Manchester United – Tottenham Hotspur

1. Evening all and welcome to live text commentary of Manchester United v Tottenham at Old Trafford.

2. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/0821/garethbale20100821_275x155.jpg">Gareth Bale will be one of the players United must look out for.

3. Harry Redknapp seems to think that <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=837223&sec=england&cc=5739" target="_blank">Ronaldo and Rooney not being around</a> makes Man Utd a worse team.

4. So, the team news is in and here it comes...

5. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Hernandez, Berbatov. <p>Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Smalling, Scholes, O'Shea, Obertan, Bebe.

6. Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Modric, Jenas, Bale, Van der Vaart, Keane. <p>Subs: Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Palacios, Crouch, Bassong, Kranjcar, Sandro.

7. Jermaine Jenas gets the nod for Spurs ahead of Wilson Palacios, while Robbie Keane is the surprise inclusion up front.

8. Happy Birthday to Edwin van der Sar - it was his 40th on Friday - unbelievable that he is still performing week in week out at the very top.

9. Spurs last won at Old Trafford in December 1989, with Gary Lineker scoring the only goal of the game. They surely won't have a better chance or a side better equipped to win than today.

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11. 1'

    Right, we're off...

12. 1'

    Nani down after the first challenge of the game from Assou Ekotto. No free-kick though.

13. 1'

    Park smashes the post from 25 yards!

14. 2'

    Really sweetly struck from Park and it was beyond Gomes but the post saved Spurs.

15. 2'

    Just before that chance, both teams seemed to be playing pinball in midfield, neither side wanted to get the ball on the floor.

16. 3'

    Nani gets the shot away with his left foot but it's fairly straightforward for Gomes. The Portuguese winger seems to be having some trouble staying on his feet though.

17. 4'

    Lennon on the charge and he gets beyond Vidic but Fletcher flies in with a great challenge to poke it back to Van der Sar.

18. 5'

    Fletcher goes over on his ankle when tackling Van der Vaart but he seems to have shaken it off.

19. 5'

    Poor kick from Gomes and Nani picks up, driving deep into the Spurs half. He exchanges passes with Park and then 'unleashes' an extremely timid shot that trickles wide.

20. 6'

    Van der Vaart, Keane and Modric with an impressive one-touch interchange, but the final ball was to Gallas - who had drifted offside.

21. 7'

    <i>Stats: Tottenham have failed to win any of their last 25 meetings with United in all competitions. </i>

22. 8'

    Van der Vaart crashes one against the post.

23. 8'

    Cracking left-foot strike curled against the left-hand post. The sound of it thundering against the woodwork echoed around Old Trafford.

24. 8'

    It was a terrible first touch from Vidic that presented the influential Dutchman with that opportunity.

25. 9'

    Another shot from Van der Vaart on the edge of the box, but he can't keep the right-footed effort down.

26. 10'

    Van der Vaart just ghosting into the hole behind Robie Keane and he is seeing much more of the ball than United would like.

27. 11'

    Lennon crosses from the right but his low ball into the box is poor and doesn't get beyond the first man.

28. 12'

    <i>Stats: United are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League but have drawn more games (5) than they have won (4).</i>

29. 13'

    Nani and Berbatov with a good exchange on the edge of the box and the ball drops to Park inside the area, but the South Korean curls a left-foot shot well over the bar.

30. 14'

    Berbatov brings United forward and he's brought down about 35 yards out, Jenas tangling with him and bringing him down.

31. 14'

    Short free-kick but its wasted by Park and SPurs regain possession.

32. 16'

    Bale scythed down by Fletcher.

33. 17'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Hernandez draws a free-kick from Gallas and its a booking for the Frenchman.

34. 17'

    He was pretty unluck there really, Chicharito was running away from goal.

35. 17'

    Shot wide from Rafael after he found himself in some space inside the box.

36. 18'

    Modric and Van der Vaart trying to work some space down the right, but Fletcher and Evra help crowd them out.

37. 19'

    Nani in an advanced position on the left and he lays it off to Carrick. Great hit from the England midfielder and Gomes almost fumbled it into the path of Hernandez.

38. 20'

    Ferdinand furious after the assistant ref fails to call the ball out for a goal-kick. Bale picked the ball up after Ferdinand thought he had shepherded it out of play and forced a save from Van der Sar.

39. 21'

    Kaboul heads the subsequent corner over the bar.

40. 22'

    Great play from Spurs as they keep the pressure on - Lennon again in space in the area and Ferdinand has to tidy up.

41. 23'

    Hutton strikes one from all of 35 yards and it rebounds off Vidic back towards the Scotsman.

42. 23'

    United now on the attack with Rafael down the right, but with Assou Ekotto going nowhere near his own corner flag, Nani commits a pointless foul.

43. 24'

    Clever horizontal run from Hernandez fools Gallas but he can't engineer an opening.

44. 24'

    Solid left-foot strike from Fletcher on the edge of the box. Well held by Gomes.

45. 25'

    <i>Stats: Nani has seven assists in the league this season, more than any other player. </i>

46. 26'

    Good spell of possession from Spurs, masterminded by Hutton of all players!

47. 27'

    Silly handball by Assou Ekotto following a hoof upfield by Rafael.

48. 28'

    Hernandez scoops one over from 25 yards out - it really sliced up off his boot.

49. 30'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Kaboul booked, Hernandez again the player to draw the foul.

50. 30'

    Nani to swing in the delivery from the right.

51. 31'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Vidic heads home.

52. 31'

    Man Utd 1-0 Spurs. Great delivery from Nani and an unmarked Vidic fires a great header into the bottom left corner.

53. 31'

    That's Vidic's 12th headed goal for United.

54. 32'

    <i>Stats: It's 67 games since Tottenham last won away to one of the Premier League's 'big four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. </i>

55. 33'

    Lennon escapes the grasp of Evra again but again it's a disappointing final ball.

56. 34'

    Bale's turn now to ghost past a United full-back as Rafael is beaten. But there are no Spurs players waiting for his delivery and Ferdiannd is on hand to head clear.

57. 35'

    Patitent build up from Spurs as they look to feel United out.

58. 35'

    Lovely touch from Van der Vaart on the chest to manufacture some space int he box but his shot almost hts the corner flag.

59. 36'

    Keane collects it before it goes out though and wins a corner for Spurs.

60. 37'

    Short corner comes out to Modric who drives a fierce strike towards the top corner. Great save from Van der Sar though - showing the reflexes of a 39-year-old to get two hands to it.

61. 38'

    Berbatov collects on the left wing and cuts inside Kaboul before firing a shot straight at Gomes.

62. 39'

    Fletcher slips it into Chicharito, who is through but looks to cut it back to Berbatov. The Mexican's pass is short, though, and Spurs can breathe easy.

63. 40'

    Dangerous cross from Bale but Keane can't turn it goalwards.

64. 41'

    Hutton with a cracking challenge on Nani, the Portuguese winger would have been away down the right wing there.

65. 42'

    Assou Ekotto looks long for Bale, but the Welshman is offside. Great raking pass though!

66. 43'

    Jenas attempts to curl one in from 20 yards but he slips as he connects and the ball heads harmlessy out for a goal kick.

67. 44'

    Fantastic tackle from Gallas. Berbatov's shot was saved by Gomes but the Bulgarian looked set to get hold of the rebound, until Spurs' centre-back got his foot in to intercept.

68. 44'

    Free-kick for Spurs now about 35 yards out towards the left of the pitch. Van der Vaart to deliver.

69. 45'

    The ball swung in towards Jenas and Gallas, but Vidic is up to head clear.

70. 45'

    On his way down from jumping to clear the ball, Vidic landed right on Park - looked to be in the crown jewels too. Ouch.

71. 45'

    Another free-kick for Spurs, right at the end of the half. But the ball sials all the way through to Van der Sar.

72. 45'

    Half-time whistle goes...

73. 45'

    Man Utd 1-0 Spurs. Both teams hit the post before United hit the target through Vidic. It's been a pretty entertaining spectacle, though aside from Nani's delivery for the goal - the final balls have been poor. Spurs have had plenty of possession but I think Pavlyuchenko could be introduced soon as Keane is struggling up against Vidic and Ferdinand. See you in 15 minutes.

74. 45'

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75. 46'

    Right then, we're back and there have been no changes at half-time...Great little exchange between Hernandez and Park to create an early opening, but Hutton does well to force a goal kick for Spurs in the end.

76. 47'

    Excellent pacy opening from United, amid the smoke from the half-time pyrotechnics - from a Korean-themed firework display courtesy of one of United's Asian sponsors.

77. 48'

    Pavlyuchenko and Crouch both warming up.

78. 48'

    Great turn by Modric to release Bale down the left but the cross again hits the first man.

79. 49'

    <i>Stats:</i>United have dropped six points from winning positions this season - away to Fulham and Everton and at home to West Brom.

80. 49'

    Bale with a better left-wing cross but Evra rises highest to turn it away.

81. 50'

    Nani wins a free-kick after being charged by Assou-Ekotto in the centre circle.

82. 50'

    Berbatov ruled offside.

83. 50'

    It's been five games without a goal for the Bulgarian after a blistering start to the season.

84. 51'

    Gallas is currently limping and Bassong is the player warming up for Spurs.

85. 51'

    Jenas searches long and diagonal for Hutton but it's just a touch long for the right-back.

86. 52'

    Berbatov tries to flick it on to Chicharito but Gomes rushes out off his line quickly to gather.

87. 53'

    Really loose ball from Carrick in midfield but Spurs give it straight back to the men in red.

88. 54'

    Obertan now limbering up with Scholes.

89. 55'

    Nani looks to catch Gomes flat-footed with a cross-cum-shot but the Brazilian stands firm.

90. 56'

    On second viewing, it was definitely a cross - would have been extremely fortunate if that had crept in.

91. 56'

    Van der Vaart looks for a return pass after feeding Jenas but Evra anticipates to clear.

92. 57'

    <i>Stats: Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the season. </i>

93. 58'

    Hutton in space down the right but Fletcher blocks his attempted cross.

94. 58'

    Hernandez breaks and Hutton brings him down cynically down the left wing.

95. 59'

    Carrick with a chance to shoot, but the ball is caught under his feet and Spurs break at pace.

96. 60'

    Bale turns on the burners and sprints through the middle with the ball. He gets past Vidic but on his weaker right foot slides the shot wide of the far left post.

97. 60'

    Unbelievable pace from the Welshman.

98. 60'

    Gallas seems to be okay now, Bassong's tracksuit is back on.

99. 61'

    Great bit of midfield battling from Park aganst Hutton.

100. 61'

     Berbatov ruled offside again as Nani searched for him with a chipped ball into the box.

101. 62'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Pavlyuchenko on for Keane.

102. 62'

     Keane has been absolutely anonymous in the second half.

103. 62'

     Moments earlier, Nani caught Bale in his special area with a powerful cross from close range. It didn't look good people.

104. 63'

     Lazy foul from Jenas on Evra on the edge of the box. Very dangerous position for United and Nani will be salivating at this opportunity.

105. 64'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Scholes on for an unhappy looking Berbatov.

106. 64'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Brown on for Rafael.

107. 64'

     Nani lines the free-kick up.

108. 65'

     Straight into the grateful grasp of Gomes. Disappointing effort.

109. 65'

     Palacios being readied to add some steel to the Spurs midfield. On for Jenas would be my guess.

110. 65'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Palacios on for Jenas.

111. 66'

     There you go!

112. 66'

     <i>Stats: Spurs have conceded only one second-half goal in the Premier League this season.</i>

113. 67'

     Bale takes on Brown down the left before knocking it back to Assou Ekotto. Another tame cross I'm afraid Spurs fans.

114. 68'

     <i>Stats: Nemanja Vidic's goal was the 1000th in the Premier league at Old Trafford. </i>

115. 69'

     Nani with a delicate through ball to Hernandez, who beats Gallas with his run and takes on a first-time strike. Gomes, however, is up to the task again and gets reacquainted with the ball again.

116. 70'

     Pavlyuchenko tries his luck from just inside the penalty area. Side netting.

117. 70'

     Great burst from Nani after a one-two with Brown, but Kaboul does enough to force the winger on to his left foot and a poor effort follows.

118. 70'

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119. 71'

     Shot from the left of the area by Van der Sar, but it would have needed something special to beat the United goalkeeper at the near post.

120. 72'

     Pavlyuchenko's deflected strike is a foot wide.

121. 73'

     Big deflection off Vidic left Van der Sar motionless but its only a corner.

122. 73'

     Bale's delivery headed clear and Evra attempts to bring United forward.

123. 74'

     <i>Stats: On home turf in the league since 1909, United have beaten Tottenham 49 times in 73 meetings, with Spurs winning just ten times.</i>

124. 75'

     Scholes dictating possession but United now put it out of play with Van der Vaart looking in some discomfort on the ground.

125. 76'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Crouch on for Van der Vaart

126. 77'

     Not sure exactly what the problem is but Spurs will certainly hope he is fit and ready to take on Inter Milan on Tuesday.

127. 77'

     Free-kick for United halfway into Spurs' half and Ferguson's side happy to just pass it around. They are certainly in no rush, though Spurs must be awware of United's penchant for throwing away leads this season.

128. 79'

     Brown gives it away but comes back with a strong challenge on the Modric.

129. 81'

     Pacy break from United with Nani feeding the ball to Scholes inside the area, but as the midfielder looked for Brown with the first-time pass he was left disappointed as the right-back had not continued his overlapping run.

130. 82'

     Spurs trying to build an attack but United standing firm at the moment.

131. 82'

     Bale trying to probe with a long throw deep in United territory.

132. 82'

     Comfortably cleared by Evra.

133. 83'

     Bale with a second bite but Vidic is the man who meets his cross on this occasion.

134. 83'

     Ferdinand brings United forward with an incisive ball down the right.

135. 84'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Nani scores.

136. 84'

     No he hasn't! The linesman has flagged. But what for?

137. 84'

     Yes he has scored! The assistant seems to have changed his mind and Spurs players surround him and the referee.

138. 86'

     Man Utd 2-0 Spurs. Right, basically Gomes put the ball down for a free-kick, which had not actually been given and Nani was there to put it into an empty net.

139. 87'

     We will come back to this because I think the referee has made an absolute clanger.

140. 87'

     United corner now and surely they can't give this lead away?!

141. 89'

     Let me try and clear up the goal again. Nani thought he had been brought down for a penalty and on the way down handled the ball. No free-kick was given but Gomes assumed there was and he threw the ball down to take it. However, referee Clattemburg had not penalised Nani and the winger slotted the ball into an empty net.

142. 91'

     Great strike from Nani, a cracking left foot strike smashes the crossbar.

143. 92'

     I hope that's cleared things up in terms of the goal - it's one you need to see to try to understand, even then you might struggle!

144. 93'

     One minute left of injury time now and it's a shame the match has finished this way as it had threatened to be an exciting finish.

145. 94'

     It's all over...

146. 94'

     <b>Man Utd 2-0 Spurs</b>. Tottenham players continue to surround Clattenburg - who is the same ref who failed to give Mendes' 'goal' past Carroll a few years ago. Ferguson said when shaking Redknapp's hand that he had no idea what happened. What we know is that goals from Vidic and Nani have given United all three points. They climb to third, behind Arsenal on goal difference, and remain unbeaten. Thanks for joining us folks.

147. 94'

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