PREVIEW: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur

Old Trafford, Manchester
Saturday 25th April 2009, Kick Off 17:30
Premier League, Match 34 (33 for United)

REFEREE: Howard Webb (Yorkshire)




COMMENT
Spurs prepare for their Saturday evening visit to Old Trafford with the knowledge that they now have the best home defensive record in the Premier League, with just 9 goals conceded in the 17 matches played at White Hart Lane this season. The season's home fixtures will finish with the visits of West Bromwich Albion and then Manchester City.

Tottenham are unbeaten so far in League matches against the "Big Four" clubs and face Liverpool at Anfield later this season. With a very hectic series of fixtures for United, Spurs must fancy their chances of getting something from the match, although it's been far too long since we registered a win at Old Trafford.

Injuries to Ledley King and Michael Dawson could mean that Vedran Corluka will continue to partner Jonathan Woodgate in central defence with Alan Hutton starting on the right and Benoit Assou-Ekotto continuing his fine season for Spurs on the left.

Jermain Jenas was absent for the win over his old club Newcastle and Tom Huddlestone proved to be a worthy replacement by having an excellent match partnering Wilson Palacios in central midfield. Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric should complete Tottenham's midfield for Saturday.

Upfront, Robbie Keane as team captain is sure to start and Darren Bent, who is now on 16 goals for the season, will probably get the nod from Harry over both Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko, who didn't feature against Newcastle due to an injury.

TEAM NEWS:

Manchester United defender Wes Brown is in line to make his first Premier League start since October after recovering from a foot injury.

Rio Ferdinand is also set to play after being rested for the 2-0 midweek win over Portsmouth but fellow defenders Gary Neville and John O'Shea are out.

They both picked up knocks as United returned to the top of the table.

Tottenham, who are unbeaten in six games against the top four this season, look set to be without Michael Dawson.

The defender picked up an ankle injury in last weekend's 1-0 victory over Newcastle.

But his team-mate Jonathan Woodgate is confident that Spurs can continue their good run.

"You can see how well we've played against the top four," he said.

"We haven't been beaten by any of the top sides in the league this season and we have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea at home.

"Our record against the top four is impeccable."

However, Tottenham's record at Old Trafford in the Premier League is less impressive with only three draws from 16 visits.

And United could be fired up even more for their 1730 BST kick-off on Saturday as a victory for Liverpool, whose game at Hull starts at 1500 BST, will return them to the top of the table on goal difference.

Midfielder Michael Carrick reaffirmed United's desire to secure a third successive league title and equal Liverpool's record of 18 overall.

"We are in a good position but we will not get complacent," he said.

"There are some hard games left, starting against Tottenham, and we know Liverpool are still a threat.

"In a lot of people's eyes last week we were not going to win the title. All of a sudden the same people are now saying it is a given.

"There are a lot of matches to play and there may be more twists and turns. Hopefully there aren't but we must be ready for them."

"It is win at all costs now. If we can now beat Tottenham we really will be in a good position."

Scans have revealed that Michael Dawson has suffered a partially torn left ankle ligament.

The 25-year-old defender was forced off with the injury in last weekend's victory against Newcastle United and is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks.

Roman Pavlyuchenko has also been ruled out of this weekend's trip to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

The striker is still suffering from the back injury that kept him out of last weekend's win against Newcastle, although scans have revealed no long-term damage.

Fellow frontman Fraizer Campbell is ineligible to face his parent club due to the terms of his loan deal from United.

BIG MATCH FACTS:

Manchester United and Tottenham face each other for the fourth time this season, and the first since the Red Devils' penalty shoot-out victory in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on 1 March, when they played 120 minutes without a goal.

By the time this Saturday evening kick off gets underway, United may have been displaced from the top of the table once again on goal difference by Liverpool. But Sir Alex Ferguson's quest for a hat-trick of league titles, an 11th Premier League crown and a record-equalling 18th English top-flight championship will still be within their grasp, with a game in hand on their rivals (away to Wigan on 13 May).

Harry Redknapp has worked wonders with Spurs, guiding them from the bottom of the table when he took over in October to the fringe of the European places. Indeed the Londoners go into this weekend's round of matches just one point behind seventh placed West Ham.

Manchester United have not lost any of their last 15 Premier League matches against Tottenham, since the Londoners' 3-1 home victory on 19 March 2001.

Spurs have never won a Premier League match at the Theatre of Dreams, and have only picked up three points from the 48 on offer there. Their most recent league victory at Old Trafford was on 16 December 1989, when Gary Lineker scored the only goal of the game for Terry Venables' team.

Harry Redknapp is keen not to become the 10th different Tottenham manager to fail to pick up three points at Old Trafford.

Distance between the clubs: 197 miles (317 kilometres)

CLUB FORM

MANCHESTER UNITED

1st 74 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd

Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Won 12 Premier League matches in 2009, including the last three; more than any other club.

2. Won more Premier League matches than any other club this season (23). More details

3. Failed to score in one of the last 16.

4. This is their 58th match of the season; more than any other top-flight club.

5. Two points down on this same stage last season, when top of the table.

6. Gone 16 league games since a goalless draw; the last being away to Spurs on 13 December.

7. On the longest current sequence of 24 matches in the Premier League without a score draw; the 1-1 stalemate at Everton on 25 October being the most recent.

8. The only home points dropped this season have been courtesy of defeat to Liverpool (1-4, 14 March), and an early draw with Newcastle (1-1, 17 August).

9. Denied victory by only eight clubs in their 32 Premier League matches this season, one of which is Tottenham.

10. This match precedes the first leg of the Champions League semi-final with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Thereafter the league run-in is:- Middlesbrough (a), Manchester City (h), Wigan (a), Arsenal (h) and Hull (a).

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

9th 44 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could realistically fall: 10th

Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Won the last two against West Ham and Newcastle; both by 1-0 margins at home.

2. Not won three on the bounce since April Fools' Day 2007, when a 1-0 home triumph over Reading was the last in a five-match winning sequence.

3. The 2-1 defeat, away to Blackburn on 2 April is their only league loss in nine since January.

4. Four points up on this same stage last season, when they were 11th in the table - their final placing.

5. Ever-presents in the Premier League, but never finished higher than fifth (2005-06 and 2006-07) or lower than 15th, averaging a 10th placed finish.

6. Need a victory to total 1,200 wins in top-flight football.

7. Lost fewer Premier League points from winning positions than any other club; just five (one draw, one defeat).

8. Won four away league games this term. Three of those were against clubs currently in the top-half (Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City), and one against a bottom-half side (Hull).

10. Still to visit Liverpool on the last day of the season, 24 May. The full run-in is:- WBA (h), Everton (a), Manchester City (h) and Liverpool (a).

KEY PLAYER NOTES

MANCHESTER UNITED

Edwin VAN DER SAR is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets.

Cristiano RONALDO is one of three Premier League players to have scored as many as 21 club goals this season; the others are Nicolas ANELKA of Arsenal and Steve GERRARD of Liverpool.

RONALDO is Manchester United's top Premier League scorer with 15 goals, and leads the race jointly with Chelsea's Nicolas ANELKA for the Barclays Golden Boot.

Paul SCHOLES needs a double to reach 100 Premier League goals - all for United.

Ryan GIGGS is a hat-trick shy of 150 goals for Manchester United.

GIGGS has scored more Premier League goals against Tottenham than against any other club, with the exception of one. His total of seven, equals his return against Southampton.

If selected:-

GIGGS will be making his 800th appearance in Manchester United colours.

Tomasz KUSZCZAK will be making his 50th career Premier League appearance (West Brom and Manchester United).

Dimitar BERBATOV will be facing a former club. The 28 year old international forward made 102 appearances (70 in the league) and scored 46 goals (27 league) for Spurs between July 2006 and his controversial £30.75m transfer to Manchester United last September.

Michael CARRICK will be facing a former club. The 27 year old England international midfielder made 75 appearances (64 in the league) and scored two league goals for Spurs between August 2004 and his £18.6m move to Old Trafford in July 2006.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Darren BENT is Tottenham's top scorer of Premier League goals with 11.

If he scores:-

BENT will reach the milestone of 50 career Premier League goals.

BENT is also a hat-trick shy of 100 career league goals (Ipswich, Charlton and Tottenham).

If selected:-

GILBERTO will be playing on his 33rd birthday.

Frazier CAMPBELL is on loan from Manchester United and therefore ineligible to play.

HEAD TO HEAD

Spurs have failed to beat Manchester United in 18 attempts in all competitions, including their three previous meetings this season.

United have won twice as many league matches against Tottenham (70) as they have lost to them (35).

The 32 Premier League matches between these clubs have yielded 83 goals. Spurs have only managed three clean sheets; both via goalless draws at Old Trafford on 15 March 1995 and 4 January 2005, and at the Lane last December.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Man United 70 wins, Spurs 35, Draws 38
Prem: Man United 23 wins, Spurs 3, Draws 7

at Man United only
League (inc PL): Man United 47 wins, Spurs 10, Draws 14
Prem: Man United 13 wins, Spurs 0, Draws 3

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
25 August 2007 - Ref: Howard Webb
Man Utd scorer: Nani 68

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United
13 December 2008 - Ref: Mike Dean

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION:

Tottenham are an unfinished work but much-improved under manager Harry Redknapp. They create chances but give teams the chance to score.

They will go to Old Trafford and try to play and because of that United will win. They can afford another slip up in the title race which, as I said earlier, is theirs to lose.

Verdict: Manchester United 2-0 Totenham Hotspur

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday evening's match will be the 174th meeting between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur - the two traditional 'glamour clubs' of English football.

Most recently, they met in the 2009 League (Carling) Cup Final at Wembley when United won on penalties after a goalless match after extra time.

Previously, the clubs contested the 1967 Charity Shield which resulted in a 3-3 draw and featured a spectaclar goal from Tottenham's legendary goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

as NEWTON HEATH

F.A. Cup 1 28-Jan-1899 13,721 H D 1 - 1 Joyce
F.A. Cup 1 Replay 01-Feb-1899 6,000 A W 5 - 3 McKay, Joyce (2), McNaught, Smith

as MANCHESTER UNITED

Division 1 11-Sep-09 32,275 H D 2 - 2 Steel R (2, 2pens)
Division 1 22-Jan-10 8,000 A L 0 - 5
Division 1 22-Oct-10 28,000 H D 2 - 2 Minter, Humphreys
Division 1 15-Mar-11 13,000 A L 2 - 3 Birnie, Humphreys
Division 1 04-Nov-11 26,000 A W 2 - 1 Minter, Middlemiss
Division 1 09-Apr-12 14,000 H D 1 - 1 Bliss
Division 1 19-Oct-12 12,000 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 31-Mar-13 12,762 H D 1 - 1 Minter
Division 1 04-Oct-13 39,000 A L 1 - 3 Middlemiss
Division 1 07-Feb-14 28,000 H W 2 - 1 Minter, Cantrell
Division 1 21-Nov-14 11,000 H W 2 - 0 Clay (pen), Cantrell
Division 1 27-Mar-15 7,000 A D 1 - 1 Minter
Division 1 25-Sep-20 52,000 A W 1 - 0 Grimsdell
Division 1 02-Oct-20 34,600 H W 4 - 1 Walden (2), Seed (2)
Division 1 08-Oct-21 36,113 H D 2 - 2 Wilson (2)
Division 1 15-Oct-21 40,000 A L 1 - 2 Dimmock
F.A. Cup 2 03-Feb-23 38,333 H W 4 - 0 Lindsay, Handley (3)
Division 1 17-Oct-25 26,496 A D 0 - 0
F.A. Cup 4 30-Jan-26 43,653 H D 2 - 2 Thompson, Lindsay
F.A. Cup 4 Replay 03-Feb-26 46,929 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 27-Feb-26 25,466 H L 0 - 1
Division 1 25-Dec-26 37,287 H D 1 - 1 Dimmock
Division 1 27-Dec-26 50,665 A L 1 - 2 Handley
Division 1 24-Sep-27 13,952 A L 0 - 3
Division 1 04-Feb-28 23,545 H W 4 - 0 O'Callaghan, Armstrong (2), Dimmock
Division 2 12-Sep-31 9,557 A D 1 - 1 Rowley
Division 2 23-Jan-32 19,139 H W 4 - 1 Davies (2), Hunt GS, O'Callaghan
Division 2 10-Sep-32 23,333 H W 6 - 1 Brain, Hunt GS (2), O'Callaghan, Evans W (2, 1pen)
Division 2 06-Jan-33 20,661 A L 1 - 2 Evans W
Division 2 21-Sep-35 34,718 A D 0 - 0
Division 2 05-Feb-36 20,085 H D 0 - 0
Division 2 09-Oct-37 31,189 H L 0 - 1
Division 2 19-Feb-38 34,631 A W 1 - 0 Sargent
Division 1 09-Sep-50 60,621 H W 1 - 0 Walters
Division 1 13-Jan-51 45,104 A L 1 - 2 Baily
Division 1 22-Sep-51 70,882 H W 2 - 0 Bennett, Medley
Division 1 26-Jan-52 42,668 A L 0 - 2
Tour 14-Jun-52 - A W 5 - 0 Walters, Bennett, Duquemin, Bailey, Medley
Tour 15-Jun-52 - A W 7 - 1 McClellan, Bennett (2), Duquemin (4)
Division 1 01-Nov-52 44,286 H L 1 - 2 Walters
Division 1 25-Mar-53 20,215 A L 2 - 3 Walters, McClellan
Division 1 26-Sep-53 52,837 H D 1 - 1 Duquemin
Division 1 13-Feb-54 37,289 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 08-Sep-54 35,162 H L 0 - 2
Division 1 15-Sep-54 31,041 A L 1 - 2 McClellan
Division 1 22-Aug-55 28,713 A D 2 - 2 Gavin (pen), Stokes
Division 1 31-Aug-55 27,453 H L 1 - 2 Clarke
Division 1 24-Nov-56 57,724 H D 2 - 2 Harmer (pen), Robb
Division 1 06-Apr-57 60,583 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 30-Nov-57 43,307 A W 4 - 3 Smith R (3), Blanchflower og
Division 1 12-Apr-58 59,836 H W 1 - 0 Harmer (pen)
Division 1 20-Sep-58 62,277 A D 2 - 2 Smith R (2)
Division 1 07-Feb-59 47,401 H L 1 - 3 Norman
Division 1 12-Sep-59 55,641 A W 5 - 1 Mackay, Harmer, Smith R (2), Dunmore
Division 1 23-Jan-60 62,602 H W 2 - 1 Smith R (2)
Division 1 03-Sep-60 55,442 H W 4 - 1 Smith R (2), Allen (2)
Division 1 16-Jan-61 65,535 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 09-Sep-61 57,135 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 20-Jan-62 55,225 H D 2 - 2 Greaves (2)
F.A. Cup SF 31-Mar-62 65,000 SF W 3 - 1 Medwin, Greaves, Jones
Division 1 20-Oct-62 51,314 H W 6 - 2 Medwin (2), Greaves (3), Jones
Division 1 09-Mar-63 43,416 A W 2 - 0 Saul, Jones
Division 1 09-Nov-63 57,513 A L 1 - 4 Gregg og
ECWC 2 (1L) 03-Dec-63 57,447 H W 2 - 0 Mackay, Dyson
ECWC 2 (2L) 10-Dec-63 59,597 A L 1 - 4 Greaves
Division 1 21-Mar-64 56,292 H L 2 - 3 Brown L, Greaves (pen)
Division 1 26-Sep-64 53,362 A L 1 - 4 Robertson
Division 1 06-Feb-65 58,639 H W 1 - 0 Henry
Division 1 16-Oct-65 58,051 H W 5 - 1 Johnson, Clayton, Gilzean, Greaves, Robertson
Division 1 18-Dec-65 39,511 A L 1 - 5 Jones
Division 1 10-Sep-66 56,295 H W 2 - 1 Greaves, Gilzean
Division 1 14-Jan-67 57,365 A L 0 - 1
Charity Shield 12-Aug-67 54,106 A D 3 - 3 Jennings, Robertson, Saul
Division 1 23-Sep-67 58,779 A L 1 - 3 Gilzean
F.A. Cup 3 27-Jan-68 63,500 A D 2 - 2 Chivers (2)
F.A. Cup 3 Replay 31-Jan-68 57,200 H W 1 - 0 (a.e.t) Robertson
Division 1 03-Feb-68 57,690 H L 1 - 2 Chivers
Division 1 28-Aug-68 62,649 A L 1 - 3 Greaves
Division 1 09-Oct-68 56,205 H D 2 - 2 Jones, Gilzean
Division 1 22-Nov-69 53,053 A L 1 - 3 Chivers
Division 1 13-Apr-70 41,808 H W 2 - 1 Gilzean, Chivers
Division 1 05-Dec-70 55,693 H D 2 - 2 Gilzean, Peters
Division 1 06-Feb-71 48,416 A L 1 - 2 Peters
Division 1 13-Nov-71 54,058 A L 1 - 3 Chivers
Division 1 04-Mar-72 54,814 H W 2 - 0 Perryman, Chivers
Division 1 28-Oct-72 52,497 A W 4 - 1 Peters (4)
Division 1 24-Mar-73 50,017 H D 1 - 1 Chivers
Division 1 10-Nov-73 42,756 H W 2 - 1 Knowles, Chivers
Division 1 23-Mar-74 36,278 A W 1 - 0 Coates
Division 1 06-Sep-75 51,641 A L 2 - 3 Chivers, Jones
Division 1 17-Jan-76 49,189 H D 1 - 1 Duncan
Division 1 04-Sep-76 60,723 A W 3 - 2 Coates, Pratt, Moores
Division 1 12-Feb-77 46,946 H L 1 - 3 Jones
Division 1 16-Dec-78 52,026 A L 0 - 2
F.A. Cup 6 10-Mar-79 51,800 H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
F.A. Cup 6 Replay 14-Mar-79 54,510 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 21-Apr-79 36,665 H D 1 - 1 Jones
League Cup 2 (1L) 29-Aug-79 29,163 H W 2 - 1 Pratt, Hoddle
League Cup 2 (2L) 05-Sep-79 48,292 A L 1 - 3 Armstrong
Division 1 01-Dec-79 51,389 H L 1 - 2 Hoddle
F.A. Cup 3 05-Jan-80 45,207 H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
F.A. Cup 3 Replay 09-Jan-80 53,762 A W 1 - 0 Ardiles
Division 1 12-Apr-80 53,151 A L 1 - 4 Ardiles
Division 1 06-Sep-80 40,995 H D 0 - 0
Division 1 17-Feb-81 40,642 A D 0 - 0
League Cup 2 (1L) 07-Oct-81 39,333 H W 1 - 0 Archibald
League Cup 2 (2L) 28-Oct-81 55,890 A W 1 - 0 Hazard
Division 1 21-Nov-81 35,534 H W 3 - 1 Roberts, Hazard, Archibald
Division 1 17-Apr-82 50,724 A L 0 - 2
Division 1 13-Nov-82 47,869 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 11-May-83 32,803 H W 2 - 0 Roberts, Archibald
Tour/RSHT 04-Jun-83 - A L 1 - 2 Archibald
Tour/RSHT 11-Jun-83 - A W 2 - 0 Perryman, Mabbutt
Division 1 16-Dec-83 33,616 A L 2 - 4 Brazil, Falco
Division 1 12-May-84 39,790 H D 1 - 1 Archibald
Division 1 20-Oct-84 54,516 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 12-Mar-85 42,918 H L 1 - 2 Falco
Division 1 16-Nov-85 54,575 A D 0 - 0
Division 1 19-Apr-86 32,357 H D 0 - 0
Division 1 07-Dec-86 35,267 A D 3 - 3 Mabbutt, Allen C, Moran og
Division 1 04-May-87 36,692 H W 4 - 0 Thomas M (2), Allen C (pen), Allen P
Division 1 26-Sep-87 47,601 A L 0 - 1
Division 1 23-Feb-88 25,731 H D 1 - 1 Allen C
Friendly/Test 28-Mar-88 - H L 2 - 3 Archibald, Hodge
Division 1 01-Oct-88 29,318 H D 2 - 2 Walsh, Waddle
Division 1 05-Feb-89 41,423 A L 0 - 1
League Cup 3 22-Nov-89 45,759 A W 3 - 0 Lineker, Samways, Nayim
Division 1 16-Dec-89 36,230 A W 1 - 0 Lineker
Division 1 21-Apr-90 33,317 H W 2 - 1 Gascoigne, Lineker
Division 1 01-Jan-91 29,399 H L 1 - 2 Lineker (pen)
Division 1 20-May-91 46,791 A D 1 - 1 Hendry
Division 1 28-Sep-91 35,087 H L 1 - 2 Durie
Division 1 02-May-92 44,585 A L 1 - 3 Lineker
FA Prem 19-Sep-92 33,296 H D 1 - 1 Durie
FA Prem 09-Jan-93 35,648 A L 1 - 4 Barmby
FA Prem 16-Oct-93 44,655 A L 1 - 2 Caskey
FA Prem 15-Jan-94 31,343 H L 0 - 1
FA Prem 27-Aug-94 24,502 H L 0 - 1
FA Prem 15-Mar-95 43,802 A D 0 - 0
FA Prem 01-Jan-96 32,852 H W 4 - 1 Sheringham, Campbell, Armstrong (2)
FA Prem 24-Mar-96 50,508 A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 29-Sep-96 54,943 A L 0 - 2
F.A. Cup 3 05-Jan-97 52,495 A L 0 - 2
FA Prem 12-Jan-97 33,026 H L 1 - 2 Allen
FA Prem 10-Aug-97 26,359 H L 0 - 2
FA Prem 10-Jan-98 55,281 A L 0 - 2
League Cup 5 02-Dec-98 35,702 H W 3 - 1 Armstrong (2), Ginola
FA Prem 12-Dec-98 36,097 H D 2 - 2 Campbell (2)
FA Prem 16-May-99 55,189 A L 1 - 2 Ferdinand
FA Prem 23-Oct-99 36,072 H W 3 - 1 Iversen, Scholes o.g., Carr
FA Prem 06-May-00 61,629 A L 1 - 3 Armstrong
FA Prem 02-Dec-00 67,583 A L 0 - 2
FA Prem 19-May-01 36,072 H W 3 - 1 Korsten (2), Ferdinand
FA Prem 29-Sep-01 36,038 H L 3 - 5 Richards, Ferdinand, Ziege
FA Prem 06-Mar-02 67,059 A L 0 - 4
FA Prem 21-Sep-02 67,611 A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 27-Apr-03 36,073 H L 0 - 2
FA Prem 20-Dec-03 35,910 H L 1 - 2 Poyet
FA Prem 20-Mar-04 67,634 A L 0 - 3
FA Prem 25-Sep-04 36,103 H L 0 - 1
FA Prem 03-Jan-05 67,962 A D 0 - 0
FA Prem 22-Oct-05 67,856 A D 1 - 1 Jenas
FA Prem 17-Apr-06 36,141 H L 1 - 2 Jenas
FA Prem 09-Sep-06 75,453 A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 04-Feb-07 36,146 H L 0 - 4
FA Prem 26-Aug-07 75,696 A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 02-Feb-08 36,075 H D 1 - 1 Berbatov
F.A. Cup 4 27-Jan-08 75,369 A L 1 - 3 Keane
FA Prem 13-Dec-08 35,862 H D 0 - 0
F.A. Cup 4 24-Jan-09 75,014 A L 1 - 2 Pavlyuchenko
League Cup Final 01-Mar-09 88,217 Wembley D 0 - 0 (AET Spurs lost 1-4 on pens)
FA Prem 25-Apr-09 A


SPURS ODYSSEY PREVIEW:

Could Spurs spring a surprise?

Every season brings one or two fixtures where we have not visited a club in a league fixture for over 18 months. This year the trip to Old Trafford falls into that category, as our last Premier League trip was 20 months and two managers ago. When we went there in August 2007, Martin Jol was still in charge, under pressure because of a poor start, and yet we did have more points on the board than United at that stage. Nani scored the 68th minute pile-driver that separated the teams. Despite our failure to have won a Premier League game at Old Trafford, there have been some close games - most controversially of course the one featuring Pedro Mendes' "goal" in January 2005...



We have met United three times already though this season, and we have been to Old Trafford too. In December we played the home league game, after the arrival of Harry Redknapp, and while he was still in his "honeymoon period" with Spurs. We kept one of our 10 home league clean sheets that day, with many thanks to an impressive performance by Gomes, who had already won over the home fans who had doubted him earlier in the season.

In January, when both sides played "Cup teams", Pavlyuchenko scored an early goal to silence the Old Trafford crowd, but United came back to progress in the Cup from which they were eliminated in last week's semi-final.

It will of course be a different United side we face tomorrow, with as many big guns taking part as possible, although United are in a very busy period, with their home semi-final Champions League game next week against Ar5ena1 to follow. Having won one of his games in hand on Wednesday night, maybe Sir Alex will hold back one or two players for mid-week, although despite such absences and in juries, any side that Sir Alex puts out can be formidable.

Gary Neville and John O'Shea picked up injuries the other night, but Owen Hargreaves is the only other definite absentee.

United started this season slowly due to missing a game or two, but took hold of the league leadership firmly until a recent blip which saw them lose at home to arch-rivals Liverpool and away to Fulham in consecutive games. It is not often that United lose consecutive league games "in anger", but now they have got the lead back, and with one game still in hand (at Wigan), they are firm favourites to retain their title.

It wasn't so long ago that we Spurs fans dreaded our run-in with this game and two further away games in Liverpool to face when we feared we were in a survival race. Now, our Premier League status is assured, and on form we are in fact currently above United, so we can relax and approach this game in a confident frame of mind.

Michael Dawson will be missing, and we must hope that Ledley King can play tomorrow. Jermaine Jenas may still be out with his hamstring, and if fit would surely get the nod above Huddlestone in a game where combat will be sharp in the midfield. Pace will be very much required too!

The Spurs team will be eager to face Berbatov, but of course he would be well up for a performance against his former team and with pressure being brought to bear upon him by United fans after his penalty miss last week, and a perceived lazy approach to the game. As we know too well, that languid style camouflages great skill and panache. I look forward to Woodgate versus Berbatov with relish again!

It appears that Harry Redknapp has four fit strikers this week, so he has the sort of selection dilemma that we did not have in the first half of the season, which was the core of our problematic results until Defoe, then Keane returned in January.

Could Spurs spring a surprise tomorrow? It's a question that has often been asked before only to be met by failure.

Maybe it could happen on Saturday evening, but I'm going to sit on the fence and predict a 1-1 draw.

LAST TIME WE MET...













Tottenham's dream of a back-to-back Wembley success in the 2009 Carling Cup Final ended in heartbreak as Spurs were defeated 4-1 on a penalty shoot-out by Manchester United.

For the second year in a row, we fought bravely and went toe-to-toe on the biggest stage with first class opposition in a tense and thrilling encounter in which neither side could break the deadlock in 120 minutes of football.

But on this occasion, there was to be no glory at the end of it as the brave Jamie O'Hara and David Bentley suffered the misfortune of missing their spot kicks, while United netted all of theirs.

Nonetheless, the lads can once again hold their heads high after we proved to ourselves the level of performance we can achieve as we turn our attention back to fighting our way out of trouble in the Premier League.

We didn't have the best of starts to our day as last year's Wembley match-winner Jonathan Woodgate failed a late fitness test on an Achilles injury and was ruled out of the Final.

He and the cup-tied Carlo Cudicini, Wilson Palacios and Robbie Keane were the only absentees from the side that defeated Hull in the league last Monday.

Heurelho Gomes remained in goal from the week's UEFA Cup tie, Roman Pavlyuchenko continued on his quest to score in every round of this season's competition by partnering Darren Bent up-front, Didier Zokora came into midfield, and Michael Dawson partnered captain Ledley King at the back.

As was the case last year, our throng of fans were magnificent from start to finish, with our end of the stadium awash with blue and white and Cup Final flags being waved proudly by all.

On the pitch, United had the better of the first half and were on the attack from the early stages.

The first effort on goal was a trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick that sailed over on six minutes, and the same player put an effort straight at Gomes from inside the box a minute later after good build-up play by Nani and Carlos Tevez.

Young midfielder Darron Gibson came closest for them on 13 minutes with a crashing 25 yard drive that whistled just past the post after Benoit Assou-Ekotto had blocked a Tevez shot.

And Nani forced Gomes into his first real save of the afternoon on 16 minutes, the Brazilian doing well to tip a low shot around the post. But as the half continued we grew in confidence.

Our first meaningful attack came on 18 minutes when Aaron Lennon was found on the overlap by Vedran Corluka. The winger beat opposing goalkeeper Ben Foster to the ball and pulled back for the waiting Pavlyuchenko, but Rio Ferdinand got in to clear in the nick of time.

And despite the United skipper hitting an ambitious 30-yard effort onto the roof of our net on 24 minutes, you could argue we finished the half in the ascendancy.

Luka Modric slid in Bent for his first shot on goal in the 30th minute, which deflected nicely into the hands of Foster, and Lennon had another run at the defence on 32 minutes, with Jonny Evans intercepting his eventual low cross in the danger zone.

We carried this confidence into the second half when Jermaine Jenas played a neat one-two with Lennon on 57 minutes before curling a shot with the outside of his right foot just over from the edge of the box.

United's best chance came on 61 minutes when Evans hit goalwards after a scramble in the box, but an unmarked Tevez could only turn the ball wide from six yards.

The talking point of the match came on 68 minutes when Ronaldo went down in the box under a challenge from King but was promptly booked for diving by referee Chris Foy. Replays showed our skipper did not win the ball, but it was unclear to see whether the current World Footballer of the Year was already on his way down before contact was made.

On 71 minutes came our best chance. After a spell of pressure, Assou-Ekotto played a ball towards the unmarked Modric in the box, who allowed it to run for Lennon. The winger took his time before firing at goal, but Foster did well to palm the shot away just out of the reach of the lurking Bent.

The only save Gomes had to make in the second half was from a 75th minute shot from substitute Anderson, but by the end of 90 minutes, we had really come into our own.

Our football was flowing with Modric pulling the strings from off the front and Lennon looking a constant threat.

However, it was so nearly heartbreak in the final moments of normal time when Ronaldo was given space to run at the defence before crashing a fierce shot against the inside of Gomes' near post.

We escaped, and for a second year running, more extra time drama at Wembley was upon us.

Into the first period our tired legs started to show. Jenas had given his all in midfield and was replaced by Gareth Bale, and Lennon's non-stop running caused a tweak as he came off for Bentley.

The outstanding Dawson was also suffering after over-stretching when clearing, but bravely carried on the for the final 10 minutes.

Both sides had chances in the added half an hour. Tevez headed a Patrice Evra cross just wide before the break, Bent had a shot saved by the legs of Foster on 116 minutes, and Evra hit one from the edge of the box that sailed inches over just before the end.

But unlike last year, there was to be no extra time winner, and for the first time at the new Wembley, a major Cup Final was to be decided by the lottery of penalty kicks.

The kicks were to be taken at end at which the United fans were situated. After Ryan Giggs netted the first penalty, O'Hara, who had come on as a 65th minute substitute for Pavlyuchenko, stepped up to have our first kick saved by Foster.

Tevez put United further in front before Corluka pegged one back for us, but after Ronaldo slotted his spot kick home, there was further heartbreak as Bentley put his chance wide.

It was left to Anderson to win the Carling Cup for United, and he duly did as our brave attempt the retain the trophy ended in the most painful fashion.


Spurs (4-4-2):

Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Bentley, 102), Zokora, Jenas (Bale, 99), Modric; Pavlyuchenko (O'Hara, 65), Bent

Subs not used: Alnwick, Gunter, Huddlestone, Taarabt

Man Utd (4-4-2):

Foster; O'Shea (Vidic, 76), Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Ronaldo, Scholes, Gibson (Giggs, 91), Nani; Welbeck (Anderson, 56), Tevez

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Eckersley, Possebon, Park