By Lee Savery
A pulsating encounter at Old Trafford saw Manchester United crash to their first home defeat of the season with Tottenham Hotspur winning there for the first time since 1989.
A first half where the home side took over 40 minutes to register a shot on goal, started superbly for Tottenham when Jan Vertonghen ran through a none existent United defence before slotting in a shot that deflected off Jonny Evans to beat Anders Lindegaard to his right. The goal was scored after just two minutes.
The start elevated Spurs into complete control as United struggled to break down the resurgent visitors.
They doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when Gareth Bale picked up the ball on the halfway line before gliding past Rio Ferdinand and slotting past Lindegaard into the bottom right-hand corner. Old Trafford was stunned but it was nothing more than the visitors deserved.
Sir Alex Ferguson introduced Wayne Rooney in the second half which finally got United back into the game. His cross from the right was wonderfully finished by Nani which started a mad two minutes 20 seconds of football from the 51st minute.
Straight up the other end, Bale’s fierce shot from inside the area was only half saved by Lindegaard, leaving Clint Dempsey with the easiest of tap-ins. It was his first goal for Tottenham since his move from Fulham. Although he had no time to celebrate as Shinji Kagawa turned on a Robin van Persie pass before slotting his shot past Brad Friedel with a little help from the post.
United attacked and attacked but the third goal wouldn’t come. Rooney hit the post with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards. Michael Carrick hit the same post with a flick on from a corner. Paul Scholes also had a fierce shot saved by Friedel. Even with the four minutes of injury time, Spurs held on for a historic victory.
The first half was an unacceptable performance from the home side. The second half was more encouraging but the defending on all three goals will have the manager fuming. Everyone, finally, got to see Rooney & van Persie as a partnership and the signs are promising but one can only wonder why they didn’t start together.
A poor first half punished United here and work will need to be done for future challenges.
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10 Comments
The 2d half was absolutely fantsatic! Stop being so negative–we can’t win them all and as bad as we were in the first we were good in the 2nd..12 points registered and only 4 points back. I have been a United fan for 46 years now and quite frankly I have just about had it with you hacks and your negative bull shit…You are blessed to be a united fan–BLESSED!
Fair assessment, Lee.
Actually it’s far from it!
A very honest review. What a shame your manager cannot be so magnanimous in defeat. Perhaps the gutter press and other two-bob journos will lay off AVB for a bit. COYFS!
What is wrong with the report, Richard?
He started with wrong team selection, Ando and Tom should be in the middle. Scholes and Giggs wont play Tuesday night now they have played tonight. When your playing against younger players you should match them and play younger players.
Scholes is class act, Rooney & van Persie are going to be amazing up front, but the defence needs sorting.
Also think Fergie should give out before the match, not at half time. What ever he said it worked; use that line before the match starts. Newcastle big game now, must win game.
Also, United fans were class tonight singing when were 2 nil down and right trough second half. My Brother was at the game and he said he never see anything like it and says needs to be done at every home game whether wining or losing.
Big week ahead; expecting two away wins and then enjoy two weeks off.
Yeah, the atmosphere was excellent. If only it could be like that for every home game.
Correct. We would not be in this mess toinght if us fans sang from start to the end.
2nd half was the best I’ve seen us play for a while… The 1st half, we were outplayed and seemed as tho we just carried on from how badly we played against Liverpool.
I hope Rooney and Van Persie stay fit, if they do we’ll be hard to stop.