United recovered from an opening-minute concession and the second-half dismissal of Paul Scholes to post an ominous victory at White Hart Lane.
Jermain Defoe put Spurs ahead inside a minute, but the Reds hit back through Ryan Giggs and Anderson. Scholes was dismissed for two bookings – the second of which appeared harsh – before Wayne Rooney crowned a magnificent display with a superb late clincher.
Throughout the 90 minutes, United’s display oozed the marriage of class and resolve that champions require, and sent out a clear warning to those teams aiming to prevent the Reds from bagging a fourth straight title.
White Hart Lane buzzed with anticipation ahead of kick-off. Spurs, buoyed by a perfect record after four league games and an unbeaten home record blanketing 2009, fancied their chances of a first win over the Reds since 2001.
Sir Alex Ferguson had tentatively suggested that Rio Ferdinand could line up for his first league start of the season, but few expected the England international to be joined by John O’Shea in the Reds’ back line.
The Irish defender, who had been the subject of media suggestions that he could face a sustained spell on the sidelines through injury, instead took a place at right-back, with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra completing the quartet in front of Ben Foster’s goal.
Anderson, Scholes and Darren Fletcher lined up in midfield, linked to the front axis of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov by the ageless Giggs. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp named a similarly positive side, laying the foundations for an open encounter.
That promise was realised within the opening minute.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s flighted ball was inadvertently headed back into the mix by Nemanja Vidic, under pressure from Peter Crouch, and Defoe executed a stunning overhead kick which gave Foster no chance.
Within a minute, Fletcher forced his way past Assou-Ekotto to latch onto Giggs’ cross, but his low shot was well parried out by Carlo Cudicini. Crouch then lashed off target twice inside 10 minutes as the game continued to pulsate and enrapture.
Although the White Hart Lane faithful bellowed and blustered for their side, it was the visitors who steadily grew in stature. The passing of Anderson, Scholes and Giggs left their white-clad counterparts chasing shadows, and parity was attained after 25 minutes.
Wilson Palacios was deemed to have unfairly halted Berbatov’s goalward charge, some 25 yards out, left of centre. Rooney shaped to place the ball to Cudicini’s right; instead Giggs curled it beautifully into the Italian’s top left-hand corner. A fitting way to mark his 700th United start.
It was little more than United’s growing dominance had warranted. Four more clear chances came within the next five minutes. Cudicini brilliantly tipped over from Berbatov; then came three openings in an incredible passage of goalmouth chaos. Evra hurtled forward and crossed for Rooney, who was thwarted by Cudicini. As the ball ran free, Sebastian Bassong made an heroic goal-line clearance from Berbatov, who subsequently fired over after being cleverly teed up by Scholes amid the melee.
Throughout the first 45 minutes, Scholes was a picture of pass-popping magnificence. Inevitably he was involved when United took the lead for the first time, although it came through perhaps his first mis-hit of the afternoon. When the veteran midfielder wildly slashed at a half-cleared corner, his ferocious hit ricocheted back to the edge of the area, where Anderson pounced to lash home a low effort.
The Brazilian, increasingly the subject of his colleagues’ mirth for his inability to find the goal, had finally broken his duck – and in emphatic style. After a sweat-soaked first half, it was a fitting reward for the 21-year-old’s endeavours.
The goal took both sides into a well-earned half time breather with much to ponder. While the second half failed to open with the same breathless excitement as the first, Tottenham’s tactical rejig – which saw Jermaine Jenas replace Palacios – yielded three decent openings.
Vidic was forced into a superb sliding challenge to thwart Robbie Keane inside the six yard box, before Foster produced a wondrous fingertip save from Jenas’ 25-yard curler. From the subsequent corner, the unmarked Crouch headed wastefully over, via the crossbar.
The hosts were given a tremendous boon just before the hour mark. Scholes, booked earlier for a poor challenge on Defoe, was unfortunate to pick up a second booking for a coming together with Tom Huddlestone, in which the United midfielder clearly tried to pull out of the challenge.
Sir Alex’s response was to sacrifice Berbatov’s ingenuity for Carrick’s ball retention, and the plan almost paid immediate dividends as United began to create the clearest openings.
Rooney, who shouldered the sole attacking burden with distinction, cut in from the left and thundered a low effort towards the near post, only for Cudicini to superbly divert the ball onto the woodwork and behind. Shortly afterwards, Patrice Evra hurtled into the box, but his powerful shotwhistled just the wrong side of the near post.
A goal up but a man down, United were still walking a tightrope, regardless of their dominance. A clinching goal was required, and it duly arrived with 12 minutes remaining.
Fletcher curled a fine pass down the right wing to Rooney, leaving the red-hot striker with substitute Alan Hutton to beat. Rooney took a touch and, at high speed, slipped the ball through the Scot’s legs, advanced into the area and slid a low left-footed shot through Cudicini’s legs.
Even with the game safe, United were not sated. The 10 men continued to dictate the tempo and forge the openings. Fletcher stung Cudicini’s palms from distance, then Rooney forced the Italian into a smart near-post stop.
Although a fourth goal proved elusive, the manner of United’s victory will satisfy players, staff and supporters alike. Outside Old Trafford, it will merely reinforce the ominous belief that the champions are gearing up nicely for the coming months.
