As always, we’d love you to get in contact, so send us your thoughts by emailing paul@thescore.ie, via Twitter@thescore_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
You may need to refresh to see videos and images.
Manchester United 2-3 Tottenham
Hello and welcome to this evening’s liveblog. Here are the teams:
Manchester United: Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Giggs, Kagawa, van Persie. Subs: De Gea, Anderson, Wootton, Cleverley, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck.
Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele, Dempsey, Lennon, Bale, Defoe. Subs: Lloris, Dawson, Huddlestone, Falque, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Mason.
Tottenham have a traditionally poor record against United at Old Trafford, so they won’t exactly be going into this game filled with confidence.
They’ve started the season in a less-than-convincing fashion, though United themselves have yet to really take off.
The big news as far as the starting line-ups are concerned is that Wayne Rooney starts on the bench.
Tottenham 1-0 Man United (2 mins): Brilliant run forward from Vertonghen and his rather innocuous shot deflects off Evans, totally deceiving Lindegaard in the process and finding the back of the the net.
Perhaps all the bad luck Spurs have accumulated over the years at Old Trafford is finally set to end.
Tottenham have started very well.
Dempsey has hit a powerful shot just wide, while Aaron Lennon has just burst forward menacingly, before his shot is deflected away for a corner.
Deary me, Jon Champion…
Tottenham were almost the orchestrators of their own downfall there.
Dempsey heads it straight to Van Persie, but a timely interception from Gallas prevents the Dutchman from getting a clean shot on goal.
It was quite a rough challenge though, which probably would have been penalised had it not taken place in the penalty area.
Moreover, Van Persie is moving pretty gingerly now, and has had to receive treatment.
Another threatening run forward from the lively Vertonghen, but a poor first touch after the ball is played to him allows Ferdinand to intercept.
As is usually the case when Spurs play United, it’s been very entertaining to watch so far.
United are starting to come more into this game, and have put concerted pressure on their opponents in recent minutes.
Spurs, though, continue to look dangerous on the counter-attack.
Man United 0-2 Tottenham (32 mins): A superb tackle from Sandro allows Spurs to break and from then on it’s all about Gareth Bale.
The Welsh winger uses his pace to evade Ferdinand before finishing consummately, finding the corner of the net with his weaker right foot.
Seasoned Tottenham fans will know that this game is far from over.
Spurs have held considerable leads over United in the past and still lost, most notably in the 2001/2002 season.
YouTube credit: PhantomFX91
Should United lose this game, questions will inevitably be asked about the age of this United team.
The likes of Ferdinand and Scholes have at times struggled to cope with the pace of the Tottenham attack.
Tottenham are really under siege at the moment and unless they get a hold of the ball, a United goal looks highly likely.
The hosts have also been denied what appeared to be a clear penalty, with Vertonghen pulling back Nani in the box.
For all the Belgian’s attacking prowess, the Portuguese winger has caused him problems down the other end of the field.
It’s no wonder Spurs are leading 2-0 – they’ve only gone and signed Batman, or so Alex Ferguson claims anyway.
YouTube credit: parki1988
Thanks to reader red_dogg for the tip.
So it’s half-time and rather intriguingly, it’s Man United 0-2 Tottenham.
Spurs have approached the game in a clever fashion, defending well and taking full advantage of their opportunities on the counter-attack, with Bale, Vertonghen and Sandro looking particularly impressive.
In contrast, United’s build-up play has looked decidedly laboured at times.
It’d be foolish to write off the home side however, given how they’ve come back against Spurs in the past.
Moreover, they seemed to up the intensity of their play towards the end of that first-half, as a tired-looking Tottenham struggled to hold onto possession and showed signs of weakness.
All of which sets us up for what looks set to be a thrilling second half.
The next goal in this game is crucial – if United get it, they could easily go on to win, whereas Tottenham would surely seal their victory with a third strike.
Chris Waddle accurately describes this as “like basketball”.
First, Nani finishes coolly after Rooney’s pinpoint cross. Then, Dempsey converts easily after the United keeper can only parry away Bale’s powerful strike.
And finally, a sublime through ball from Van Persie finds Kagawa, who finishes calmly past Friedel.
That was three goals in the space of 140 seconds, apparently.
Despite losing 3-2, United look the far superior side at the moment – Tottenham spent a lot of the first-half chasing the ball, and now seem to be struggling to cope with the tempo United are playing at.
And as I type, Rooney has just hit the post with a free-kick.
United have just had a Van Persie strike correctly ruled out for offside, after a clever through ball from Scholes.
I’d be very surprised if we don’t see another goal in this game.
Ironically, given his age, the main difference between the first and second half is that Scholes has become far more dominant now.
The Tottenham midfield are struggling to cope with the mercurial Englishman.
Perhaps, it’s only in adversity that United really start to play – as has been the case here, and against Southampton.
As I type, Van Persie drags the ball horribly wide when through on goal.
Every time United attack, they look like scoring, while Spurs are simply wilting.
With 20 minutes remaining, Sigurdsson has replaced Dempsey as Tottenham make a much-needed change in their lineup.
And for all United’s attacking, the visitors still possess a considerable threat in the form of Lennon and Bale on the counter-attack.
Tottenham are making United look like Barcelona at the moment.
They simply can’t keep hold of the ball and are continually hoofing it back to the hosts.
What would the visitors give for a player of Luka Modric’s calibre right now?
The pressure on the Spurs goal continues, as Gallas does well to head a dangerous cross out for a corner.
Chris Waddle has justifiably compared Paul Scholes to “Pirlo during the summer”.
Scholes has easily been the best player on the pitch in this second half, though Rooney has also made a significant difference.
Meanwhile, Huddlestone replaces Dembele for the final few minutes, as Tottenham presumably look to improve their possession stats.
A Carrick flick-on has hit the crossbar, as the hosts continue to press intensively.
United will feel aggrieved if they don’t get anything from the game, given how this half has panned out.
Defoe almost gets away from Evans, but Ferdinand does well to get back and intercept the ball.
Two minutes of normal time to play.
136 passes and a 91% completion rate for Scholes, though as I type, he gives it away…
Still, the English midfielder doesn’t deserve to be on the losing team, judging by the way he’s played.
Defoe has been replaced by Dawson for Spurs, while Ferdinand comes off for Hernandez for the hosts.
We’re in injury time…
Turning out to be a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet day for Pool fans!
Only because we won 5-2, hate this anti Manchester United stuff! Was a good win for spurs but would have probably suited Liverpool better for Spurs not to be picking up 3 points that they wouldn’t have counted on at the start of the season!
I couldn’t care less about the game above, dislike spurs almost as much as utd. I only care that we won.
A 1st league win at Old Trafford since 1989 for Spurs ? (2005 not counted, of course)
Dont follow either teams, but have money on spurs to win.
YES!!! COYS!!!
YIdos!!! COYS
FFS United are playing sh1te <:(
They have been since the season started in fairness. Played off the park last week until the sending off.
Hang in there Super Spurs!
His legs are gone and he never could tackle but if you want a lesson in how to keep the ball and keep the pressure on when you are on top, Paul Scholes is still the man
Up the spurs that we’ll shut up man utd for a while they well come out now and blame the ref
Not at all, it was the lack of a first time performance and a bit of bad luck with the header and free kick that hot the woodwork, fair play to spurs, their first half display deserved something.
First half sorry.
Disgraceful sour grapes by Ferguson on MOTD, complaining about ‘only’ 4 mins added time. Most people were amazed that so much time was given. Always the same Alex eh …
Where’s your famous, where’s your famous, where’s your famous rvp? WHERE’S YOUR FAMOUS RVP??
Well done spurs, first half were excellent, now lets have that be the wake up call we needed, with Rooney and van Persie up top we looked excellent.
Last time Spurs beat Utd in League was May 01 when the legendary Willem Korsten scored twice. Happy days !!!
God this is depressing, just as shit as last week only this time we are safly up against a good team capable of punishing us.
You would have been punished last week aswell only it was twelve against ten.
A bit bitter Peter? Regardless of decisions, most of which appeared correct or at worst marginal on reinspection, had you taken the chances you created it would have been irrelevant.
I was in a pub in london watching it – you would have thought they won the league when it was over!!!
Joe – was the pub u were in located in a non Arsenal supporting area of North London … that might explain the celebrations
On TalkSport radio the commentator just said Nani always scores against Spurs, 4 goals in 6 home games. So eh.. He doesn’t always score against them then ….
bah had Utd who I support in an accumulater and there tge only team to let me down,double kick in the proverbials
Well done Spurs brill performance HA HA MAN U YOU SUCK :p
Well done Spurs brill performance HA HA MAN U YOU SUCK
Infantile comment.
This is turning into a very exciting game here!! Rooney has made a huge difference. Not heard the stretford end in this good a voice in a long time.
Today was a good day, the new dog has learned how to poop in the garden. He did three poops in total on the grass, however he did a couple of wee-wees in the kitchen. So 3-2 to the dog, and to my beloved Spurs a 2-3 win up there at last.
The dog is proud of you all.
And well played Sandro, he’s turning into a decent midfielder. Schools is still the best I’ve ever seen though.
Scholes, bloody spellfecker
He, he.
Yea so shite Conor that they could have won the game 5-3 cause they hit the post twice , which is the norm in a spurs game. So infact as good as spurs were in the first half, Utd were better in the second half.
Derek , Every one knows Man.U will win and they are a goal behind.
You where saying richard??
Richard u also said that even the dogs on the street knew Dublin would beat Mayo in the all Ireland semi a few weeks back. I wonder what the customers think …..
I’d say young Mike ‘Canon’ Ryan is looking on in disbelief in O Neills -Heineken flowing down his throat at an alarming rate ….
Man U. felt sorry for Spurs so they let them win.
No Richard, United are just shite…
Jesus.
If there was a ‘dumb comment of the week’ award on journal, you’d be the ManYoo of posting Richard.
That’s including RVP miss !
And they didn’t even need a certain goal to be disallowed to lose well done spurs
Just like we didn’t ever need a goal that hadnt crossed the line to reach a European cup final Gavin, just as old and just as irrelevant.
Big difference between marginal and obvious though in the heat of the moment
To be honest Alan my point was much more about the irrelevance of bringing up the distant past as either of the examples.