tottenham-hotspur

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men beat Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, with a thumping Nemanja Vidic header and a smartly taken – if loudly protested – Nani goal ensuring a fourth win on the bounce for the Reds. The win continues a run in which Spurs have never beaten United at Old Trafford during the Premier League era.

Spurs’ players protested vociferously about Nani’s goal, scored with six minutes to go, which referee Mark Clattenburg awarded following consultation with his assistant. But Heurelho Gomes committed a cardinal sin by failing to play to the whistle and Nani, coming from behind the Spurs ‘keeper, scored after the Brazilian threw the ball on the ground in expectation of a free kick.

Harry Redknapp called the decision “scandalous” but with United having been denied a penalty when the Portuguese winger fell in the box after Younes Kaboul’s shirt-pull, Nani’s quick-thinking brought an eventual reward. The ball, still being live, was there to be played deemed the officials.

“It was bizarre. No-one knew at the time what was wrong,” Ferguson told ESPN.

“One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and next it’s in his net. Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said play on, so what can he do but put the ball in the net?

“You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He’s an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it.

“The referee played on because the goalkeeper took possession of the ball. He then went to take a free kick thinking it was a foul. He made an error.”

The goal provided a controversial end to the match but in truth United fully deserved the victory following an outstanding defensive display and controlled second half performance.

The visitors brought, arguably, its best team to Old Trafford in a generation but failed to create any significant chances after the break despite matching United during open play for much of the game. For all Tottenham’s attractive football it too often lacked an end product.

Yet, Spurs’ midfield offered much to admire, with Rafael van der Vaart always threatening until a 77th minute injury forced the Dutchman off.

United had the better of the opening exchanges though, with Park Ji-Sung’s outstanding low driving rebounding off Gomes’ right-hand post. The South Korean’s form has been little short of abysmal this season but this was better by far.

Anything the Korean could do, van der Vaart matched, with the Dutchman similarly hitting the woodwork with a long-range drive minutes later. But Gomes’ almost gifted United the opening goal, spilling Michael Carrick’s drive and recovering moments before Javier Hernandez could drive the ball home.

It mattered little though, with United taking the lead from a set piece, after Nani’s swinging free-kick was met by a Vidic’s outstanding header. The Serbian is always a threat but Spurs’ poor marking hardly helped the Londoners’ cause.

Not that the visitors were ever out of the game – Luka Modric brought an excellent save from van der Sar, volleying Jermaine Jenas’ floated corner and Gareth Bale ran 40 yards before driving wide with his unfavoured right foot.

United remained in control though, with Rio Ferdinand and Vidic excellent, ably supported by Rafael da Silva and Patrice Evra on the flanks. Darren Fletcher and Carrick played their part as the defensive screen too, making 11 interceptions in the match; 10 more than the Spurs’ midfield put together.

The came the bluster of the final minutes. Spurs claimed an injustice, surrounding the officials for a full five minutes after the final whistle, but with referee Clattenburg later explaining that he had awarded Gomes the advantage it is hard to see what grounds the visitors had.

“It was a little bit strange,” added Fletcher.

“The referee said the ball was still in play, so when the goalkeeper’s put it down Nani’s put the ball in the back of the net, it was quick thinking on his part.

“I felt it was a penalty anyway, so maybe a little bit of justice.”

Indeed it was. After all, Spurs gave it away. The ball, not the match that is. United deservedly won that.

Match Facts
United – 442 – Van der Sar; Da Silva (Brown 64), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Park; Berbatov (Scholes 64), Hernandez (Obertan 87).

Spurs – 4411 – Gomes; Hutton, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas (Palacios 66), Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart (Crouch 77); Keane (Pavlyuchenko 62).

Attendance – 75,223
Man of the Match – Vidic

Possession: United 48% – 52% Spurs
Attempts: 18 – 11
On target: 10 – 5
Corners: 1 – 4
Fouls: 12 – 10

Manchester United returns to Premier League action after the midweek Carling Cup sojourn, with the momentum now firmly in Sir Alex Ferguson’s camp. Saturday’s challenge could hardly be more difficult in domestic terms but an unbeaten start and three wins on the bounce means confidence is at a high as Tottenham Hotspur visit.

For perhaps the first time in a generation Ferguson will cast envious eyes at the visiting Spurs side. Harry Redknapp has assembled a high quality squad that is now realistic challengers both domestically and in Europe. Indeed, the visitors’ midfield including Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Aaron Lennon is a formidable outfit.

Indeed, Ferguson must contend with absences in both midfield and attack if United is to maintain a successful record against Spurs. The Londoners have not won at Old Trafford for 21 years or beaten United anywhere for nine – a total of 25 matches.

Ferguson though will again be without Wayne Rooney, who may miss more than the previously estimated three weeks with an ankle injury. Asked if Rooney’s prognosis had changed Ferguson said “I think it may be longer.”

“Wayne is away at the moment, so there is no recovery,” he added.

“He did his remedial work before he went away but thereafter we are happy that he is resting.”

Rooney’s continued absence means that the Scot must choose whether to match Spurs’ five man midfield or reward Javier Hernández’ fine recent form. The Mexican has scored three goals in the past week and been praised for his composure under pressure but may find a place on the bench or wide in a three-man attack his reward.

Ferguson also has a dilemma at right-back, with in-form Gareth Bale a key weapon in the visitors’ armoury. The Scot will probably choose between John O’Shea or Rafael da Silva to combat the Welshman’s pace.

United also has concerns on the left side of midfield, with Park Ji-Sung horribly out of form and Ferguson not yet fully trusting the merits of Gabriel Obertan or Bébé. Patrice Evra moved into midfield against Stoke City last weekend and may reprise the role if United’s manager deploys four in midfield.

Elsewhere Paul Scholes is set for a recall and Ryan Giggs could make the bench after training this week. Meanwhile, former Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick says that confidence in the United squad is high.

“We need to focus on putting a good run together,” Carrick told ManUtd.com.

“But you can’t look too far ahead and start planning how your run will pan out. We’ve got a huge game against Spurs and we’re focused on that first, but around the camp the atmosphere is bubbly and the lads are happy. It’s a really positive vibe at the moment. Hopefully that carries us through.

“The games come thick and fast now, and thankfully we’re in the cups and fighting in the league. The challenge is there for us to stick together and really mount a challenge.

“That’s what we’re focused on. The games we’ve drawn, we feel like we’ve thrown them away. But we’re still unbeaten, which gives you confidence, and we’ve got three wins in a row.”

Aside from Rooney and the long-term injury victim Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen will miss at least a month with a hamstring problem, while Ferguson says Owen Hargreaves convalescence has suffered a recent set back.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be without Tom Huddlestone, with either Wilson Palacios or Jermain Jenas coming into the side. van der Vaart is likely to occupy his normal role behind Peter Crouch at the head of Tottenham’s midfield.

It is now 67 games since Spurs last won away to one of the Premier League’s big four. Redknapp will never have taken a better team to Old Trafford.

Whether it is good enough to break that streak is as yet undecided.

Opposition
Spurs – 4411 – Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart; Crouch. Subs from: Kaboul, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Jenas, Dos Santos, Kranjcar, Cudicini, Sandro, Stipe Pletikosa.

United squad
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Evans, Rafael, Fabio, Brown, Anderson, Bébé, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Gibson, Fletcher, Hernández, Berbatov, Macheda, Owen, Obertan.

Officials
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Simon Beck
Fourth official: Mark Halsey

Form
United – WDDWWW
Spurs – LWWWLD

Patrice Evra was once, twice, three times violently sick on the Old Trafford turf but Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotpsur left Manchester forced to stomach the pain of defeat. Evra’s all too literal contribution to a gutsy 3-1 Manchester United victory sent Sir Alex that Ferguson’s side top of the table with just two games remaining.

The French fullback may have left everything on the pitch in pursuit of the points but Ferguson’s side overcame even greater obstacles at Old Trafford to heap pressure on Chelsea in the Premier League title race, with the Londoners not playing until tomorrow.

Missing both Wayne Rooney – absent with a groin injury that is likely to keep the striker on the sidelines for the remaining matches of the campaign – and Rio Ferdinand, Ferguson could be forgiven for feeling as anxious as the Old Trafford crowd after the visitors’ second half equaliser.

“The most important thing today was that we kept our nerve,” claimed the Scot, in the face of palpable tension from a capacity Old Trafford crowd.

“There were no signs of nerves whatsoever – even after they equalised. Experience helps us.”

Indeed, long before Ryan Giggs’ brace of coolly taken penalties and Nani’s exquisite goal sealed United’s victory, the visiting side threatened to spoil Ferguson’s chase for honours.

Such is the increase in Spurs’ star this season that the visitors’ limp performance surprised many in the crowd, not least the Londoners’ manager.

In truth a tepid first half rarely saw the best of either side, with neither United nor Harry Redknapp’s Champions League chasing outfit able to stamp their mark on the encounter.

Ferguson chose to pack his midfield, no doubt cognoscent of Luka Modric’s contribution to Spurs renaissance this season. But with Rooney absent, Dimitar Berbatov ploughed an often frustrating lone furrow in an opening period short on excitement but high on tension.

Not until the half-hour did United seriously threaten Heurelho Gomes’ net, with Berbatov finding time and space to strike a dipping volley just wide of the Brazilian’s goal.

King then superbly blocked another Berbatov strike, this time from inside the area, before Antonio Valencia fired straight at Gomes when clean through.

Even so, Old Trafford reserved the biggest cheer of a low-key half  for Owen Hargraves, who joined United’s bench despite sitting out two days of training this week. The injury-plagued midfielder has missed the past 18 months following surgery to both knees.

Minutes into the second period and the spring heat-wave that descended on Old Trafford claimed its first victim, with Evra violently sick. The Frenchman played on after lengthy attention, later unsurprisingly replaced by John O’Shea.

But United’s most consistent defender this season remained on the pitch long-enough to play a key role in the opening goal. Berbatov – increasingly influential – smartly played Evra in to force Benoit Assou-Ekotto into the foul that brought the first of United’s two penalties. Giggs beat the ‘keeper’s dive to, albeit briefly, relieve the tension in M16.

The goal should have liberated the home side. Instead, with Valencia sacrificed for Michael Carrick, United sat back on the lead and invited the visitors forward.

As Ferguson’s outfit dropped deeper Spurs pressed on, winning the corner from which King headed home the visitors’ goal.

For a quarter-hour the match could have fallen either way but Ferguson’s gamble, introducing teenage striker Federico Macheda for Rafael da Silva, paid hefty dividends.

Indeed, the Italian’s pass found Nani, who wonderfully chipped Gomes to finally break Spurs’ resistance.

Minutes later and the Portuguese winger’s charge into the box drew a second foul – this time from Wilson Palacios – and referee Andre Marriner had little option but to award a second spot-kick of the afternoon.

Giggs fired home. Incredibly these were the Welshman’s first penalties in the Premier League for the club.

Now Ferguson and the crowd could finally relax.

“Nani’s finish was absolutely brilliant,” said Ferguson, although Rooney’s new injury will temper any excitement.

“To have the audacity to do that tells you all about the lad’s courage.

“We had a bit of sickness with two or three players today, but we’ve got eight days to recover, so hopefully we’ll be okay.”

Ferguson substituted Evra in the second period before seeing Nani also throw up on the pitch late in the game.

“Evra just felt it yesterday, but he felt okay to play and it just happened. Maybe the heat brought it on a little bit, it was a warm day.” the Scot added.

“I don’t know what’s happened, whether it’s something he ate or is something going around the place.”

Nevertheless, Ferguson’s delight with three points in – on paper at least – by far United’s toughest fixture of the Premier League run-in is understandable.

Moreover, the result heaps pressure on Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea to match the result or face a trip to Anfield next weekend requiring a win.

Then we’ll see who’s sick with nerves.

Sir Alex Ferguson says that the last-minute victory over Manchester City last weekend has lifted Manchester United’s morale ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to Old Trafford Saturday lunchtime. The Scot, who denied any retirement talk, says that the squad is in high spirits ahead of the crunch clash with Harry Redknapp’s fourth-placed Spurs.

Ferguson will include Wayne Rooney, who has trained all week, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown in an almost fully fit squad. Aside from long-term injury absentees Michael Owen and Anderson, only Owen Hargreaves misses out with a minor calf strain in a buoyant squad.

Indeed, the Scot says that the atmosphere at Carrington this weeks points to a title-winning charge over the final three games of the Premier League season.

“There has been a lift in the camp this week,” said the 68-year-old Scottish manager.

“There has been always a great atmosphere in our training over the years but then you get a lift like last week and the change is very noticeable. It’s been very competitive. The players are lifted and charged up. I trust them and I hope they can do it for me again.”

United, just a point behind leaders Chelsea with the Londoners yet to visit Anfield this season, have vast experience in Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs in a time of extreme stress.

But Ferguson says pressure is irrelevant to his resilient squad, with the team prepared to wait until the final minute against Spurs to win if necessary. Still, with Chelsea not in action until Sunday United can take a two-point lead in the Premier League with a win on Saturday.

“Chelsea have a lot of experienced players but pressure does come into it at this kind of year,” added Ferguson.

“It’s going to be nervy for some players and supporters. Some players will get nervy, no question about that. It happens.

“When Scholes scored I was resigned to the game finishing nil-nil. It would have been very difficult for us to win the league after that but we won the game with the last kick of the ball and we have done that far too many times for it just to be a coincidence.”

Inevitably, Ferguson is full of praise for Spurs, who are undergoing something of a renaissance under Redknapp. The Cockney manager has taken the Londoners from two points above the relegation zone last season to the verge of Champions League qualification.

“I think they are the best Tottenham team of my time in England,” added the Scot.

“On the one hand I congratulate them for beating Chelsea but, on the other hand, we now face the problems that Chelsea faced and we have to play against them.

“Spurs are going for fourth place and I’m sure they will come to have a go. We always expect that of Tottenham and, looking at their form in the last two games, I don’t think anyone below ourselves and Chelsea, possibly Arsenal, have reached that kind of form.

“What you saw from Spurs against Arsenal and Chelsea was championship form, convincingly beating two of the best three teams in the league.”

Ferguson will likely deploy Rooney in the lone front-man role, with two of Antonio Valencia, Ryan Giggs and Nani in support from wide areas.

The principal choice for the Scot is in central midfield with former Tottenham player Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher fighting for three places.

A certain starter is 35-year-old Gary Neville, outstanding against Craig Bellamy last weekend, and potentially World Cup bound such is his experience and form.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he went to South Africa,” added his manager.

First things first – beat Spurs on Saturday.