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Full League Record of Man Utd v Spurs

Prem          Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home          21   3   6  12   23 -36  15
Away          21   1   3  17   11 -44   6
=========================================
Total (Prem)  42   4   9  29   34 -80  21
=========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  51  20  19  12   89 -64  63
Away (Div 1)  51   9   9  33   55 -101 28
=========================================
Total(Div 1) 102  29  28  45  144 -165 91
=========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   4   2   1   1   10 - 3   5
Away (Div 2)   4   1   2   1    3 - 3   4
=========================================
Total(Div 2)   8   3   3   2   13 - 6   9
=========================================
Total (Prem)  42   4   9  29   34 -80  21
Total (Div 1) 102 29  28  45  144 -165 91
Total (Div 2)  8   3   3   2   13 - 6   9
=========================================
Grand Total   152 36  40  76  191 -251 121
=========================================

Last Six Premier League results:-

Spurs - LWWDLL

Spurs      0-3   West Ham
A. Villa   0-2   Spurs
Spurs      1-0   Hull
Everton    0-0   Spurs
Spurs      0-1   Newcastle
Man City   6-0   Spurs

b>Manchester United - WDWWWD

S'derland  1-2   Man Utd
Man Utd    1-1   S'hampton
Man Utd    3-2   Stoke
Fulham     1-3   Man Utd
Man Utd    1-0   Arsenal
Cardiff    2-2   Man Utd

Pos           P   W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
6. Man Utd   12  6  3  3  20-15   5   21
9. Spurs     12  6  2  4   9-12  -3   20

Can Spurs bounce back in this game?

The odds are certainly not in favour of Spurs bouncing back from their recent severe down-turn in form in this game. Some might say that the fixtures computer was unkind to us, pitting us against Manchester City one week, and United the next. of course, this is not the first time this has happened, because as recently as two years ago, we faced United away (lost 3-0) and then City at home (lost 5-1) in consecutive Premier league games.

The trouble is that Spurs have managed to lose games when the fixtures computer has supposedly been in our favour. Those home defeats against West Ham and Newcastle have already proved costly in terms of points and morale, both for the players, and especially for the fans. Last week's thrashing (our first 6-0 defeat since March 1993) has only served to compound the gloom at White Hart Lane.

A good result is required, but we could not wish for worse opposition than United to try and achieve what is required. Even Chelsea have won less points against us than United, and our home league record against them is dismal. On average, since the Premier League has been established, we have managed just one point every two games against United.

The current form guide indicates that United will be firm favourites on Sunday. They are unbeaten in their last 6 league games, with league leaders Arsenal among their victims in a run of 4 wins and two draws. Then, on Wednesday night they simply brushed Bayer Leverkusen aside in Germany with a superlative 5-0 win, in which Ryan Giggs played the full 90 minutes.

Giggs is celebrating his 40th birthday today (Friday 29th Novemeber, 2013), and his story is simply a phenomenal one, having spent his full career at United, and played in every season on the Premier League, now in its 22nd year. Giggs' career even started before then, in March 1991 at home to Everton. In his next game (at home to Manchester City) Giggs scored the first of 114 league goals, and has scored in every season, except this one (so far). Giggs will be hoping for an appearance in this game to get off the 666 mark. He'll pass that particular ominous number this season without a doubt.

Spurs' recent form has been quite the opposite to that of United. We didn't manage a league win in our three games in November; failed to score a goal in those three games; and we haven't actually scored a league goal in open play since beating Villa away on October 20th. The last decent home league goal seen by Spurs' home fans was that of Gylfi Sigurdsson on September 28th against Chelsea. No wonder they have been quiet!

I know you are looking for a positive note here, so here it is:- Last season, we did not lose to United, and we were the only team to take four points off them in their title-winning season. Our away win in September last year was momentous, historic, and deserved. At home, we drew, and that was only because Clint Dempsey (who also scored in the away game) managed an added time equaliser to Robin van Persie's 25th minute goal. Rooney, rather than Van Persie, has been more of the positive headlines recently, but Van Persie still heads their league goals' chart with seven, whilst Rooney has six.

Spurs then will desperately be seeking goals and a result. The fact that Soldado played the full 90 minutes last night in Norway suggests that maybe Jermain Defoe will start on Sunday. That didn't work against West Ham recently, but who knows what other tactical surprise (if any) Andre Villas-Boas has up his sleeve? Maybe he will even try playing Defoe and Adebayor together.

There are several uncertainties about the Spurs team, which is obviously good from the point of view of David Moyes' planning, but LLoris, Walker, Vertonghen, Sandro and Paulinho are sure to start. I'd venture to suggest that Michael Dawson's place might be at risk, but only when Danny Rose is once again available.

This season, Spurs Odyssey has been focussing upon the events of 15 seasons ago, which is the first season for which we have full records online. It so happens that around this time, we beat United 3-1 in the fifth round of the Worthington Cup. United did field some reserves, but both Ryan Giggs and former Spur Teddy Sheringham played, as did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. All three of those United players had a starring role in United's Champions League win against Bayern Munich. In fact United won a treble that season with Spurs winning the only other available trophy for a domestic club. David Ginola was the Spurs star that day, and capped his performance with the final goal. (Full report here - Spurs 3 Man Utd 1, 2nd December, 1998)

So, to answer the original question, can Spurs bounce back in this game? The answer is that, of course, in football, anything can happen. Spurs will have to be at their very best, and that is something we have perhaps yet to see this season at all, so to be honest, I have to say I think a win unlikely, but we all live in hope, don't we? I'll predict a scoring draw, and see you there!

Sunday's referee will be Mike Dean, who we've seen more than any other referee in recent years. Our record with Mr. Dean in charge is not at all bad. His last two games with us have been against Chelsea, which were drawn.

· Also 15 years ago this week, Spurs lost 2-1 at West Ham

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