Tottenham Spurned By 10-man United

Tottenham Hotspurs failed to compound their title credentials yesterday as Manchester United were able to hold on for a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Spurs will rue not creating enough second half chances especially in the last twenty minutes during which United were down to 10 men having had Rafael Da silva sent off for a second bookable offence.

United’s central defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were imperious, nullifying Peter Crouch and Rafael Van Der Vaart, and ultimately deserved to gain a point.

The draw takes United back to the top of the Premier League with two games in hand over second placed Manchester City.

Tottenham remain in fourth spot below north London rivals and fellow championship contenders Arsenal.

Billed as the main event to a grand slam Sunday that had already seen three draws, the home side looked as though they would take the early initiative against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Player of the year season so far Gareth Bale caused Brazilian right back Rafael problems despite the similar speed and agility of the counterparts.  

Crouch, whose partnership with Van Der Vaart has flourished, was able to beat Ferdinand to a near post cross only for his controlled volley to fly inches wide.  

United struggled to mount a suitable response having dissipated Spurs’ bursts forward. Wayne Rooney, reinstated in the side having recovered from an ankle injury, was his usual energetic self but, as has become a regular feature of the striker’s game, lacked the quality control and ingenuity expected of him.

Dimitar Berbatov, playing against the side that sold him to United, gave a performance worthy of showing how prudent Spurs had been to sell the Bulgarian. His season of spurts continued until he was replaced by the livelier Javier Hernandez. Anderson, who replaced Nani on the hour mark, failed to engineer anything similar to what his recent form would suggest.

It was almost difficult to tell who were the side’s goalkeepers such was the profligacy of possession and creativity. Wilson Palacios twice reminded Harry Redknapp why he ought to stick to his defensive duties, slicing two shots a dizzy height above Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal.

The Dutch keeper’s compatriot, Van Der Vaart, also stuck identical free kicks into his arms before a curling effort, the closest of the contest, went inches beyond the far top corner .

The tide turned for the remainder of the match following Rafael’s red card. Tracking Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the defender crossed the full back’s path and accidently caught his heel while in pursuit.

Mike Dean didn’t hesitate in showing him his second, then third, card of the match to the chagrin of the player himself and Rooney. Replays suggested Dean was a little harsh to brandish the reprimand.

United, typified by towering performances in defence, battled to see out the match and preserve the most untypical of undefeated records.  

     Tottenham Hotspurs failed to compound their title credentials yesterday as Manchester United were able to hold on for a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Spurs will rue not creating enough second half chances especially in the last twenty minutes during which United were down to 10 men having had Rafael Da silva sent off for a second bookable offence.

United’s central defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were imperious, nullifying Peter Crouch and Rafael Van Der Vaart, and ultimately deserved to gain a point.

The draw takes United back to the top of the Premier League with two games in hand over second placed Manchester City.

Tottenham remain in fourth spot below north London rivals and fellow championship contenders Arsenal.

Billed as the main event to a grand slam Sunday that had already seen three draws, the home side looked as though they would take the early initiative against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Player of the year season so far Gareth Bale caused Brazilian right back Rafael problems despite the similar speed and agility of the counterparts.  

Crouch, whose partnership with Van Der Vaart has flourished, was able to beat Ferdinand to a near post cross only for his controlled volley to fly inches wide.  

United struggled to mount a suitable response having dissipated Spurs’ bursts forward. Wayne Rooney, reinstated in the side having recovered from an ankle injury, was his usual energetic self but, as has become a regular feature of the striker’s game, lacked the quality control and ingenuity expected of him.

Dimitar Berbatov, playing against the side that sold him to United, gave a performance worthy of showing how prudent Spurs had been to sell the Bulgarian. His season of spurts continued until he was replaced by the livelier Javier Hernandez. Anderson, who replaced Nani on the hour mark, failed to engineer anything similar to what his recent form would suggest.

It was almost difficult to tell who were the side’s goalkeepers such was the profligacy of possession and creativity. Wilson Palacios twice reminded Harry Redknapp why he ought to stick to his defensive duties, slicing two shots a dizzy height above Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal.

The Dutch keeper’s compatriot, Van Der Vaart, also stuck identical free kicks into his arms before a curling effort, the closest of the contest, went inches beyond the far top corner .

The tide turned for the remainder of the match following Rafael’s red card. Tracking Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the defender crossed the full back’s path and accidently caught his heel while in pursuit.

Mike Dean didn’t hesitate in showing him his second, then third, card of the match to the chagrin of the player himself and Rooney. Replays suggested Dean was a little harsh to brandish the reprimand.

United, typified by towering performances in defence, battled to see out the match and preserve the most untypical of undefeated records.