WAYNE Rooney scored twice as Manchester United showed their defiance to Chelsea with a stylishly attacking performance at White Hart Lane.
It means the Premiership title race is prolonged a little while yet.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy also hit the post and United were good value for the win in a much-improved display from the goalless disappointment against Sunderland on Good Friday.
Jermaine Jenas pulled one back in the second-half for a Tottenham side which had been dealt a bitter blow when England central defender Ledley King was ruled out with a fractured left foot he sustained at Everton on Saturday.
It means Tottenham stay four points ahead ahead of Arsenal in the race for the fourth-placed Champions League spot with a mouth-watering London derby against the Gunners coming up next Saturday.
Indeed, Spurs proved here how far they have come under manager Martin Jol. They could easily have won this match and were the better team for long periods.
But United had Rooney.
Early strike
The England striker, who settled his é700,000 gambling debt over the weekend, put United ahead as early as the seventh minute, although it had been Spurs who had made the better start.
They might easily have gone ahead when Jermain Defoe skewed a shot just wide after good work by Aaron Lennon and then when Michael Dawson brought a sharp save from Edwin Van der Sar.
But United punished them for their early profligacy in the most clinical of fashion.
A neat ball from Ruud van Nistelrooy found Cristiano Ronaldo whose precision cross was tapped in with nonchalance from a couple of yards by Rooney.
To their credit Spurs continued to play attacking football and Defoe and Robbie Keane in particular where a handful for the United defence.
They might have equalised when Gary Neville and John O'Shea both challenged for an innocuous high ball and the resulting collision saw the ball loop towards the far post where Dawson met it on the volley but, with Van der Sar standing tall, he contrived to send the effort over the crossbar from two yards out.
Wastefulness
More wastefulness and once more United made them pay.
This time, however, Spurs were the architects of their own downfall. Lee Young-Pyo dwelled needlessly on a ball in defence, only to be caught in possession by his Korean counterpart Park Ji-Sung.
The United midfielder, who had a 25-strong press corps from Korea watching his progress, fed Rooney in oceans of space.
The outcome was inevitable. A composed take, a deliberate aim and a rasping shot past Paul Robinson.
Jenas pulled one back in the 53rd minute when Vidic's clearance from a corner deflected back towards goal off Rio Ferdinand to allow the Spurs midfielder to stab home.
Even so it was United who finished the stronger.
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Fantastic result. Roll on the Chelski game.
good all-round performance.
We were made to work for the 3 points, but the commitment was sufficient today.
That not one similar chance was taken on friday is for the history book.
It could have ended 4-3 to us!!
I think Vidic looks too slow and cumbersome at present and with the pace of Spurs it was a surprise decision that saw that him start!!
Up The Reds
I have to say it was not a convincing performance. We looked very shaky in central midfield. John and giggsy looked a bit lazy. Vida too was out of sorts and saha wud have been a better choice with his pace. Gaffer has got 12 days to sort out everything so that we beat Chelsea and go into next season high on confidence
Great game and a great performance from both teams. We beat a very strong spurs team today in their own back yard. I think some of the jokers who have be slagging off the team after their sorry performance on friday, should be big enough and give credit when its deserved. Those calling for Rudd and ronaldo to be sold off, should be doing standup down at the frog and bucket. Our first goal was quality, and it was nice to see the three players who receievd the most insults involved in the build up. Well done united.
There's no easy games in the EPL and only a couple of teams would have beaten a very good team like Spurs,to-day. But United played with good conviction and with a big heart to answer for Friday's disappointment.Both sides gave us an entertaining encounter. Good for football and the fans.
it was a great display but I just feel that Ruud is not playing any where near his best, I am a big Ruud fan and want to see him stay and score goals but I don't see it at the moment, I can't wait until Saha is back 100% because I really think the guy is a class striker.
A good whole-hearted performance by United against a very well-organised Spurs team. My biggest surprise was seeing RVN playing behind Wayne Rooney in the first half. He was holding the ball up well and, unlike his normal game, was getting involved. Then in the second half he switched to his lethargic mode again, missed a sitter and had another effort he should have scored against the upright. Hope we see Saha in the Chelsea game.
An important result for second place. Vidic playing regularly, Gabby back and Saha replacing Ruud and we should have a strong finish. Capitalize on Ruud while we can. Rossi, Roo, Saha and a Defoe type will do it for us next year.
Ruud has to be in the 15 mill category wouldn't you think?
Thanks to all the players for a great game. I don't give Ferguson a lot of credit for the good run of results it's obvious he stumbled into playing Giggsy in CM let's be honest.
Steve, glossop you always find something to moan about even when we win against the fourth best side in the EPL. You do not need to tell us for the 90th time that you dont like Fergie- we all knew that and we all know that you still haven t forgive him for his "betrayal" in 2001. When we loose you claim he is incomptent and when we win you say its luck. You re so negative that you make Man City look like an attractive side.
Great play from Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo for Rooney's first goal and the persistence from Park for the second was superb. but i'm still worried about United only having one man on the post for corners. great performance lads. bring on Chelsea!
Great performance for most of the match and an even better result against a good Spurs side. Thought RVN looked good for half of the game and not so good for the rest. No idea how Giggsy was named the Sky Sports MOM, thought he and O'Shea were particularly sloppy and careless throughout, highlighting the fact that this can only be a temporary solution in centre mid. Positives were a much improved performance by Ronaldo and the ever energitic and committed Park. Silvestre was useless today and despite his improved performances of late he proved he will struggle when up against better players.
Without Fletcher. Everthings look good!! We will unbeaten without Flet.
thought ronaldo was much much better today than against sunderland. for my money, he had a better game than rooney, who despite scoring both goals was guilty of making too many wrong decisions and giving away the ball too often throughout the match. I've said it before and I will say it again. Everything positive that Ronaldo does is glossed over. Everything negative he does is played up. Whereas for Rooney its the exact opposite.
Great performance today, but the reliance we have on a 19 year-old is frightening. An injury to Roo and we are screwed. There's no doubt we're the best of the rest now though. Second place is definitely ours.
A great result but Chelsea are like we were a in the 90s. Just too good.
But as Fergie says, one trophy a year is the aim. If that means settling for the League Cup for a few seasons until the finances are sorted then so be it. I'll still follow the boys. At least we're not City fans!
I agree with JK - UK, Ronaldo is the guy to take this club forward though Roony has the best work ethic. They praise Roony week in week out without giving Ronaldo what ggod credit he deserves and you expect him (Ronaldo)For every sport, someone in the team is makinh them look good Michael Jordan had Scottie Pipen, Shaq O'neill had Kobe Brant, Cantona had the good players around him, except for exeptional players like Maradonna, Ronaldino and I beleive without Ronaldo, Roony will be a player he is today but with ronaldo, he will be a better player in the future.
Agree with JK - Ronaldo is brilliant and deserves to be talked about in the same way as Rooney. He had a bad game last Friday (they all did) but he is pure class overall. He has been instrumental in United's strong finish and he is brilliant to watch at times.
And Steve from Glossop - you're always such a negative - why you support United is beyond me. I think it pains you just to SEE red... never mind support it.
I am happy, but chelsea won too, so I beguile hope already, that Manchester United won a Premiership, while...who know?
What can you say about Rooney that hasn't been said. He again was fantastic amazing.
A very good win for the reds, only chelkski have taken maximum points atthe lane this season.Why are some so called fans calling for fergie to go, how short are some peoples memorys.with a couple of addittions in the summer, Utd can overtake the spoilt brats at the bridge, next season.Lets not forget we have a trophy this season, dont write of fergie just yet,yes some of his buys have not been the best,but remember cantona, the great dane ,irwin, and all the kids he gave a chance to.As a kid growing up in the 70s I could only dream of the glory fergie has brought to Utd.Remember the scousers havent won the title since 1990.
where are all the haters now? where are all the ronaldo bashers now? see that first goal????? all ronaldo. thank you. oh and by the way, ROLL ON NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE BACK.
A good result against a very good Tottenham team.
I'm really pleased now with the style of play, and hopefully a certain assistant manager will never again be allowed to dicate tactics and/or team selection.
I can see United hurtling off to a great start next season with some quality players added to the team.
Steve, Glossop, I cant believe your having a go at Fergie about the Giggs thing.You're probably too young to remember big ron and the rubbish we used to watch. If you're a decent red, I'm sure you are, then you'll think about it and realise that Fergie is a God send.Giggs has been fine at filling the gap in CM until we get another'Keane' Park was great today, again! what a guy.
A good all-round performance.
Endeavour and will to win was what was evident today.Giggsy looking good in this surprising role and Park also a good strong game.
I would prefer Wes back in that defence though.
I suppose we'll have to wait until next season to get our trophy back!
Up The Reds