Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 3 Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 3 Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and White Hart Lane have always been three ingredients that are among the most likely to provide a high octane advert for the English League – and this clash was no different.

The hosts welcomed the Premier League Champions with a 100% start to the season and a desire to send a message to the rest of the division – Harry Redknapp’s men were full of confidence. It showed, as they came out of the traps and scored before a minute had been played. A ball into the box was poorly headed by Vidic back into the danger area, and Jermain Defoe acrobatically scored. It was a goal that was brilliant and avoidable in equal measures, as along with Vidic’s header, the returning Rio Ferdinand could have reacted quicker and Ben Foster in goal had a couple of seconds to telegraph Defoe’s ambition but did not react.

In such a short space of time it had already become a game where experience was vital – and the visitors did not disappoint in their response. First of all they had to negotiate a tricky first 15 minutes where Spurs rightly were full of beans, but nonetheless, could have found themselves surrendering their advantage almost immediately. Paul Scholes dragged a 25 yard shot wide and then Darren Fletcher saw his near post shot comfortably saved by Carlo Cudicini.

Tottenham striker Peter Crouch went close with a couple of long range efforts but after that United started to really stamp their authority on proceedings. After one time target Wilson Palacios was booked for a reckless tackle on Berbatov, a 25 yard free kick seemed set for Rooney’s right boot. However it was United legend Ryan Giggs who took control, curling an unstoppable magnificent shot into the top right hand corner.

The visitors were in the ascendancy – and while it was clearly no surprise when they took the lead, the identity of the scorer may have shocked a few. Anderson had gone 75 competitive matches without scoring but rifled home a brilliant 20 yarder for the lead after a half cleared corner – a lead that could, and perhaps should, have arrived sooner. Evra’s earlier clever interception and through ball had found Rooney who was denied smartly by the Spurs custodian and the subsequent rebounds lead to former Tottenham star Dimitar Berbatov squandering twice with the goal gaping to put a black mark against his otherwise fantastic display.

After the Brazilian’s goal, Spurs only tentatively threatened – Jenas’ long drive well saved by Foster, and Crouch hitting the bar with a half chance in the second half – and bizarrely offered nothing after Paul Scholes was dismissed for two successive yellow cards in a short space of time, the second of which was harsh after Tom Huddlestone shamefully playacted.

It was no great shock when United’s fluent counter attacks yielded another goal – Rooney was flourishing in his against the odds role, and was rewarded when he beat both full backs and slotted between Cudicini’s legs to wrap up the three points.

Many question marks have been raised about the Champions potential for this season – not least on this website – but if they continue to play as they did this evening, offering a fluency that resembles a freedom last seen when van Nistelrooy departed, then United supporters can look forward to the season ahead with an optimistic feel. Certainly, if those players who were wrote off in so many premature pre-season obituraries continue to defy logic and flourish with all the brilliance they have demonstrated in their record breaking careers, then the short term future looks in safe hands.

Ratings : Foster 6, O’Shea 7, Ferdinand 7, Vidic 8, Evra 8, Fletcher 8, Scholes 8, Anderson 8 (Nani), *Giggs 9, Rooney 8, Berbatov 7 (Carrick 5).