FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER, 2000
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0)

Scorers:-
Scholes, 40
Solskjaer, 84

Referee:- G. Poll

Attendance:- 67,583

Teams:-
Man Utd (4-4-2):- Barthez; P. Neville, G. Neville, Brown, Silvestre; Beckham, Butt (sub Giggs, 73), Keane, Scholes; Sheringham, Yorke (sub Solskjaer, 73)

Subs not used:- Van der Gouw; Irwin; Greening

Booked:- Yorke (Handball), G. Neville (Foul)

Spurs (3-5-2):- Sullivan; Perry, Campbell, Thelwell; Carr, Anderton, Sherwood, King, Clemence; Ferdinand, Armstrong (sub Korsten, 63)

Subs not used:- Walker; Vega; Freund, Davies

Booked:- Ferdinand (Dissent)

When you play against an efficient footballing machine like Manchester United, home or away, you cannot afford to make even one error. This was probably Spurs most resolute away performance of the season, but sadly a single lapse in concentration in each half gifted goals to Scholes and substitute Solskjaer. This was rarely an exciting match and of course the result was entirely predictable, but Spurs did have the courage to come out of their shells in the second half, and for a brief period actually put the opposition under a little pressure.

Spurs also had a bright start, which lasted for all of three minutes before the red horde got their one touch passing and moving game together and advanced in file upon Sullivan's goal. For the most part, Campbell, Perry and Thelwell kept the Man Utd away from their goal, but without a doubt, Sullivan was the busier keeper, and he nearly wilted under the pressure at one stage, when he miscued a clearance from a back pass.

Ledley King impressed once again, and put Barthez in difficulty when collecting a cross from the right. However, at the other end, Anderton's poor pass was so nearly punished but Thelwell rescued him this time, with a good clearance. Sol Campbell's strength won the day, when Butt (who had numerous chances today) nearly latched onto a long ball from Sheringham. Butt then fired over the bar from a corner. Sherwood went down in the Man Utd penalty area in front of the Stretford End, but referee Poll obviously felt he had been subject to a fair shoulder charge. Then Sheringham and Beckham were making ground with exhibition passing, before Roy Keane, in front of goal, could only shoot wide across the target.

Spurs were relying on the odd long clearance to build upon, and an Armstrong flick gave Silvestre problems against the energetic Les Ferdinand. Les got a shot in, but it was deflected for a corner. Then came Sullivan's fluffed clearance, but he redeemed himself with a good save from a Scholes shot. Spurs built again from a goal kick, with a good passing move from Clemence, Ferdinand and Perry, before Tim Sherwood tried a long shot that did not bother Barthez.

There were nerves after 35 minutes, when Sol fouled Scholes on the edge of the area, and Beckham stepped up to take the kick. Sullivan parried and Stephen Carr completed the clearing up operation. Sadly, Man Utd took a timely lead five minutes before the interval. Sol Campbell could only half clear from the six yard line as far as Sheringham. The ex-Spur chipped the ball over the defence, and Scholes had too much room to play with before turning round Carr, and slotting home from 8 yards.

Early in the second half, Butt was put through, with only Sullivan to beat. The goalkeeper won the day, but there was also an offside flag to save Spurs. It was Butt yet again who forced Sullivan to save on the hour. Korsten replaced the ineffective Armstrong, but whilst Spurs got more possession in this half, they did not get close to goal. Their best move came after 77 minutes when Les Ferdinand ran onto a Carr chipped ball. Barthez got a touch on Les's close range effort from a narrow angle, and then both Korsten and Anderton were thwarted by the defence. Tim Sherwood had a decent shot blocked from a Clemence left field cross.

The optimists among us were still holding out hope that we would get something from the game, when Scholes beat Anderton and Sherwood to a loose ball, and put it through to Solskjaer, who was in miles of space on the left side of the area. It was all too easy for him to slide the ball round Sullivan. Korsten did hit a left foot shot at Barthez in injury time, but all in all, it was all too easy for Man Utd, who could afford to keep Giggs on the bench for most of the game, and who look forward to a much sterner challenge in the Champions League next week.

I feel that Spurs can feel quite pleased with their performance today, and we must hope that we finally get an away win at Bradford next week.

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