Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Manchester absolutely brimming with confidence ahead of their lunchtime match with Manchester United on Saturday. Harry Redknapp’s young team will be looking to build on home wins over Arsenal and Chelsea with another three points at Old Trafford. However, for those of you who fancy Spurs chances, the head to head record between the two clubs should serve as a warning that United are not a team that the North Londoners fare well against.
United are known to usually come storming home towards the end of the season even though April has been a disastrous month this term, possibly only saved by that late, late winner in the Manchester derby. Elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich together with a crucial home defeat by Chelsea and the dropping of two potentially costly points at Blackburn had United fans virtually giving up all hope of securing a 4th successive title.
Football can provide some unexpected twists however. For all the gloom that failure to defeat Blackburn brought to United fans at the time, that single point at Ewood Park may yet prove to be the one that will eventually snatch the Premiership from Chelsea.
Redknapp has put together a very strong squad in a relatively short space of time with plenty of attacking flair and an uncharacteristic doggedness defensively. However, despite excellent displays at home to their London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, achieving a win away at a top four club is something that Tottenham have struggled to do for a long time.
In fact, the North Londoners have not won any of their last 66 away games at any of the big four’s grounds. This includes comprehensive defeats at Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and Anfield this season where Spurs failed to even score doesn’t bode well for them. They’ve also lost at Old Trafford already this season in the Carling Cup when an almost first choice Spurs team was beaten by a United side that was made up of fringe players, youngsters and a few first teamers.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be more than aware of the dangers that Tottenham pose but after going 21 matches unbeaten in all competitions against them, he’s hardly likely to be losing any sleep. Manchester United will have the bit between their teeth after cutting the gap between themselves and Chelsea to a mere point.
This is not a new situation for United, they have been here many times before and the last gasp win at Eastlands will give Ferguson’s men the belief that they can catch Chelsea especially with the Londoners set to travel to Anfield before the season is out.
They have the momentum in the title race and will be looking to put on a performance to put more pressure on the league leaders. Spurs may not be the ideal team to face but the Red Devils haven’t lost at home to them in 21 years, so they will fancy their chances.
Will Manchester United overcome the one point lead held by Chelsea in the remaining three matches?
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