FA Cup preview: Stevenage v. Tottenham Hotspur

Why Stevenage can cause a cup-set in this David v. Goliath fifth-round tie

© anemoneprojects - Flickr

A fifth-round home tie against Tottenham Hotspur is a real reward for Stevenage, following a 1-0 home win (thanks to an own goal) over Notts County at the end of January.  Obviously it is lucrative for the club, and a chance to see a big-name Premier League side without the need to travel away from home.  But there is real reason for every Stevenage supporter to believe they can pull off an upset over their Premier League opposition this afternoon.

Firstly, Stevenage's work rate is exceptional.  Previous manager Graham Westley installed a strict training regime, demanding that the club's players train until 4/5pm on weekdays, including additional endurance work in the late afternoon.  Westley believed that his players 'thrived' on this regime; but more importantly, it has produced results – and a sense of belief and unity within the ranks.  Although their twice former manager made the move to Preston North End earlier in the season, current boss Gary Smith has continued impressively where Westley left off, and the Hertfordshire side are currently sixth in League One, with (in some cases) four games in hand on teams around them - an incredible feat for a team far bigger than the sum of all its parts.

Following on from this, they are used to winning games – especially at home. Stevenage are undefeated since Smith took over, and prior to that, during a three-and-a-half year stretch from August 2008, including back-to-back promotions from the Blue Square Premier (finishing as champions with 99 points) and League Two, they have lost just ten league games at the Lamex Stadium (formerly Broadhall Way, or 'fortress Broadhall' to local supporters).  Any away fan will tell you that this stadium produces a hostile atmosphere, and few teams leave Stevenage with three points.  Today's match against Tottenham will most certainly host a sell-out crowd, despite being nationally televised this afternoon, which will give the home side a real advantage.

Stevenage do not falter in big-game situations, as proven by beating League One giants Sheffield Wednesday twice this season (including a resounding 5-1 home win), as well as handing league leaders Charlton their first league defeat the campaign (they have since only lost once more in League One).  In recent history, they won the FA Trophy twice in three years (2007, 2009) at Wembley Stadium, including a stunning second-half turnaround against Kidderminster Harriers, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 in front of a 50,000 plus crowd.  Stevenage also played three League Two playoff games last season without conceding a goal, including a 1-0 win over Torquay in the final at Old Trafford.  Last season, they deservedly beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the FA Cup third round, and have already upset Reading in this year's tournament.  Stevenage are defensively strong, and no walkover at home. Tottenham must give this side respect.

Finally, Stevenage can cause an upset simply because this is the FA Cup.  This means two things – firstly, upsets happen.  Lower league sides often see this tournament as a chance to prove something.  Crawley Town won 1-0 at Hull City in the fourth round, while the third round saw Swindon Town and Brighton advance at the expense of Premier League sides Wigan and Newcastle United.  With Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal already eliminated, and out-of-form Chelsea facing a difficult replay at Birmingham, the tournament is wide open – and with a quarter final match-up the reward, lesser teams will fancy their chances at this stage.  Secondly, it also means that, despite its prestige compared with the League Cup, the FA Cup may not be Tottenham's main priority this season.  Due to Stevenage's perceived physical nature and powerful style of play (although this is only too often blown out of proportion),  Harry Redknapp may choose to rest the likes of Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor and Luka Modric if he believes the possibility of Champions League football, or even a Premier League title, are more important, or on the cards.  Stevenage will address this game like any other.

The hosts know they are underdogs in this tie.  Tottenham are a strong, in-form Premier League outfit.  But those who have been keeping an eye on lower league football will know that Stevenage are not doing badly themselves.  This match is one to watch, and don't be too surprised to see a close one.

Harry for England: does he want what the nation wants?

© flierfy, Flickr

At the end of a wonderful week for Harry Redknapp, having been cleared of tax evasion during his spell at Portsmouth with Milan Mandaric and being all but given the England manager vacancy by the football media, nothing will have pleased him more than watching his Tottenham Hotspur side demolish Newcastle United 5-0 at White Hart Lane.  Since taking over at Spurs, Redknapp has transformed the club from an underachieving, at the time relegation-threatened side to a club on the cusp of its second Champions League spell, while remaining very much in the Premier League title race this season, as well as the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, England are a footballing side somewhat in purgatory.  John Terry was recently stripped of the captaincy by the FA following his ongoing racial abuse allegations towards Anton Ferdinand, ultimately resulting in the departure of former manager Fabio Capello.  Former key players such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are ageing and arguably not the answer to any future tournament success.  Wayne Rooney is suspended for the first two games of England's Euro 2012 campaign, in a group which is no easy route to the knockout stages.

Which begs the question: why would Harry Redknapp want to leave Tottenham to take the England job?

Many would consider it an honour to even be offered the opportunity to manage your national football team, and Harry Redknapp does seem to tick the right boxes to succeed Fabio Capello.  He is English.  He is enjoying success at a top Premier League side.  Generally, he is well-liked by England football supporters.  Therefore it is no surprise to see him as the clear-cut favourite to take the position.  However, it is not as simple as that.  First of all, Redknapp must want the job.  He stated this week that he would certainly 'consider' any offer, as any manager would do with an offer of this nature.  Secondly, he would need to be shortlisted for the vacancy, although this is more than likely to happen.  In addition, Tottenham would have to be happy with the circumstances – and you'd have to think that chairman Daniel Levy would be less than thrilled to see Redknapp leave the helm at White Hart Lane after the excellent work he has done over the last four seasons.

Not only would there be huge pressure on Redknapp if he were to become the England manager, but any tournament failure could turn him from hero to villain in the space of a few weeks.  Despite his proven managerial success, there is no guarantee that he would help the England football team reach its potential at Euro 2012.  There is no doubt that he may bring in fresh faces if he were appointed, but this could also be to the frustration of the nation's football fans who may believe that a stronger element of experience leads to tournament success - although this has not proved to be the case for England in recent history.  In short, Redknapp may not guarantee success at international level.  How would it fare among fans if England were eliminated at the group stages this summer? 

It is easy to forget that Fabio Capello, despite not winning a major tournament, had the highest ever winning percentage during his four years as England manager.  It always seemed apparently easier for naysayers to focus on the losses, his nationality and broken English than to take any positives from his campaign.  It would be imperative for England, under Redknapp, to win those crunch games against European giants such as Spain, Holland and Germany.

There are a number of possible scenarios.  Redknapp could leave Tottenham Hotspur in the immediate future to take the England job, if offered it.  He could stay at Tottenham until May, leave at the end of the season to take charge of the national team in time for Euro 2012.  He may opt to turn down the position in favour of his loyalty to Tottenham, who have come closer to a title under his reign than over the last half-century. The FA may want a manager to start right away, forcing Redknapp to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.  Alternatively, they may be happy for him to start in May, which could also impact upon Tottenham's season at a crucial stage.  If he did start in May, would that be enough time to unite an underachieving footballing nation and lead them to victory in the space of two months?

What happens over the next few days, weeks and months will be vital for Redknapp, Tottenham and England.  Despite him being the assumed frontrunner for the job, there are many variables which may decide the fate of all three.

How far can Spurs go this season?

© HansWurst76, Flickr 

Tottenham Hotspur claimed their twelfth league win of season last night with a 2-0 victory at Norwich City.  They have now lost just one domestic match in the last four months, capping off a fantastic first-half to the season. More impressively, Tottenham are third in the Premier League, ahead of local rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, with a game in hand on teams around them.

At this stage of the season, the question must be asked: are Tottenham Hotspur legitimate title contenders?

Other than Manchester City and Manchester United, Tottenham have been the most consistent Premier League side since losing their opening two matches against their Mancunian counterparts, and have taken 38 points from 15 games. Had they won a point against both Manchester clubs, they would now be just three points behind first place, with a game in hand.

Tottenham's early Europa League exit was disappointing, but that competition will not have been Harry Redknapp's main priority this season. Although they do have a large enough squad to deal with the daunting Thursday/Sunday fixtures, the Europa League served as somewhat of an unnecessary distraction, and Redknapp fielded a noticeably weaker side both in that competition and in their Carling Cup loss to Stoke in September. Tottenham's only potential distraction in terms of fixtures is the FA Cup: although a home tie with Cheltenham suggests that its younger personnel will be given the chance to impress in this tournament.

Tottenham's blistering league form is a credit to its strong core of players.  Brad Friedel has been assuring in goal, and the defence has conceded the fourth fewest goals in the Premier League. Despite changes at centre-half, Younes Kaboul and William Gallas have been generally very impressive, while Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto offer width and support in attack. The central midfield pairing of Luka Modric and Scott Parker is arguably the best in the Premier League, while Sandro has also stepped up this season.

Gareth Bale has been absolutely stunning so far this season.  His pace, vision and distribution make him one of the best footballers in England, and one of the most difficult players to contain.  If Tottenham are to mount a serious title threat this season, it will be due in no small part to this man. The front two pairing of Rafael Van Der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor is paying dividends, netting fifteen league goals between them to date. A typical starting XI offers a good mix of youth, experience, and depth in every position, making Tottenham a very dangerous side to play against.

© Bjǿrn Giesenbauer, Flickr

Gareth Bale's incredible form should provide Tottenham with a swift return to Champions League football next year

But full credit must go to Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who has transformed this club in just over three years. When he arrived at White Hart Lane in October 2008, they were bottom of the Premier League, having taken just two points from eight games under Juande Ramos. Spurs finished eighth overall that season, taking 49 points from 30 games. Since then, Tottenham have enjoyed fourth and fifth placed league finishes in consecutive seasons, and an inspiring Champions League run to the quarter-finals. If this is Redknapp's final season at White Hart Lane, as speculation indicates, he is certainly bowing out in some style. Should he stay at Tottenham, he has a good chance of winning a league title there in the future. But with the England manager job looming after Euro 2012, it is a big if, as Redknapp has been as equally coy over his position next year as he has been regarding Tottenham's title hopes.

Whether Tottenham can mount a serious title challenge, however, is a different matter.  They were well-beaten by both Manchester City and Manchester United in August, although they endured a difficult pre-season with speculation surrounding Luka Modric's departure from White Hart Lane, and were at the time without Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor, who have since helped to transform their league position. At their best, they are capable of causing any side problems, and the two Manchester clubs still have the Europa League to contest in. With a seven point deficit, Tottenham realistically need both Manchester City and Manchester United to slip up in order for them to make ground on the top two.  But if they do fall short, fans are unlikely to be disappointed with a top-three finish and Champions League football, which they are very capable of achieving.

Although the season is far from over, other sides must recognise Tottenham Hotspur as a genuine threat.  They are playing better football than Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (having taken seven points from a possible nine against these sides), all of whom have their sights set on Europe next season but have been inconsistent to date.  Early Champions League exits by the two Manchester clubs could mean that fourth place in the Premier League is not enough for a place in the upper echelons of Europe in 2012, so sitting in third position is currently a good place to be. Tottenham certainly have the tools to make a return to the Champions League next season.

Tottenham winning the war, not just the battle

Spurs starting to look like the Arsenal of old as the balance of power shifts in North London

© Zweifüssler, Flickr

Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 win over local rivals Arsenal yesterday may not have been the classic encounter that football fans have come to expect in recent years. In fact, not only did it fail to live up to its expectation of a fiercely-contested and action-packed derby, it was a relatively quiet, perhaps subdued affair – especially in comparison to the 2008 4-4 classic which saw Tottenham stage an incredible injury-time comeback.

During the match, however, one thing was noticeable. Arsenal are not the top side in North London anymore.

Some Spurs fans may argue that their rivals never were the better side. However, Arsene Wenger has certainly had Arsenal playing at a consistently high level over the last decade, whereas Tottenham have undergone several managerial changes before the appointment of Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane in 2008 started to steer them in the right direction. In that sense, the majority of neutrals would have considered Arsenal as the stronger side at the end of last season.

Tottenham were not the dominant side against Arsenal yesterday, nor were Arsene Wenger's men particularly poor. But both clubs have made a number of changes and decisions over the last six months which have seen the tables turn.

The biggest difference is in midfield. Arsenal lost two key players over the summer, namely Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively. Those two players alone either scored or set up 39 per cent of Arsenal's 72 league goals last season. Mikel Arteta, who was signed by Wenger from Everton seemingly as a replacement, has a very difficult job on his hands to fill the boots of two world-class playmakers – especially considering Arsenal's ever-growing injury list.

In contrast, Totteham's midfield is a thing of beauty. Harry Redknapp was able to fend off interest from other Premier League clubs in Luka Modric, whilst securing the signing of England international Scott Parker from West Ham United for £5 million in arguably the transfer of the season to date. The starting midfield line-up of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Scott Parker and Rafael Van Der Vaart against the Gunners yesterday would have made Arsene Wenger green with envy – especially considering players such as Niko Kranjcar, Tom Huddlestone, Sandro and Jake Livermore are also on the fringes.

© apasciuto, Flickr
How important was it for Tottenham to keep Luka Modric over the summer? 

In recent seasons, Arsenal have managed to cover up their defensive frailties with the ability to create a number of goal-scoring opportunities every game. But with injuries to Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and now Bacary Sagna who suffered a broken leg in yesterday's clash, their defense now seems suspect; this was highlighted after Arsenal conceded 12 goals in two consecutive league matches away from home against Manchester United and Blackburn. The addition of German international Per Mertesacker which seemed so good on paper has done nothing to strengthen Arsenal's backline, and their back four yesterday included midfielder Alex Song. Whilst Tottenham are not renowned for their defensive nature, their options are certainly plentiful in comparison.

Finally, Totteham's loan-signing of Emmanuel Adebayor was another great decision by Harry Redknapp – if not somewhat controversial. The Togolese striker spent three and a half years with Arsenal before moving to Manchester City in 2009. After half a season with Spanish giants Real Madrid, Adebayor signed a year-long loan deal with Spurs this summer and has since found the net three times in five league games. On the contrary, although Arsenal still have Robin Van Persie - undoubtedly one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen - something still does not seem right. The loss of Fabregas and Nasri has left the Dutch forward with a heavy burden to carry. Although Gervinho did join the club this summer, he is a different type of player and, although it is still early in the season it seems unlikely to be able to pick up where the former left off. Marouane Chamakh has failed to impress since arriving at the Emirates Stadium last season, leaving question marks over where Arsenal's goals are going to come from.

Although there was no gulf in class during yesterday's match, at times it did seem as if Tottenham and Arsenal are headed in different directions. Although Arsene Wenger's has his side in the Champions League this season, Tottenham have the stronger squad by far - as indicated by yesterday's starting XI. The slight additions made by Harry Redknapp has improved his side - potentially to a top-four finish - while Wenger's panic-buying combined with several injured players could prove to be his longest season as a manager. At times so far this season, Spurs have looked like the side Arsenal used to be a few years ago – and the side Arsenal fans probably still wish they were.

Seperating Great from Good: a Forecast of Next Season's Champions League Places

The 2011 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United this Saturday has the makings of something truly spectacular. Arguably the two best clubs in the world, this rematch of the 2009 Champions League final (which saw the Catalan giants win 2-0) will be the pinnacle of the season for both sides – and a career-defining moment for most of the players involved. It will also demonstrate how prestigious the Champions League is, and exhibit to Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal what they can look forward to next season.

Tottenham Hotspur have had what can be considered a successful season. They finished fifth in the Premier League as well as reaching the quarter-final stages of the Champions League. However, they will not feature in the competition next season. As a matter of fact, next season there will be six Premier League teams – Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - all with the same ambition; to make it back into the Champions League. But of course, six into four does not go.

So with the emergence of other Premier League teams vying for the competition after several years of the top four more or less deciding itself, what does each side have to do to give themselves the best opportunity to reach the Champions League in 2012?

Manchester United

Now statistically the most successful English club of all time after picking up their nineteenth Premier League title last weekend (albeit with the lowest winning points total since 1999) Alex Ferguson has proven that with himself at the helm of this club, Manchester United will always be a huge threat in both domestic and European football.

However, with influential veterans such as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs coming towards the end of their careers, Ferguson must ensure that his new, developing breed of Red Devils possess the same hunger and desire as former Manchester United greats did. He has the ability to get the best out of young, upcoming players and has been able to do this throughout his managerial career. A good example of this is Javier Hernández who has been a revelation in his debut season and scored twenty goals in all competitions.

Manchester United have not finished outside the top three since the Premier League began; a trend which they will hope to continue into next season. It is hard to imagine them not qualifying for the Champions League in 2012. If they win the final on Saturday, they become not only the team to beat in England, but in the world.

Manchester City

The noisy neighbours at Eastlands can be proud of a successful season following a third placed finish in the Premier League as well as winning the FA Cup against Stoke City. Roberto Mancini has now set the precedent by guiding his team into the Champions League and this will surely now be expected for the foreseeable future.

Manchester City are a team on the up and have quality in depth in most areas of their squad. They are also the richest football club in the world, and it could be argued that they were able to finish third because they did not have the distraction of the Champions League themselves this season. In spite of this, what Mancini has achieved should not be undervalued. The Italian has overcome huge media pressure at times this season when results have not gone favourably. He has lost key players for extended periods of time this season. He has ridden the waves of inconsistency offered by some Manchester City performance. But in spite of that, he has done what was required of him this season; finish in the top four in the Premier League.

However, the seemingly impending departure of Carlos Tevez will be a huge loss. Edin Dzeko has struggled to find the net this season and although Mario Balotelli has shown glimmers of brilliance, Mancini will need to find a quick replacement for the Tevez should he leave the club. Another problem will be keeping individual players happy; an abundance of finance is one thing, but will Mancini be able to guarantee all his star players, as well as potential summer signings, the desired amount of game time?

Manchester City reaching the top four next season seems quite likely, although the job Roberto Mancini has on his hands should by no means be underestimated.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to qualify for next season’s Champions League following a fifth placed finish in the Premier League. It is a shame because Spurs played some of their finest football of the season in the Champions League against Inter Milan, AC Milan and Young Boys before eventually being comprehensively beaten by Real Madrid.

Harry Redknapp faces a huge challenge to reach the Champions League next season and has without a doubt the biggest challenge ahead of him among the other five teams mentioned here. Firstly, Spurs qualified for the Europa League but it may act as more of a burden if they aim to achieve highly in said tournament – whilst hoping for a top four finish in the Premier League - simply due to the demanding amount of extra games involved.

Secondly, Tottenham will not only have to try to keep hold of their best players this summer but also look to bolster certain areas of depth by attracting at least four or five top quality players to the club. With Spurs not being in the Champions League next season, this may be easier said than done. Players like Luka Modric and Rafael Van Der Vaart will be difficult to keep at White Hart Lane after both enjoyed fantastic seasons with the club. Redknapp will also be keen to bring in a prolific goal scorer after Spurs managed just 55 goals this season – the lowest of any team in the top six.

Whilst it was no fluke that Spurs did finish fourth in 2010, they certainly face an uphill struggle to achieve such heights next season. Out of these six sides, on paper, they are the least likely to manage to do so.

Chelsea

Chelsea were at one stage in a fantastic position to overtake Manchester United after a fantastic run which saw them within three points of their rivals, but ended up winning no silverware this season. Despite finishing second in the Premier League, it was not enough for manager Carlo Ancelotti to keep his job at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea seem to be at a fork in the road. One the one hand, it appears that perhaps all Chelsea need is the right manager to get them back on track in terms of the race for the title. On the other, they could be heading towards a transition phase. Key players like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are all at least 32 years old and getting to the end of, or are past, their prime. Also, Fernando Torres has struggled since arriving at the club, and his future could be in doubt as he is a player who tends to individually thrive under certain managers, as can be seen from his time at Liverpool.

There is still a high level of player quality at Chelsea and it may just be that the right man in charge is needed – former manager Guus Hiddink has been linked with the role although this may just be mere speculation and the media filling in the blanks.

It is difficult to predict whether Chelsea will do better or worse next season than they did this year, but they should make the top four in the Premier League next season so long as they continue to get the best out of their current key players.

Liverpool

The turnaround at this club since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish has been astonishing. Liverpool were floundering in twelfth place in the Premier League when the Scotsman arrived in January after Roy Hodgson’s unsuccessful stint in charge. The Merseyside club soon went on a terrific run picking up 33 points in eighteen games towards the end of the season, at one stage giving themselves a viable shot at fifth place. The owners made the right choice in making Dalglish their permanent manager.

With Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez signing for the club at the start of the year, Liverpool seem to be heading the right direction with the right kind of players. On paper, this has been an unsuccessful season for Liverpool – but fans will be feeling optimistic about their club’s next campaign.

Liverpool are in a good position to get back into the Champions League in 2012 because they are back to winning ways under a manager who, like Ferguson, knows how to get the best out of his players. They should be looking at finishing fifth at an absolute minimum next year.

Arsenal

It really is a wonder how Arsenal ended up winning no silverware this year. They were in the running for four different competitions at the end of February, but a late defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup saw their season spiral out of control. They were eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona before losing in the FA Cup final to Arsenal in the space of a week, before slipping down the league table and finishing fourth – meaning that they now must qualify to even get into the group stages of the Champions League this season.

The problem this season with Arsenal is twofold. Firstly, they are at risk of losing key players as a result of failing to win a trophy for the fifth consecutive year. Cesc Fabregas is constantly linked with a move to Barcelona, and offers are likely to come in for Robin Van Persie after a superb season for the Gunners. Secondly, several of their big name players are too inconsistent. Andrei Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner simply have not been good enough this season when called upon.

While Arsenal have a tendency to struggle in big games against the top sides, they also tend to go on runs in the Premier League when they are absolutely unstoppable. But they are heavily reliant on a couple of key players as mentioned above, and with their next domestic campaign likely to contain more “big games” than ever before, they will need several individuals to perform better than they did last season – or invest in new talent. Will that be enough to maintain a top four spot in the Premier League – and if not, what happens to Arsene Wenger after that?

Based on how the teams currently stand, here is my forecast for next season:

1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
----------------------------------
5. Arsenal
6. Tottenham Hotspur


Of course, this is all based on how teams are looking now – and next season is a whole summer away, during which time all six of these clubs will be looking to make changes to give themselves in the best opportunity to achieve as much success as is possible.

Feel free to comment whether you agree or disagree.

Manchester United 3 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur - 24th April 2010

Two second half penalties from Ryan Giggs fired Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as they defeated Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur.

The two spot kicks from the former Welsh international and a goal from Nani were enough to see off a determined Spurs side, who have not won at Old Trafford since 1993.

Ledley King had initially equalised for visitors, but defeat for Harry Redknapp’s men leaves their ambitions of finishing in fourth place in a vulnerable position.

With Chelsea hosting Stoke City tomorrow, victory for United – who had top scorer Wayne Rooney sidelined with a groin injury - left them two points clear at the top for the time being.

Tottenham – who had defeated their London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal during the previous week - defended admirably within the first quarter of the game, most notably through England hopeful Michael Dawson, as well as the in form Gareth Bale.

The game burst into life after 28 minutes when Patrice Evra’s through ball set up Dimitar Berbatov, but his close range effort was superbly blocked by Ledley King to prevent the hosts from opening the deadlock.

Manchester United grew into the game and looked promising pushing forward, with Antonio Valencia and Nani squandering good chances from fantastic build up play – Evra once again fundamental in several United attacks.

Tottenham’s only first half opportunity came when David Bentley was brought down on the edge of the Manchester United penalty area by Nani, although Gareth Bale's free kick failed to trouble goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Saar.

Berbatov – playing as a lone striker without the injured Wayne Rooney – failed to hit the target with a volley from fifteen yards following a slip from Benoit Assou-Ekotto

In the opening moments of the second half, Jermain Defoe knocked the ball down for Roman Pavlyuchenko, only for the Russian to be thwarted by Evra before he could control the ball enough to cause problems for United.

Evra continued to trouble the away side relentlessly, as his cross into the Spurs’ penalty area found Berbatov, whose header dropped agonisingly past the boot of Darren Fletcher, who should have put the Red Devils ahead.

Minutes later, Manchester United were awarded a penalty when Assou-Ekotto – who was playing out of position on the right hand side – brought down Patrice Evra with a mistimed challenge.

In the absence of usual penalty taker Wayne Rooney, veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs stepped up to put his side ahead with his third goal of the season.

However, Spurs struck back ten minutes later when Gareth Bale’s corner found Ledley King, whose strong header from twelve yards travelled through a crowd of United defenders and found the back of the net.

Nani put the home side back in front with ten minutes remaining when he latched on to some clever passing from Darren Fletcher and substitute Federico Macheda to chip over the onrushing Gomes from twelve yards.

The points were sealed five minutes later when a blistering run from Nani was illegally upended by Palacios in the penalty area – Giggs stepping up for a second time to put United 3-1 ahead.

Victory for Alex Ferguson’s men boosted their hopes to becoming the first side in Premier League history to win the title four times in a row.

Man of the Match - Nani