2 goals and 100% tackle success: Premier League player of the weekend - Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney

Manchester United travelled to White Hart Lane on Sunday licking their lips. Spurs were coming into the game on the back of a 6-0 mauling at the hands of Manchester City so you could forgive the Premier League champions for thinking they could heap further misery on Andre Villas-Boas and his squad.

It wasn’t to be, though, as Spurs fought valiantly to grab a 2-2 draw and were unlucky not to end the match with all three points. If it wasn’t for Wayne Rooney’s superb display for United, they may well have won.

Rooney scored both of United’s goals to equalise twice in north London. He was played in an attacking midfield role in support of Danny Welbeck but, somehow, was United’s most potent goal threat throughout.

In total, he took five shots; two hit the target (his goals), two were blocked and the other was way off target. Four of his five shots were taken inside the penalty area which showed his willingness to get beyond the last man and penetrate the Spurs defence.

Despite scoring twice, Rooney’s overall performance wasn’t as you’d expect. His passing was 78% successful (28/36) and he failed to create a single chance. United, as a whole, only created two chances, though, in fairness.

Rooney scored highest this weekend in Squawka’s Performance Score. His 97 points were four better than Everton’s Bryan Oviedo, who deputising for Leighton Baines, scored in their 4-0 victory over Stoke City.

The Englishman was clever on the ball in the attacking third but that was limited so he had to drop into deeper positions in order to affect play. His Heat Map shows just how much ground he covered at White Hart Lane.

Rooney’s heat map vs Spurs

Rooney worked hard off the ball, gaining a defence Performance Score of 36 – impressive for a forward. He was a reason why United kept it at 2-2 and prevented Spurs from giving the Red Devils a painful trip back up north. He won both of his tackles and won one headed duel. In addition, he also intercepted two passes – one deep into United’s half – and made four clearances.

Rooney’s defensive actions at Spurs

It wasn’t an attacking display to remember from Rooney, but his two goals were incredibly important to United. As was his off-the-ball performance which allowed the reigning champions reprieve and gave them a valuable point.

They headed to Spurs hoping to repeat their city rival’s demolition last weekend but they were faced with a more daunting, fierce Spurs. Had Rooney not stepped up to the plate, United would have lost without any fight.

For those reasons, Wayne Rooney is Squawka’s Premier League Player of the Weekend.