Tottenham Hotspur 0 Manchester United 1

Last updated : 25 September 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his first Premiership goal of the season to beat Tottenham Hotspur and prove Manchester United are on the way back.

Van Nistelrooy thumped home a 41st minute spot-kick that had been handed to United on a plate after Spurs defender Erik Edman grabbed at John O'Shea's shirt in the penalty area.

It earned a victory that the Red Devils just about deserved following a professional and solid display in which they never really looked in danger.

It was hardly a return of the glory, glory days of trebles and goal feasts, but there was enough evidence to show that the comeback of Rio Ferdinand has made a big, big difference to United's title hopes.

United went into this match fired up on all fronts, thanks to the return of Ferdinand, the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who is being saved for another few days and a midweek rallying cry from their manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson had roared out a 'we're not finished yet' message in midweek, and there is a real sense at Old Trafford that the season starts right now.

With Ferdinand back in the fold, Rooney ready for next week and van Nistelrooy already back from injury and scoring goals there are no more excuses for United after a frustrating start to the season.

And to make matters even better, Louis Saha and Gary Neville should also be back in contention next weekend, giving Fergie some real selection headaches.

For all that, it was a stop-start to the game at White Hart Lane with neither team really getting hold the ball for long.

As both sides sized each other up, the only half-chances came from mistakes.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't hit the net when a Paul Robinson miscue reached him 25 yards out and then Pedro Mendes fired over the bar at the other end when gifted the ball by Mikael Silvestre.

It was United who looked the more constructive, though, with Ryan Giggs fizzing a 25-yard special narrowly over the bar after 27 minutes and Robinson producing a smart save at his near post when a van Nistelrooy effort took a big deflection.

Tottenham had to reorganise as early as the 29th minute when striker Fredi Kanoute went off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Simon Davies.

Interestingly, Spurs boss Jacques Santini used the substitution as a chance to change tactics - stringing five across the midfield instead of pushing Robbie Keane up front to join Kanoute's strike partner Jermain Defoe.

Tottenham, of course, began the match on a high of their own after thrashing Oldham 6-0 in the Carling Cup in midweek and earning a 0-0 draw at Chelsea a few days earlier.

But they were behind after 41 minutes when Edman needlessly pulled O'Shea's shirt as he stretched to meet a Gabriel Heinze cross.

The misdemeanour was immediately spotted by the linesman and van Nistelrooy thumped home from the spot with little or no fuss.

To their credit, Tottenham came out in the second half ready to battle and ready to take the game to their opponents.

Santini finally moved Keane up front where he belongs and Defoe's jinking runs began to cause mayhem.

He fired narrowly wide after one amazing run and caused the United defence no end of problems.

But Alan Smith also dinked a shot just wide after 47 minutes and there was a major let-off for Spurs when van Nistelrooy had the ball in the net from a Ronaldo cross after 62 minutes, only to see his effort controversially ruled offside.

They were fortunate again after 71 minutes when Silvestre looked certain to score following a van Nistelrooy flick, but somehow striker Keane managed to get back and block his shot.

To be fair to United they looked largely in control and when Davies thumped in a 20-yard volley, keeper Roy Carroll was more than ready.

It was a professional rather than an outstanding performance, but with Ferdinand cool and assured at the back it was perhaps a sign that United are getting back on track after a difficult start to the campaign.

As for Tottenham, they really need to show more adventure if they are to beat teams of United's quality.

And although they rallied at the end, with snap-shots from Jamie Redknapp and Keane, they rarely threatened the visitors where it really mattered - inside the penalty box.