De Gea made a superb save to deny Harvey Barnes in the early stages after the Leicester winger surged onto Kelechi Iheanacho's pass. Harry Souttar headed just over from the resulting corner before Iheanacho's deflected effort rolled narrowly wide. Only De Gea was keeping United afloat and the Spaniard plunged to his right to make a brilliant stop from Iheanacho's stooping header. Fittingly, De Gea finished with his 180th United clean-sheet, moving him level with Peter Schmeichel's all time record for the club. After Leicester's barrage, they were hit with a Rashford sucker punch in the 25th minute. Bruno Fernandes's deft pass with the outside of his boot exposed Leicester's creaky offside trap, and Rashford sprinted clear to fire a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards. Rashford's goal came against the run of play, but it was reward for Ten Hag's decision to deploy his star as United's central striker rather than on the flanks. United had seized the momentum and they should have been two up when Diogo Dalot somehow shanked Fernandes's cross wide from close-range. Rashford's speed and movement made him unplayable at times and he doubled United's lead in the 56th minute. Accelerating onto Fred's pass, Rashford guided a composed finish past Ward, with his celebrations briefly halted by an offside flag that was overturned by VAR. Leicester were in disarray and Jadon Sancho put the result beyond doubt in the 61st minute when the substitute slotted home from Fernandes's pass. (AFP)