Source: SKY_Sports
Man Utd v Tottenham live!
50 Rafael fouls Modric just inside United's half. Bent comes back on though he's not looking 100% happy.[LNB]49 Having landed awkwardly, Bent requires some time with the physio before limping to the touchline to allow play to continue. He should be okay to carry on by the looks of things though.[LNB]48 Bent goes up for a header and then goes down clutching his knee, but the free-kick goes against him for an elbow on Vidic.[LNB]47 It's a scrappy start to the second half, with both sides conceding possession as if it were an item of no importance whatsoever.[LNB]46 Sir Alex Ferguson has made a change during the break, pulling off the showboating but ineffective Nani and replacing him with Carlos Tevez. Good move, because there's no doubt Tevez will be hungry.[LNB] Marta in Benidorm has some suggestions: "Push scholes on, its desperate, hes the genius. Hes won about 8 titles in his own backyard. Please shout to sir alex to pull off berbatov, he's in cloud cuckoo land after that penalty miss at wembley."[LNB] The bookies are always an interesting indicator as to how a match may unfold. SkyBet have United at 4/1 to win from here, while Spurs are 4/7 and the draw is 14/5.[LNB] Ben Keraro in New Jersey has an interesting insight on United: "They are behind because Evra is going too far forward on the left side. Lennon has speed and can turn and dink really fast. But even worse is positioning by Man United when crosses are coming in. Ferdinand and Vidic should do a better job. They are also giving too much space to Luka Modric when cutting from the left side. Man United will be playing with the sun behind them But I hope Tottenham do not make too many silly mistakes right outside the box. Ronaldo does not need too many invitations to score from that range. Tottenham are still capable of scoring one more goal and if they do, A United comeback is will be made harder though it is not impossible. The worst that can happen in this game as it is now is 2-all draw. I still fancy an upset!"[LNB] "Dear oh dear, what is going on with Man Us defence?" wonders Peter Smith. "All that pressure and nothing. Then along comes spurs and knocks 2 in the back of the net in 3 mins. Is it the defence? Is it the man utd finishing? All those shots wasted. We need something special now to happen." The answer has to be 'all of the above' I reckon. Two sloppy moments of defending have erased a whole half of pressure and given Spurs renewed confidence. Stay tuned though folks, because I fancy United aren't out of this yet...[LNB]45+1 Fletcher concedes a corner from near the halfway line as he tackles Lennon. Modric's cross is cut out by the United defence, and that'll be half-time.[LNB]45 Wilson Palacios goes for a long-range effort from the right-hand side, but it drifts just over van der Sar's goal.[LNB]44 Corluka plays Lennon in behind Evra, but his low cross is cut out by Vidic.[LNB]43 Berbatov looks to have played Ronaldo in behind the Spurs defence, but the referee calls play back because the Bulgarian handled the ball before making the pass.[LNB]41 Jenas goes in the book for a late tackle on Fletcher.[LNB]40 Fletcher sets up Nani on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked by an increasingly desperate Spurs defence. Pressure is building.[LNB]39 United swing in a corner, but Gomes has been emoldened by that save and he comes out to grasp it first time.[LNB]38 Ronaldo's original effort is straight into the wall, but it rebounds straight back to him to allow a volley which dips towards the top right hand corner. It seems destined for the back of the net but Gomes leaps to his left to make a stunning save.[LNB]37 Woodgate's late challenge on Ronaldo earns him the first yellow card of the match, and Ronaldo can have another go with a free kick, this time from 35 yards out.[LNB]36 The Spurs fans are in full voice, but United continue to apply the pressure. On this occasion Rafael's left-footed drive from 20 yards out is well gathered by Gomes.[LNB]35 A smooth move from United sees Evra and Ronaldo combine with a couple of neat touches before the latter swings in a low cross, but Nani's flicked effort is wide of goal.[LNB]34 A shell-shocked United eek their way forward on the right, but Spurs are understandably encouraged and motivated now and it's Keane who gets back to win a free-kick and relieve the pressure.[LNB]32 GOAL - MODRIC: Two-nil! And again it's come from the right hand side where Lennon jinked his way to the byline before putting in his cross. While Bent can't make contact this time, it goes straight to Modric on the far post who chests the ball down before driving it past van der Sar.[LNB]31 Benoit Assou-Ekotto puts in a perfectly-timed tackle to pinch the ball off Nani as he attempts to drive forward down the right for United.[LNB]30 Well that's woken up the home crowd, who urge their team on as they drive down the right.[LNB]29 GOAL - BENT: It's slightly scrappy, but it's a goal nonetheless. Corluka swings in a cross from the right, and while Bent scuffs his header the ball falls at his feet and he hammers it in from three yards. What a coup for Spurs given the pressure they've been under![LNB]27 Rafael tries to play Ronaldo in on goal, but Gomes comes out to beat the Portuguese winger to the ball.[LNB]26 Massive pressure from United sees the ball ping-pong around the Spurs box before coming out to Rooney on the edge of the area, and his shot is just over Gomes' bar.[LNB]25 United win a free-kick 30 yards out which Ronaldo takes. His effort strikes the wall and though he appeals for a handball, the referee isn't interested.[LNB]24 Nani whips in a great cross from the left, but Ronaldo is put under enough pressure by King to miss his header. Good chance for United there.[LNB]23 Nani lets the ball run out of play as he performs a series of step-overs but then wins a free-kick with some theatrics in going to ground.[LNB]22 The sliding tackles come flying in from Spurs as United make progress into their opponents' half, and eventually the defence pays off as Spurs win the ball and then a free kick.[LNB]20 Jermaine Jenas catches Barbatov with a high arm and United have a free kick around 40 yards from goal. Ronalod tries his luck with a direct effort at goal which bounces on its way to Gomes, but while the goalkeeper drops it initially, he then gathers the ball before a United player can get to it.[LNB]19 Keane tries to play Corluka in behind the defence on the right, but Patrice Evra gets back to win a goalkick as the duo slide out of play with the ball.[LNB]18 Spurs win a free kick just inside United's half and swing it into the box, where van der Sar grabs it at the second attempt.[LNB]17 Luka Modric beats Rafael down the left and, just as it looks like he's run out of options, crosses into the United box. Unfortunately it's just beyond Bent and the defence clear the danger.[LNB]16 Ronaldo tries a long-range effort with his left foot, but it flies high and wide of the Spurs goal.[LNB]15 Spurs gain possession in United's half but run out of ideas as they approach the penalty area.[LNB]14 The home side win the ball back and forge forward, but Spurs win a free-kick in their own half.[LNB]13 Keane's ball out to Bent on the right wing is well cut out by Nemanja Vidic, but United concede a throw-in deep in their own half.[LNB]12 After a couple of Spurs attacks in the first ten minutes, United have now taken control of the game and are dominating possession and territory.[LNB]11 A cunning run from Berbatov almost results in a chance for Rooney, but the Spurs defence cut out the attack in the nick of time.[LNB]10 Rafael puts in a teasing cross from the right, but Rooney just can't get his head to it in the centre.[LNB]9 Nani jumps on a loose ball in the Tottenham half, but his diagonal pass towards Berbatov is cut out by Ledley King on the edge of the Tottenham box.[LNB]8 Aaron Lennon puts in a perfect cross to the back foot, but Darren Bent' header is easily palmed behind for a corner by Edwin van der Sar as he covers his near post. The resulting corner comes to nothing.[LNB]7 Cristiano Ronaldo picks up a loose ball and drives forward, but Robbie Keane gets back to nick the ball away.[LNB]6 Carrick looks for Rooney with a long ball, but it's too long and Gomes gathers.[LNB]5 United win the ball back and probe down the right, setting Fletcher free to the byline. However his cross is too deep for Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.[LNB]4 Fletcher's poor ball forward is collected by Vedran Corluka and Spurs forge forward down the right.[LNB]3 It's end-ot-end stuff in the opening exchanges as both sides threaten without finding a final ball into the box.[LNB]2 United immediately go on the offensive and Darren Fletcher almost feeds Dimitar Berbatov with a through-ball, but Heurelho Gomes comes sliding out to beat the forward to the ball.[LNB]1 After waiting for Tottenham to conclude their spirit-raising huddle, Manchester United get us underway at Old Trafford.[LNB] Our referee this evening is Howard Webb. We're just about ready to roll, and of course you can send in your musings and insights on the match by emailing tristan.holme@teamtalkmedia.co.za.[LNB]Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Jenas, Modric, Keane, BentSubs: Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Chimbonda[LNB]Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Berbatov, RooneySubs: Foster, Anderson, Scholes, O'Shea, Evans, Tevez, Macheda[LNB]Team news: Meanwhile Ledley King and Jermaine Jenas come into the Tottenham line-up, although the main news out of White Hart Lane is the withdrawal of England star Jermain Defoe following the tragic death of his half-brother Jade, which was announced earlier today.[LNB]Team news: There will be no 800th Manchester United appearance for Ryan Giggs today, because he's not even been named on the bench. However Carlos Tevez is among the substitutes as the unhappy South American again plays second fiddle to Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.[LNB] Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United against Tottenham from Old Trafford. The Red Devils are second on the Barclays Premier League table following Liverpool's 3-1 win over Hull, but only trail on goal difference and have two games in hand. Can Spurs halt United's assault on the crown?[LNB]
