skip to content

  • Date:2008-12-13
  • Kick-off:17:30
  • Venue:White Hart Lane
  • Attendance:35882
  • Referee:Dean, M

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED. The hosts were on the back foot for much of the second period as United forced good saves from Gomes but Spurs never looked too uncomfortable all evening.

90mins

Superb save! Giggs takes seniority over Ronaldo at the free-kick and sends it bending towards the top corner but Gomes gets up to it briliiantly to deny him with the help of the woodwork.

89mins

United have the upper hand as we enter the final few minutes but any result is still possible here.

87mins

Are we in for a dramatic finish at the Lane? Both sides are going for the win and there are gaps opening up everywhere.

84mins

Modric so close! The Croation runs at the United defence and hits a shot from range that deflects off Ferdinand to leave Van Der stranded as it clips the top of the net.

83mins

Park has been one of United's most dangerous players today and he produces another immaculate turn on Zokora to force a good diving tip from Gomes with a stinging half-volley.

80mins

Frustration is growing for the United players and again Ronaldo is the main protagonist as he petulantly flicks out a leg at Michael Dawson.

77mins

More poor defending at a set-piece from Spurs as Corluka gets it stuck between his feet and Carrick scrambled a shot in that Gomes has to be down smartly to stop.

76mins

The problem for Spurs is that they are struggling to keep the ball out of their half with Bent left on his own as United are winning it back and starting again.

74mins

Great chance! Giggs whips a corner to the near post for Rio Ferdinand who inexplicably fails to keep his header down.

72mins

It almost works for the visitors as Giggs has time and space on the left to deliver a cross that allows Vidic to test Gomes with a header.

71mins

That change seems to be rather a strange one with United needing a goal but perhaps the craft of Giggs and Scholes could unlock the door for them.

69mins

Manchester United making a double change now as Carlos Tevez and Darren Fletcher are replaced by Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

66mins

Manchester United must have had the ball for no fewer than three minutes since Bentley's free-kick as they pass it around the field but they are struggling for dynamism.

63mins

Bentley tries to bend and dip a free-kick inside Van Der Sar's top corner and the Dutchman has to scramble and dive across his goal to tip it over for a corner.

63mins

Jermaine Jenas has taken a knock and has to be replaced by Jamie O'Hara.

62mins

For the first time in the match Lennon gets to open up and run at Rafael and beats him - so the Brazlilian takes him down and takes a booking.

60mins

Berbatov involved well again now as he plays a double one-two with Carrick before feeding Park who spins Assou-Ekotto brilliantly to force a save from Gomes.

58mins

Spurs are under the cosh a little at the start of this half as Ronaldo beats three before playing it wide for Tevez but Spurs manage to crowd out the Argentine.

56mins

Huddlestone picks up a yellow card for a foul on Park - although it seems to be for persistent offending.

55mins

Spurs are making a change as lone striker Pavlyuchenko is replaced by Darren Bent.

54mins

It's in the net! But it won't count for Ronaldo! The ball smashes into his midrift and rebounds onto his arm before he smahes a superb shot past Gomes but referee Dean rules it out.

53mins

Berbatov comes alive! The Bulgarian turns two in the centre circle and bursts past Corluka and only a superb covering challenge from Dawson denies him a shot on goal.

50mins

Ronaldo is starting to see a bit more of the ball in decent positions and he beats Zokora in-field and plays it across for Fletcher whop tries his luck from 30 yards out and fails to test Gomes.

48mins

Ronaldo and Berbatov combine cleverly on the edge of the box and the ball is only inches away from the feet of an onrushing Tevez but it rolls through to Gomes.

46mins

The second period is underway.

45mins

HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED. Spurs have enjoyed the better of the chances in a poor half of football, while Berbatov has struggled to impose himself amidst a barrage of boos.

45mins

There are going to be three minutes of added time.

43mins

The game is just starting to warm-up so perhaps it is a shame that we are just minutes away from the interval.

41mins

Huddlestone lays out Pavlyuchenko! Not in a bad way though as Huddlestone strikes a stinging shot from rnage that hits the Russian full in the chest and he needs a breather.

40mins

Good football all round! Ronaldo and Tevez combine to take half the Spurs defence out of the game and Ronaldo looks to drill it across goal for Berbatov but Gomes whips it off his toes superbly.

39mins

Great chance! Zokora comes in off the touchline and crosses for Modric who has ghosted off his marker but his header is pretty poor and drifts over.

36mins

Sensational from Carlos Tevez! He turns Assou-Ekotto on halfway as United break and then holds off the Frenchman and Corluka into the penalty area where his effort is just a fraction too high.

34mins

Berbatov is having a poor evening! Park does really well to bundle past Zokora and Huddlestone on the left flank before feeding in for Berbatov who loses concentration and the ball rolls under his foot and through for Gomes.

31mins

It has been forgotten really that Michael Carrick is also returning to his former club and he tries his luck from long range and Dawson has to deflect behind.

29mins

Good double save from Van Der Sar! Lennon drives at Fletcher and forces a good stop at the near post from Van Der Sar who then stops the follow-up from Pavlyuchenko.

25mins

Spurs are doing a good job of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo shackled and just as he thinks he has a good one-on-one opening on Zokora, Bentley gets back to outnumber the Portuguese.

22mins

Things have got a little slow and a little quiet now at the Lane as both sides struggle to get any real control - then Berbatov passes it out of play and the Spurs fans are back involved again.

18mins

A promising duel is already emerging on the Spurs left as fleet-footed duo Rafael and Lennon go head-to-head - Lennon is in behind this time but the Brazilian recovers excellently to win himself a throw.

14mins

Harry Redknapp's side are starting to take control for the first time as they settle down and enjoy their own spell of possession.

11mins

Woodgate has to be replaced by Tom Huddlestone which will cause a re-shuffle with Corluka at centre-back and Zokora at right back now.

10mins

An early worry now for Tottenham as Jonathan Woodgate needs treatment and seems to be limping off to the sidelines.

9mins

Spurs to get forward now and Bentley tries another spectacular volley from an outrageous distance and Van Der Sar has to dive full length to parry it away.

7mins

United have started really well here and Spurs are struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game as a result.

4mins

Half a chance now though! Berbatov at the heart of a smart United move that ends with Park's shot being deflected onto the top of the net by Dawson.

3mins

Spurs have hardly had a kick so far as United keep the ball in midfield but nothing too noteworthy from them.

1mins

Berbatov gets an early touch and a set of early boos to go with it - although there have definitely been harsher jeers to returning players before.

1mins

Mike Dean is the official for today's evening kick-off and he gets the game underway in front of a raucous home crowd.

0mins

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez

0mins

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Bentley, Modric, Pavlyuchenko

0mins

The big team news from Manchester United is that former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov is fit and starts at White Hart Lane where he can expect a less than welcoming reception today.

0mins

Spurs are unrecognisable from the side that Juande Ramos left bottom of the Premier League as Harry 'Houdini' Redknapp has worked his magic to create a sense of confidence around all at White Hart Lane once again.

0mins

Welcome to White Hart Lane where improving Tottenham Hotspur entertain reigning Champions Manchester United.

Match Preview

Dimitar Berbatov makes his first return to White Hart Lane following his controversial transfer to Manchester United at the end of August when Tottenham Hotspur entertain Sir Alex Ferguson's side on Saturday evening.

The Bulgaria international is likely to receive a frosty welcome from the home fans though after his poor attitude in the opening weeks of the season were believed to be partly to blame for Spurs' dreadful start to the campaign.

Spurs' form did not improve immediately after Berbatov's departure though and it was not until Harry Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos seven weeks ago that the club finally won their first Premier League game of the season.

Monday's 2-0 victory at West Ham United extended Spurs' recent run to five wins and a draw from eight league games under Redknapp's guidance and they start this weekend's fixtures three points above the drop-zone.

Ledley King's chronic knee injury again leaves him doubtful for United's visit to north London following his goalscoring exploits at Upton Park, while Giovani Dos Santos (ankle), Paul Stalteri (ankle) and Alan Hutton (foot) definitely miss out.

United's form on their travels has been patchy so far this season and they have tasted victory only three times in eight away league matches.

Ferguson's side have already lost at Liverpool and Arsenal but have not conceded a goal in the four league games since the Emirates Stadium setback and have beaten Manchester City and Sunderland 1-0 in their last two matches.

Wes Brown (ankle) and Owen Hargreaves (knee) are United's only two definite absentees as Ferguson's side play their last game before travelling to Japan for the Club World Championship.


advertisement

advertisment

Match Report

Dimitar Berbatov failed to make a winning return to White Hart Lane and silence the Tottenham boo-boys as Manchester United were forced to settle for a point in north London.

Tottenham fans made their feelings known towards the Bulgarian striker who left the club in controversial circumstances in August when he made a £30.75million move to Old Trafford.

Berbatov was booed every time he touched the ball and the abuse seemed to affect his all-round game as he was well below his normal best.

The rest of the United team were also below-par and failed to capitalise on Liverpool dropping more points at home to Hull City earlier in the day.

It could have been a different story had both keepers not been at the top of their game, but Tottenham managed to continue their amazing revival under Harry Redknapp and move another step away from the bottom three.

Tottenham almost got off to a dream start on eight minutes when David Bentley fired a superb 30-yard volley which produced a brilliant save from Edwin van der Sar diving away to his left.

Tottenham suffered a major injury blow just 60 seconds later when Jonathan Woodgate was forced to leave the field and was replaced by Tom Huddlestone.

The change did not affect to appear the home side and Tottenham went close again on 29 minutes when Aaron Lennon raced unchallenged towards the United penalty box before firing a low drive which was well saved by van der Sar.

The rebound fell to Roman Pavlyuchenko who also saw his shot tipped over the bar by the Dutch keeper, but referee Mike Dean amazingly awarded a goal-kick to United - much to the disgust of the home supporters.

United were somehow hanging on and were lucky to escape once again on 38 minutes when Tottenham created the best chance of the first half.

Didier Zokora was asked to fill in at right-back after Woodgate's withdrawal, but he was doing his best to surge forward and played a superb ball into the path of Luka Modric whose diving header flew inches past the post.

United finally woke up after the half-time interval and Berbatov almost made a dream return on 52 minutes when he evaded the challenges of Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Vedran Corulka and broke free into the box, only to see a superb late challenge from Michael Dawson deny him the opening goal.

Cristian Ronaldo thought he had broken the deadlock on 53 minutes when he smashed the ball past Heurelho Gomes, but his close-range effort was ruled out for handball.

In an open contest, Tottenham had another golden chance to take the lead on 62 minutes.

Bentley's curling free-kick looked destined for the top left-hand corner but van der Sar once again showed his agility by producing a stunning save to deny the Tottenham midfielder.

Gomes had to be at his best on 82 minutes when he superbly tipped a shot from Ji-Sung Park over the bar.

The Brazilian keeper then produced the save of the game in stoppage time when he managed to tip Ryan Giggs' free-kick onto the top of the bar as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United

Corners

414

Fouls

109

Goal attempts

1016

Shots off target

43

Offsides

42

facebook twitter rss