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Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - as it happened

احدث اجدد واروع واجمل واشيك Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - as it happened

Tottenham's record in this fixture is famously feeble. Since the last day of the 2001, when they won 3-1 against a Manchester United side which had long packed up for the summer having won the league by a handsome margin in April, their record reads thus (Tottenham fans might want to look away now): L, L, L, L, L, L, D, D, L. In that time, they've been 3-0 up at half-time and have lost 5-3, they've squandered leads in stoppage time, they've scored in the first minute and have lost and they've even hilariously contrived not to score when United have put John O'Shea in goal, just to make things a bit more interesting. Quite frankly this is a laughable and inexcusable state of affairs. Chelsea fans used to call White Hart Lane 'Three Points Lane', because they always won there, although they do so with less regularity these days. United fans can make similar claims now. High time Spurs sorted themselves out then.

Happily for Spurs, popular wisdom suggests that they will never have a better chance to arrest this nasty little statistic. The general feeling is that this is not a vintage year for Manchester United, even though they're top, (ok, second, but they do have three games in hand over Manchester City, who are currently in first place) while this is of course Tottenham's most dazzling side for many a year. Harry Redknapp has pointed out that Sir Alex Ferguson would kill to have some of the talent his side boasts. Certainly Gareth Bale and Luka Modric would be great acquisitions for United, and Rafael van der Vaart has proved to be an inspired signing. Let's not forget that Tottenham tend to be formidable at home and United have only won two away games all season. Blackpool have won more. So almost out of nowhere, Tottenham find themselves in the usual position of being favourites against Manchester United. This is unchartered territory indeed and should Tottenham win, they will have to be considered as viable title challengers.

And yet, only a fool would write off United, a point Ferguson has made, hitting back angrily at suggestions his side have been below-par this season. In this fixture last season, Jermain Defoe scored for Tottenham after a minute, prompting giddy hopes that would finally put an end to their United hoodoo. That only made United angry though, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes rolling back the years and slicing through Tottenham's shoddy defence at will. United won 3-1, always comfortable, even when Scholes was sent off. When United hosted Tottenham in October, the build-up to that game mirrored the build-up to this one. Tottenham were hyped up, United were talked down and then the game started. United handed Tottenham something of a reality check, showing them who's boss and choking the life out of them. Bale got nothing out of Rafael, arguably the most accomplished right-back in the league right now, and even though United's second goal was a farce, Tottenham found themselves banging their heads against the brick wall that is Nemanja Vidic for most of the match. This should be a breezy, open encounter, but the dilemma for Tottenham is that they can't defend and United can. They won't betray their attacking philosophy, not against anyone it seems, and that may be their undoing. Come at the king, best not miss.

These are your teams. Just look at the array of attacking talent here. 0-0 it is then. For Tottenham, Jermain Defoe has to make do with a place on the bench, Peter Crouch leading the line. That's quite surprising, is it not? I can't see Crouch troubling Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic too much, while Defoe's eye for goal always makes Tottenham a deadlier side. As for United, Edwin Van der Sar, Vidic and goal machine Wayne Rooney, with one in his last one games, come in for Tomas Kuszczak, Jonny Evans and Little Pea.

Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Cudicini, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka.

Man Utd (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Anderson, Smalling, Hernandez, Scholes, Evans.
The teams are in the tunnel. And now they're out of the tunnel. Every single player has a look of steely determination on his face. And look who's watching in the stands - it's only David Beckham! Presumably he negotiated his way past that divot outside Tottenham's training ground then.

1 min: Off we go then. This should be a great game. In theory. In theory, Marge. United get us underway, and Carrick instantly gives it away to Gareth Bale! He didn't want to do that. Bale charges down the left flank at pace, as ever, but sends his cross straight at Van der Sar. That was a waste actually, because Crouch was in acres of space at the far post.

2 min: Now United settle, coming nicely into their groove, stroking the ball around confidently at the back. Cautiously Vidic tiptoes into midfield, before offloading to Berbatov, who was dropping deep. He turns, Tottenham giving him far too much space. That's tactical suicide, it really is, and Berbatov takes advantage of Tottenham's slack defensive play and slips the ball down the inside-right channel for Rooney, who's made a good run. Suddenly Tottenham are wide open and Rooney nips past Gallas's wild lunge, before dragging a low shot wide of the left post from ten yards out. Gallas was so lucky not to catch Rooney there or it would have been a penalty. Fortunately for him, Rooney stayed on his feet.

4 min: "Is the fact that United appear to be playing a 4-4-2, an indication that Ferguson doesn't think much of Tottenham?" asks Tony Rowly. "In the matches he considers tough he almost always plays a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3." Possibly - he probably feels he has enough going forward to take Tottenham on at their own game.

5 min: Fletcher concedes a needless corner on the left. Bale will take it.

6 min: After some mild shenanigans are in the box are sorted out by Mike Dean, a spot of pushing and shoving, Bale whips in a dangerous ball. Dawson gets his head to the ball, but his uncontrolled header flies well wide.

7 min: This has all the hallmarks of a very good game of football, both sides keeping the ball on the floor and zipping it about with a happy intensity. Gallas plays a clever pass to Palacios, who lopes forward, forcing Carrick to clumsily bring him down 25 yards from goal...

8 min: The free-kick is in a perfect position for the left-footer, just to the right of the D. Van der Vaart stands over it ominously, but can only direct a weak effort straight into the arms of Van der Sar. Reprieved, United fly forward and Rooney tests Gomes with a fierce effort from 25 yards out, the goalkeeper plunging to his left to save and hold well.

9 min: What a miss by Peter Crouch! Tottenham should lead! Modric glides beautifully away from Fletcher in the middle of the pitch, before spraying the ball out to Hutton, who's hugging the right touchline. Hutton is faced by Evra, but his first touch gets the ball out of his feet, and with his second he fires in a low, undefendable cross into the six-yard box. Crouch gets in front of Vidic and sticks out a telescopic right leg, but can only poke the ball firmly past the right post with Van der Sar rooted to the spot. That is a shocking miss.

11 min: Modric is tearing United apart at the moment. Tottenham have a corner on the left, which they work short. Modric skips past Fletcher on the left byline with astonishing ease, dropping the shoulder and making a complete fool of the midfielder. He slithers across the goal-line and then tries to find a Tottenham team-mate, only to be denied by a fine block from Ferdinand, who had got himself into a very good position.

13 min: It's all Tottenham you know, and United need to ride out the storm. Lennon darts inside, easily beating Evra for pace - he always troubles the Frenchman - before trying to beat Vidic on the outside. Vidic stands up to him well though, and deflects Lennon's shot behind for a corner, which United get clear with a certain amount of difficulty.

15 min: Some of you are pointing out that the auto-refresh tool wasn't on - that should be amended now. Thanks.

16 min: United can't get going at all. Tottenham are pressing them ferociously all over the pitch. Their energy is causing United some real problems. Carrick shovels a pass down the inside-right channel for Giggs to chase, but Gallas tracks him diligently, eventually outmuscling him and winning a free-kick.

18 min: When United do go forward though, a deathly silence envelops White Hart Lane. They remain a threat of course. They always are. On the right, Rafael emerges victorious in a midfield scramble, shuffling the ball forward to Berbatov. He dances on the ball, lovely skill, knocking it through to Rooney, who enjoys a spot of luck as Assou-Ekotto's inadvertent touch plays the ball into his path. Rooney scoots forward again and drives the ball across the face of goal - the right idea, only no one was there, with Giggs back on his heels.

19 min: Bale takes on Rafael on the left, getting the better out of the Brazilian again. His cross, however, is badly overhit and United can breathe easy.

21 min: A sloppy period of play. First Rafael plays an atrocious pass, intended for Rooney, straight to Van der Vaart, who promptly gives it straight to Rooney. He tries to drill the ball into the area, but his pass is blocked and loops up in the air - and a slight push from Van der Vaart on Rooney leads to Dean blowing for a free-kick. Van der Vaart kicks the ball up field in a fury and is booked for dissent.

23 min: Gomes makes his first save, and it's a good one. Rafael lays the ball back for Rooney, who twists his body and whips a low, curling shot towards the bottom-left corner, which Gomes, reacting surprisingly slowly, pushes back into the danger area. No United player is on hand for what would have been an easy tap-in however, and Hutton mops up.

24 min: We haven't seen too much of Nani so far. He tried to bamboozle Assou-Ekotto just here, but the defender was having none of it.

25 min: Hutton wins another corner for Tottenham. They take it short, United reacting really slowly to the impending threat as Lennon and Van der Vaart creep into the area. Lennon coaxes the ball back into Van der Vaart's path, but his firm shot is blocked by Fletcher. The ball spins back for Dawson, lurking in the D, but his attempt to score is predictably woeful.

28 min: Ah, this is a late tackle by Rafael on Palacios in the centre circle. He slightly over-ran the ball in midfield and caught Palacios with a high, studs-up challenge. It's probably not worthy of a red card, but Palacios has certainly been winded by it. Rafael is booked, which should have Bale licking his lips. Rafael will have to be careful now.

29 min: What the hell was that, Carrick? United have been pretty ragged for the most part and now when they have a chance to attack, Carrick plays a lamentable pass behind Giggs and out for a throw-in. He had options left, right and in front of him and he produces that? He's not having a great game.

31 min: Vidic is penalised for the slightest of nudges on Crouch 30 yards from goal. That is really soft and this is trouble for United, with Bale standing over the free-kick.

32 min: Or not. That free-kick is pretty much a backpass from Bale.

33 min: "Judging by how poor Man Utd have played recently while still winning they have the undoubted luck of champions," says Ian Copestake. Well on the balance of play so far, they should probably be trailing. The problem for Tottenham, though, is that most of their moves are evaporating once they reach United's area. Bale is a particular culprit, and this right here is a case in point: Crouch slid the ball out to Bale on the left at an inviting pace, only for the winger to shank a dreadful cross straight out of play.

34 min: Since the opening five minutes, Rooney has done very little, but he comes to life here, finding space to the left of Tottenham's area. But this is so wasteful, Rooney absolutely creaming the ball out of play. I don't want to call that a shot or a cross, it was so bad. We'll call it a kick.

36 min: Terrific play from Rafael, bustling away from a succession of Tottenham challenges on the right flank, bursting forward and in-field, before slipping the ball through to Berbatov just outside Tottenham's area. However when Berbatov is hustled out of it by a vital touch from Hutton, Dean brings play back after Palacios clipped Rafael. After that impressive burst though, Rafael spoils it all by waving for a card for Palacios. Dean obliges - but Ferdinand gives Rafael an absolute rollicking for such poor sportsmanship.

38 min: Andy Gray and Martin Tyler have just been having an amusing chat about Twitter, a risible attempt to prove they're down with the kids.

40 min: Is it acceptable to say the life has kind of drained out of this game? Neither side has done very much for the last 20 minutes or so, with defences on top and most of the attention on some midfield snarling following various frantic, naughty tackles. Truth be told, it's quite scrappy. Best league in the world though.

41 min: It's just not running for United when they go forward. Rafael jinks and slaloms past more Tottenham challenges, making his way into the heart of Tottenham territory with ominous intent. He then slides the ball to Rooney on the edge of the area, but he loses out in feeble fashion to Dawson. United swiftly regain possession though, and Rooney and Nani work their way back into Tottenham's area, a promising move indeed - until Nani spoils it all with a careless flick straight to Hutton. Giggs was in so much space throughout that interlude. If only they could have found him.

43 min: Bale torments Rafael, twisting this way and that on the left. Rafael knows he can't touch him as he's already been booked, and finally we get a proper final pass as Bale dinks a glorious cross into the near post, where Van der Vaart gets ahead of Vidic to head into the side-netting. A brief cheer goes up from the Tottenham fans as the net bristles, but it dies as quickly as it started. That was better though.

45 min: This sums up United's half so far, slack and wayward in possession. Between them, Carrick, Van der Sar make a mess of it, Vidic eventually letting a pass from Van der Sar slip under his foot for a throw-in. There will be two minutes of the added stuff.

45 min+2: Now Fletcher goes into the book for a late tackle on Bale on the left. They're fuming though, because Crouch got away with something similar a few moments ago. Anywho, Modric takes the free-kick, curling it in from the left. It tempts Gallas but Van der Sar confidently punches away. United try to mount one last counter-attack, but Dean blows for half-time.

Half-time: Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United.

Half-time emails:

"Not a bad match so far," says Phil Wainwright. "I missed the buildup though, did anything materialise re protests about the new ground?" I don't know actually - there wasn't much of a build-up because Sky were showing the Merseyside derby.

"Why does everyone keep wittering on about Manchester United playing badly this season?" asks Sean Moore. "Scored more than anyone else, conceded less, unbeaten - how bad can that be? Sure, they can play better, but that doesn't mean they've been poor. Statistics usually don't lie..." That's not true. Statistics can lie. They often do. This is possibly one of those times, but I wouldn't say United have been bad this season, just not very convincing. This is one of those games. They're playing pretty poorly, but they're not exactly hanging on. I do think they'll win the league, mainly because they have the winning habit.

"Part of sport's appeal is the unscripted element of its theatre, but Manchester United's record this season must be about the strangest sustained "thing" I can recall in football," says Gary Naylor, balancing out Sean's email above. "It's up there with Greece winning Euro 2004 and Chris Waddle's approach to the English language." He's here all week, ladies and gentlemen.

From what I can make out from people at the game (yes, I'm having a look at Twitter) Spurs fans are currently protesting against the move to Stratford. Quite right too. Tottenham are a north London club. How can they possibly move to the east?

46 min: Hello again! Andy Gray is talking about Twitter again. What on earth is going on? Did I fall asleep and wake up in a parallel universe? He'll start bigging up La Liga next. Not only he is nattering about it, he also appears to know what he's talking about too, mentioning that Dwight Yorke's rather snazzy shirt is trending, if you will, on the site. This is sort of like watching your dad dance at a wedding.

47 min: Rafael has been excellent today, embarking on another solo sashay forward, nonchalantly jinking past various Tottenham defenders, a run only halted by Gallas's solid challenge on the edge of the area. The ball breaks for Modric, who nicks the ball around Carrick, who brings him down. Or not. Eh? That was a clear trip and possibly a booking, but Dean waves play on.

48 min: The ball sits up invitingly for Giggs on the edge of the Tottenham area but his volleyed looper drops a few yards wide left. "For those whining about United's level of play, how about realizing that just like art, this is the Minimalist period for United," says Kolade Alliafoke. "Sheer efficiency."

50 min: United have started this half with a much sharper tempo. Giggs finds space on the right side of the area, forcing Modric to step in importantly and concede a corner.

51 min: Close. Giggs whips the corner into the near post, where Carrick rises and glances a header towards the far post. It flies a couple of yards wide, but it only would have taken a touch from a United attacker to send it in. The marking by Tottenham was non-existent there.

52 min: Brilliant save from Gomes and Rooney is getting closer. Carrick loops the ball over Modric's head on the halfway line, and suddenly we see why Tottenham concede so many goals - they are just so open. Rooney should never be allowed to roam 20 yards forward in Tottenham's half, with no one attempting to make a challenge. Anyway 20 yards from goal, he skipped past Hutton and then drove low and hard towards the bottom-left corner, Gomes responding supremely to tip the ball behind for a corner, which he then catches.

55 min: Another free-kick for Tottenham in a dangerous position. And another wasted free-kick from Tottenham in a dangerous position, Van der Vaart slamming a shot at Carrick, who stood firm. "Ah Twitter, the utterly bamboozling new big thing," muses Phil Wainwright. "Re Gareth Bale, has anyone else noticed that he is the epitome of the ProEvo/Fifa generation of football players? He has saved all of his best performances (including this one I hope) for when he is playing down the wing furthest from the TV cameras, much in the same was as my nippy left winger does on the rare occasion I dust off the PS2. Inter home and away, Newcastle, Fulham games all spring to mind."

57 min: The final third seems to be the Achilles' heel in both teams' front
foot, methinks," says Loig Thivend. "Young-Wayne-Rooney still not on song -will United still maintain that he is "injured"?" To be fair, he's having a fairly decent game and could have scored three times. Berbatov is the one who has been anonymous today. After a dodgy start to the second half, Tottenham have come to life again, and Evra concedes a free-kick for a foul on Lennon on the right. He always struggles against him and he's booked.

58 min: Rubbish again from Van der Vaart, who chooses to try and catch out Van der Sar with a shot instead of a cross. Van der Sar is having none of it.

59 min: Tottenham are turning the screw now. Hutton charges forward and finds Van der Vaart just inside the United area. Carrick tracks back sensibly though and stops him from shooting. Palacios runs on to the ball as United only get it half-clear, but his shot skews miles wide.

61 min: Lennon plays a canny pass inside Evra for the surging Hutton to chase, but the excellent Vidic gets there first, and buys a goal-kick off the right-back.

62 min: United make the first change, Anderson coming on for Nani, who has been utterly ineffective today. That will presumably be a change of formation for United, although give me time to work it out, yeah? Thanks. Rafael threatens again, nicking the ball away from the dithering Assou-Ekotto before volleying a bobbler straight at Gomes.

63 min: Bale beats Rooney to a loose ball, and suddenly finds himself in space in United's area. Ferdinand comes across to meet him but Bale fizzes the ball into the six-yard box, where Carrick concedes a corner. Fletcher heads Bale's delivery away.

64 min: Ok Wilson, you've had your fun. Palacios slips inside, away from Anderson, and then does a reasonable impression of a man who's never tried to score a goal before. Back to the training ground for you.

65 min: "So, who will be sent off first: Rafael or the distinguished captain of France, Patrice Evra?" says Lou Roper. "I can't understand how no goals have been scored in a game 'featuring' these fine defenders, the Tottenham goalkeeper, Gomes, and his teammate, the 'evergreen' William Gallas. Perhaps the presence of Michael Carrick and Wilson Palacios acts as an antidote?"

66 min: United can't get out of their own half at the moment. Bale moves over to the right and curls in a left-footed cross that Ferdinand slashes at wildly, the ball looping up towards Crouch. Van der Sar comes off his line though to quell the danger.

68 min: Anderson surges forward, eating up the turf at an alarming rate. He lays it off to Giggs, whose return pass is not what the doctor ordered. Tottenham immediately mount a counter of their own, Lennon roasting Evra on the right, before finding Van der Vaart in the area. He's too selfish though, ignoring Modric and trying to swivel and shoot, his shot easily blocked by Vidic.

70 min: With that last Van der Vaart chance, Vidic was holding a fair old chunk of the Dutchman's shirt as he tried to shoot. That was a penalty but from Dean's position, it was impossible to see the foul by Vidic. "Regarding Man Utd's efficiency, I am sure their fans will appreciate being the Germany of the Premiership," says Ian Copestake.

71 min: This has been such a frustrating game, both sides teasing you with the prospect of a goal without ever really looking like scoring.

73 min: Rafael is sent off for a second yellow card! But it's so harsh, more a coming together with Assou-Ekotto, who was on the charge down the left flank. Rafael has a raging funk on with Mike Dean and rightly so.

74 min: Rooney has been booked for taking his protests too far about the sending off. What can Tottenham do now then? They've barely created anything in this half, but they'll fancy their chances now.

77 min: Anywhere will do now for United as Berbatov, usually so composed, hacks the ball away for a throw-in. I was going to say just before the sending off that their approach had become very negative, the substitution of Nani an indication of that, and their caution will only increase now. It's not exactly a rearguard action though.

78 min: Well Tottenham are going for it, and why not? After all, United do not look like they have a goal in them. Jermain Defoe replaces Palacios. United respond with a substitution of their own, Javier Hernandez coming on for the sluggish Berbatov, who's had one of those games which will get the critics on his back again.

80 min: "Jacob, you miserable son of a gun, this is a fabulous spectacle: full of pace, volatility, unpredictability," argues Peter Bracken. "And Mike Dean has just demonstrated a grotesque aptitude for fallibility." Meh. It's flirted with the idea of being a good game, but not a lot has happened; frenzied and frenetic, but rather short on quality.

81 min: Tottenham corner. Modric plays it short to Lennon, something that has already caught out United, and he drives into the area, firing a low ball into the six-yard box, where it's half-cleared. The clearance comes out to Hernandez, who then completely loses his head, trying a flashy flick in his own area, only succeeding in catching out the rest of his team-mates. With United all over the place, Van der Vaart seizes possession, opens up his body and curls a sumptuous left-footer towards the top-left corner from the right corner of the area. Van der Sar stands still, gawping and waiting for the net to ripple, but the effort drops agonisingly over the angle of post and bar. Hernandez is a lucky boy.

84 min: Here's the first glimpse of Defoe and naturally it's a shot. Not a very good one though, as he snatched at his effort from 25 yards out, dragging it well wide of the right post. Rather desperate, as it goes.

85 min: United keep on giving it away but Tottenham, again, can't quite punish them. This time it's Fletcher who sloppily concedes possession, the ball swiftly worked to Defoe on the edge of the area. He tries to twist away from Fletcher, who makes amends for his earlier error, sticking a foot in, the ball diverting away from Defoe, allowing Van der Sar to fall on it gratefully.

88 min: "Would you bring Little Mickey Owen on now to snatch a goal, or in any other game that involves professional footballers?" asks Ben Dunn, who I can only assume is telling a joke of some sort.

89 min: United are down to nine men, with Vidic off the pitch after taking a knock. And Tottenham nearly make the numerical advantage count as Lennon darts cleverly past a crude lunge from Giggs,. He races into the area, but is denied by a superb challenge from Hernandez of all people.

90 min: Vidic is back on the pitch and he doesn't appear to be suffering too much from the knock he took if this is anything to go by, as he does enough to stop Gallas getting his head on a gorgeous ball in from Modric. There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

90 min+2: United nearly hit Tottenham with the cruellest of blows, Carrick picking out a smooth pass to Giggs, who has got in between Dawson and Hutton on the edge of the area. Giggs takes it on his chest, but the ball just skips away off the surface, allowing Gomes to hurtle off his line and smother the danger.

90 min+3: Now Carrick hits a sublime ball out for a goal-kick, with barely a United player in sight.

90 min+4: Evra miscues a clearance on the edge of the area, the ball ballooning away towards the left corner flag. Luckily for him it goes out for a throw rather than a corner, and United deal comfortably with two hopeful lumps into their box.

90 min+5: As the ball is hoofed to the halfway line, Hernandez does superbly to beat Gallas to it and lead a United counter. For a moment, United have a two-on-one situation with Giggs surging forward in support. Hernandez knocks the ball to the left for Giggs, who cuts the ball back to Rooney on the edge of the area. They couldn't, could they? No. Two Tottenham defenders swarm all over Rooney to stop him shooting and with that, Mike Dean blows for full-time.

Full-time: Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United. Hey, every game today has been a draw.

Post-match thoughts: Well, after a whirlwind start, that turned into a bit of a damp squib, with both teams stalling in attack and both defences performing exceptionally - especially Vidic and Ferdinand. As long as United can keep those two together, they will remain favourites for the league title. Tottenham played with plenty of adventure and maintained a high-octane tempo throughout, but there was something lacking for them going forward. They failed to really trouble Van der Sar in the United goal, and Gomes was actually the busier of the two goalkeepers, although that's not really saying much. The limited nature of Tottenham's threat was illustrated by their inability to carve out any real chances, even after the ridiculous red card for Rafael. When they play Crouch, they are too reliant on the long ball, and there's something endearingly limited about the way much of their threat is down to Bale charging up and down the left flank. Sometimes I wonder if teams will eventually work them out. Anyway thanks for reading and thanks for emailing. My apologies for not using them all. Night.

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