The first priority for Manchester United was to avoid defeat at White Hart Lane and in the end it was a case of mission accomplished. Tottenham will consider this scoreless draw a missed opportunity after defender Rafael was harshly red carded 17 minutes from the end but with captain Nemanja Vidic an absolute colossus in the centre of the defence, United held out for the point that takes them back to the top of the table with two games in hand.
It has to be made clear that this was not a match which lived up to expectations but Spurs showed enough to indicate that their title challenge is real. Defender Michael Dawson admitted afterwards “When they went down to 10 men we thought we could win the game. We’re disappointed not to have the three points.” Sir Alex Ferguson welcomed the one point saying that “It was a tough game, Tottenham are in a great spell of form, but they didn’t create many chances. I think our defenders were particularly good. It was a decent point, I can’t complain” and neither will United fans.
Tottenham 0 v Manchester United 0
Daily Mirror – Rafael was sent off but 10 man Manchester United still went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League on goal difference after a frantic encounter against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The full-back was dismissed in the 73rd minute after picking up a harsh second yellow card for a trip on Benoit Assou Ekotto.
But the hosts could not make the most of their numerical advantage to leave United still unbeaten in the league this term. Ryan Giggs was named in the starting line-up against Tottenham at White Hart Lane this afternoon to record his 600th league appearance for Manchester United. Full Report
Tottenhamhotspurs.com – Manchester United’s unbeaten league run this season remains intact following their visit to the Lane – but the Reds cannot say they were not tested to the maximum by Harry Redknapp’s men. An entertaining clash did not yield a winner but for long spells it looked likely that we would be the team to break the deadlock – especially after Rafael Da Silva was sent off for the visitors 15 minutes from time.
But as it is, United reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League table on goal difference from Manchester City, while the point was not quite good enough to see us back into the top four on this occasion. Full Report
Manchester Evening News – United maintained their unbeaten record to go back to the top of the Premier League on goal difference after a frantic encounter at White Hart Lane. Wayne Rooney brought a couple of smart saves from Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and Rafael van der Vaart also went close on two occasions for Tottenham.
But in the end the two sides cancelled each other out in a game which proved the title race is going to be tight right until the end. The draw sees Tottenham, who have not beaten United since May 2001 in a run which now stretches 24 matches, stay fifth a point behind Chelsea and outside the Champions League places after a game which was long on effort and passion but short on quality. Full Report
Tottenham – Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Palacios (Defoe 78), Van der Vaart, Bale, Lennon, Crouch
Manchester United – van der Sar, Rafael (Red Card 73), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani (Anderson 60), Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov (Hernandez 78)
Acfter watching Spurs draw against Manchester United, I am more cnvinced than ever that we really need a sharp striker who could have made the difference.
As i have always felt we are not firing on all cylinders as was shown yet again today.We are getting the task in hand achieved through a magnificent World class central defensive partnership in Rio and Nemanja.
We should all be very proud as Reds that we got out of White Hart Lane with a point and the ” Invicibles ” target can be overtaken.
Lets be realistic this squad that Arry and his predecessors, as been asembled at a huge cost in relation to the money spent on this United squad.Its night and day!
Its the United way through youth and building from the base.i just feel so chuffed seeing the young players at United who accept the gaunlet that is thrown down to them and they rise to the challenge.
I just feel with a player like Luka Modric who to me reminds me of the magnificent Paul Scholes in his hayday he ran the show for Tottenham Hotspurs today, we need that sort of player to control the tempo and pace of the game.
Darren is one of my loves, he is Scottish(Thats not nepotism) he simply is not at the top of his game.He needs to calm down and slow his thinking he is running around like a water carrier and giving the ball away repeatedly.
He can do so much better we know this, he has provided this before.Stand back Fletch.Micheal Carrick was great at sheilding the defense but offered no real threat in an attacking midfielder role.I guess thats what he was asked to acomplish to negate the threat of Van der Vaart
We lacked no real presence on the wings to get at their weak links Assou-Ekotto and Alan Hutton.Both these players particulary Hutton have a tendency to bomb forward and forget there defensive responsibilities.We did not take advantage of this weakeness. Clearly missing Antonio Valencia and Nani with a poor invisible game.
It was a great point for me, we are in the driving seat and still to get into gear, well fastforward gear!
One aspect i cant let slip bye is this disgrace that is Rafael sending off.
Is there no such thing today as respect your fellow professionals,Assou-Ekotto should hold his head in shame.I wont start on Mike dean, he has ruined Uniteds chances several times now.A disgrace of officating.Go to Spec Savers Mike am sure they have them in the Wirral.If not its a short journey to Liverpool.Innit.
Cmon You Reds.
Today was just one battle in a 38 game war John. Ferguson’s main objective would have been to avoid defeat and that was achieved fairly comfortably. United have only scored two less than leading goalscorers Arsenal having played one fewer game so I’m not sure that the team is lacking firepower
I don’t call 0-0 powering on
Rooney and Berbatov were both poor today,we got the point and our defence was solid, the sending off was a joke but a draw was probably a fair result,ciddy fans will have to get used to us being top Again!
Reg, a draw away from home against a strong title contender is the sort of result that wins championships
RedScot how the hell can you say it’s night and day, there were 4 players in your team today that cost you more than spurs 1 record signing, ferdinand, berbatov and rooney were all around 30 million and carrick valencia anderson and nani were all around 20 million (out record signing is 16.75 million for modric) night and day?ridiculously deluded opinion, the only youth players you can boast is giggs and scholes and that was 20 years ago, that is why manchester united fans have such a bad name, get your facts right!
@ste# 2006 – 2011 Purchased Gross Sold Nett Per Season
1 Manchester City £455,670,000 £55,050,000 £400,620,000 £80,124,000
2 Tottenham £227,300,000 £135,100,000 £92,200,000 £18,440,000
3 Sunderland £116,850,000 £46,725,000 £70,125,000 £14,025,000
4 Aston Villa £124,850,000 £67,650,000 £57,200,000 £11,440,000
5 Liverpool £195,240,000 £149,480,000 £45,760,000 £9,152,000
6 Stoke City £54,725,000 £10,920,000 £43,805,000 £8,761,000
7 Fulham £63,675,000 £28,875,000 £34,800,000 £6,960,000
8 West Ham £99,070,000 £68,225,000 £30,845,000 £6,169,000
9 Wolves £33,025,000 £8,225,000 £24,800,000 £4,960,000
10 Chelsea £123,500,000 £101,800,000 £21,700,000 £4,340,000
11 Everton £64,750,500 £45,250,000 £19,500,500 £3,900,100
12 West Bromwich Albion £46,585,000 £27,560,000 £19,025,000 £3,805,000
15 Bolton £45,250,000 £26,750,000 £18,500,000 £3,700,000
14 Manchester United £164,300,000 £150,850,000 £13,450,000 £2,690,000
What was your point again Dear?
I think i have frightened Ste off with Facts. Keep it Red lads.
You know it makes sense onto the Brummies.
Bonsoir ma fellow Reds and the Spuds that try and fail. 🙂
I can only assume that his point was regarding the value of the respective playing squads on the day, going by reported transfer fees, approximately £164.4m for the United squad, £97.55m for the Spurs squad (excluding non-playing squad members in both cases).
I’m sure you’ll agree that both clubs have bought some complete shite over the years (Rebrov springs to mind for us, Veron for you guys), and yes we’ve thrown money at a load of old tat in recent history, but you can hardly call it night and day when both teams have such expensive squads.
Rebrov was a great player ruined by a retarded manager. End of.
Also, Man Utd have spent far more than Spurs on players who are lazy and willing to sit on the bench while others do all the hard work (like Solksjaer)
Eric Cantona
Peter Schmeichel
Paul Ince
Roy Keane
Dwight Yorke
Ole Solksjaer
Andy Cole
Dion Dublin
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Mark Bosnich
Massimo Taibi
Edwin Van Der Sar
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Jordi Cruyff
Karel Poborsky
Jesper Blomqvist
Juan Veron
Teddy Sheringham
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney
Dimitar Berbatov
Michael Carrick
Nani
Anderson
Valencia
Rafael
Patrice Evra
Gerard Pique
Park
Michael Owen
Carlos Tevez
Alan Smith
The fact is that Man Utd, more than any other PL team, have bought their success and that is shown by their lack of trophies when unable to ocmpete in the transfer market
But don’t worry, you got away with Vidic pulling VDV’s shirt in the penalty area and Rafael not being sent off for waving an imaginary yellow card.
anon, you must be the absolute KING of shit stirrers! If not the question has to be asked whether you’re sober.
Wouldn’t agree with anon – the reason Man U are at the top at the moment is that despite not having the best squad in the league, they work as a team, more so than any other.
Not really sure what he’s trying to say wrt sitting on the bench to be completely honest.
You’re very welcome Sarah, please keep posting your thoughts
Hi Everyone!, First time poster and looking forward to being a part of the threaded!