Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur

Saha, under pressure from Dawson, tries to bend a shot in from the edge of the box but with little, in fact no, success.

Saha finds himself one on one with Robinson who makes a wonderful save from the French striker as Spurs defence is caught high up the pitch pushing for an equaliser.

Tottenham go to Slavia Prague this week in the UEFA cup and will be encouraged by this performance although they will have to make more of their chances than they have today.

Some lovely play in the middle of the park betwen United's midfielders gives Saha a great opportunity. He makes the wrong choice though and skies his shot high over Robinson's crossbar.

Danny Murphy comes on to rapturous applause from the Manchester United fans to replace Ledley King.

Defoe gives the ball away to Giggs who feeds Ronaldo. He seems unsure whether to shoot or square it to Saha as he advances and ends up doing neither. Bit of a waste.

Darren Fletcher now replaces Michael Carrick.

Brown dispossesses Defoe a bit too easily and United now break with Ronaldo. He runs out of ideas though and now Spurs come forward. Mido gets on the end of a Ghaly cross and should have knocked the ball in from five yards out. United again look suspect at the back and Mido looks furious with himself. So he should. Another great chance for Spurs.

Ronaldo tries to bend it round the wall from a wide angle but it goes wide and Spurs have a goal-kick.

Giggs takes the corner and Ronaldo finds himself with the ball. With his back to goal he gets past two Spurs defenders before winning a free-kick.

The game continues and Giggs turns his man and hits it to Neville. He hits it low in to Spurs box and King, who is over his cramp, makes the interception.

Nice feet from Ronaldo and the United player then shows his caring side by hitting the ball out so Ledley King can get some medical attention. Bless.

Park is coming on for United and he will replace the recently cautioned Richardson.

From six yards Defoe misses the best goal-scoring opportunity of the game. When the cross comes in from the left Defoe finds himself five yards out with just Van der Sar to beat but he hits the ball with his shoulder as he twists his head to direct the ball and it goes harmlessly wide of the goal.

Spurs deal well with the threat and then break. Defoe does magnificently well to stay on his feet as he approaches United's goal but his old team-mate Michael Carrick gets back to make the decisive tackle. Mike Riley then goes back to book Richardson following his tackle on Defoe.

Spurs fail to clear a United attack and a rasping drive from Ronaldo after he knocks the ball past a defender is knocked behind for a corner by Robinson.

O'Shea shows good midfield cover to make a challenge on the edge of his area. Spurs have not given up this game by any strectch and will be looking to Defoe for a goal.

Fine play from Ronaldo allows him to feed Saha. Dawson is reluctant to challenge him in the penalty area but manages to steer the Frenchman wide of the United goal.

Today's attendance at Old Trafford is a Premierhip record. One which will probably be broken when Arsenal come to town next week.

Defoe's first touch is a good one, playing in Mido with a reverse diagonal ball but Mido fails to control it properly and the presence of Wes Brown is enough to put him off. The ball goes back to Van der Sar.

In fact, the Egyptian is also shown a yellow card for his troubles. His manager will be pleased.

Evra is caught very late by Ghaly and he is deservedly shown a yellow card despite Mido's ill-advised protestations.

Robbie Keane and Edgar Davids are off for Reto Ziegler and Jermaine Defoe. Keane looks a bit surprised.

The corner is deep towards the lurking Ferdinand but Dawson does enough to put him off and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Zokora shows strength to hold off Saha near the Spurs corner flag. He gives the ball away and Chimbonda has to knock it behind at the back post for a corner.

Yet again Dawson gets in to the box but his header is hit in to the ground after a fine delivery from Jenas. United have looked suspect at these set-pieces.

Keane prods the ball on to Mido in United's box but the Egyptian nas his back to goal and can't test Van der Sar. Spurs come again through Chimbonda who is well tackled by Ronaldo although the ball nearly loops over Van der Sar's head and he has to knock it behind for a corner.

A fine ball in from Richardson towards Ronaldo is heade clear with strength by Ledley King. United come again, this time down the right, and when Neville's cross reaches him Richardson's attempt at a shot is sliced well wide.

Ekotto blocks Gary Neville's ball and then Spurs attack. Davids finds himself deep in United's half after covering a lot of ground but Ferdinand does his job well to force the Dutchman in to knocking the ball behind for a goal-kick.

Jenas slices a volley high over the bar after the ball breaks to him on the edge of United's penalty area.

The corner is played in but again, Dawson can not get a clean head to it after a mis-cue from Zokora.

The teams appear for the second half which United kick off facing the Stretford End. They attack immmediately through Evra but he gives the ball away and, on the counter, Mido wins a corner for Spurs.

HALF TIME - Ryan Giggs second goal in two games is the difference between the two teams and United have produced some fine football at times. However, the slimness of the margin between the sides, and their own occasional goal-scoring opportunities during the opening forty-five minutes, will give Spurs hope in the second half.

Both Ronaldo and Richardson are caught offside as they scamper towards Saha's flicked through ball.

Two minutes of added time to be played.

Ryan Giggs weighs up his options as he faces down Chimbonda before curling a lovely cross in the direction of Gary Neville. It is only slightly too far away for the full-back to reach it.

Mido at the other end makes his way in to the United box but when his cross comes in there are too many red shirts in the way and United again get it out.

Jenas improvises his way past john O'Shea but United win it back and break through Giggs. Dawson does well to keep his eye on the ball and get a foot in to halt the Welshman's run.

The same player is then lucky not to concede a free-kick when he handles following a tackle.

Davids again gives the ball away needlessly. His distribution has been poor today.

Dawson (again) finds himself on the end of a lob over the United defence from Keane but Van de Saar comes out to smother the ball. If only it had fallen to one of the Spurs strikers it might have been a different story. Spurs have had their moments in this first half.

Corner to Spurs. Dawson comes in to try to get a head to the ball but he is muscled out well (and fairly) by Wes Brown. The England manager will be taking notes.

Steve McLaren is in attendance at his old club this evening and will be impressed with the form of Carrick in particular so far.

Sokora makes a good tackle on a pirouetting Ronaldo to begin a Spurs attack but Chimbonda is unable to reach the ball when it is played out towards him deep in United's half.

Neville does a sterling job at the back to race back and tackle Mido before preventing a corner with a clearance up the touchline.

Saha, Carrick and Ronaldo link well but then Richardson only has eyes for goal when he should have glanced to his left to play in Ryan Giggs. His shot is poor and easily saved.

Carrick dispossesses Davids but is then fouled and United take the free-kick quickly. Richardson is almost fed in from a Ryan Giggs flick but Chimbonda does well to get back and make the tackle.

Neville is blown for offside after he mis-times one of his trademark darting runs down the right flank.

Ghaly is unable to pick up Keane's through ball but Spurs build patiently once more after Ferdinand gives the ball away again to general groans from around Old Trafford. Eventually United get a throw.

Carrick again shows his vision to release Neville on the right but the United captain cannot get a decent cross in. Carrick is running the show in the middle so far.

Mido is caught offside and is rebuked by Keane for his carelessness. Spurs had been exerting a bit of pressure prior to this.

This time Keane has a shot on goal blocked by Brown and United are able to get it away.

Spurs concede possession easily but Ferdinand returns the favour and Tottenham attack through the middle. Jenas and Keane combine well but Jenas is under pressure from two United defenders when he receives the ball back and hits his shot well over the bar. Spurs best move of the game.

Giggs is the recipient of an elbow in the face from Zokora and leaves the field clutching a towel to his bleeding nose.

Wes Brown anticipates Robbie Keane's movement well to block the Irishman's path to goal.

Saha goes down a bit too easily after a collision with Chimbonoda but Mike Riley quite rightly waves away the somewhat half-hearted appeals of United's players.

Wes Brown gets a head to the corner but the ball is scrambled away close to the goal by Ghaly. United are looking good.

Great ball again from Carrick frees Gary Neville who wins a corner for United.

Ronaldo is brought down by Davids and the Dutchman is lucky not to receive a yellow card.

A nice ball in from the wing by Ronaldo is cleared well by the Spurs defence.

Robinson has now donned a rather fetching baseball cap in an attempt to defuse blame from his calamitous error (actually, the sun is somewhat dazzling at that end of the pitch and was most likely a factor in the goal).

Carrick plays a lovely ball through towards Saha but the Frenchman just doesn't have the legs to reach it.

GOAL - Ronaldo hits the free-kick from thirty-five yards and an unisghted Robinson can only parry the ball in to the path of Ryan Giggs who hits it home to make it a good week for the Premiership's player of the month. United take an early lead

Davids then scampers back to challenge Saha but the referee judges him to have fouled the United player.

Davids takes on Ronaldo at the by-line but his cross is cleared with ease by Ferdinand.

Mido gets back to defend and break up a United attack and then Carrick fouls Davids to give Spurs a free-kick.

United now break and Ronaldo comes inside his man showing good feet before unleashing a curling shot which Robinson does well to get down to save.

Richardson concedes a free-kick in the middle of the park and Spurs try to probe forward. Chimbonda hits an inviting cross in towards the head of Mido but it is slightly over-hit and United take it away.

Now United have a throw in Tottenham's half which is bathed in sunlight this evening. They fail to make anything of it though and are forced back.

This is the first of three big games for United here as they then take on Celtic and Arsenal at Old Trafford.

O'Shea heads the ball away to safety.

Spurs kick off in their changed away kit of light blue. Mido wins a throw near deep in United's half.

Michael Carrick, in his home debut, faces his old team for the first time. Any rancour Spurs fans feel towards their ex-midfielder should be tempered somewhat by the sixteen million pound profit their club made on the England man.

Aaron Lennon misses out for Spurs as they try to breach fortress Old Trafford, a ground where they have not won for seventeen years. Gary Neville returns to captain the home side who will be looking for all three points to return to the top of the table following the earlier results in the Premiership today.

Spurs fail to clear a United attack and a rasping drive from Ronaldo after he knocks the ball past a defender is knocked behind for a corner by Robinson.

O'Shea shows good midfield cover to make a challenge on the edge of his area. Spurs have not given up this game by any strectch and will be looking to Defoe for a goal.

Fine play from Ronaldo allows him to feed Saha. Dawson is reluctant to challenge him in the penalty area but manages to steer the Frenchman wide of the United goal.

Today's attendance at Old Trafford is a Premierhip record. One which will probably be broken when Arsenal come to town next week.

Defoe's first touch is a good one, playing in Mido with a reverse diagonal ball but Mido fails to control it properly and the presence of Wes Brown is enough to put him off. The ball goes back to Van der Sar.

In fact, the Egyptian is also shown a yellow card for his troubles. His manager will be pleased.

Evra is caught very late by Ghaly and he is deservedly shown a yellow card despite Mido's ill-advised protestations.

Robbie Keane and Edgar Davids are off for Reto Ziegler and Jermaine Defoe. Keane looks a bit surprised.

The corner is deep towards the lurking Ferdinand but Dawson does enough to put him off and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Zokora shows strength to hold off Saha near the Spurs corner flag. He gives the ball away and Chimbonda has to knock it behind at the back post for a corner.

Yet again Dawson gets in to the box but his header is hit in to the ground after a fine delivery from Jenas. United have looked suspect at these set-pieces.

Keane prods the ball on to Mido in United's box but the Egyptian nas his back to goal and can't test Van der Sar. Spurs come again through Chimbonda who is well tackled by Ronaldo although the ball nearly loops over Van der Sar's head and he has to knock it behind for a corner.

A fine ball in from Richardson towards Ronaldo is heade clear with strength by Ledley King. United come again, this time down the right, and when Neville's cross reaches him Richardson's attempt at a shot is sliced well wide.

Ekotto blocks Gary Neville's ball and then Spurs attack. Davids finds himself deep in United's half after covering a lot of ground but Ferdinand does his job well to force the Dutchman in to knocking the ball behind for a goal-kick.

Jenas slices a volley high over the bar after the ball breaks to him on the edge of United's penalty area.

The corner is played in but again, Dawson can not get a clean head to it after a mis-cue from Zokora.

The teams appear for the second half which United kick off facing the Stretford End. They attack immmediately through Evra but he gives the ball away and, on the counter, Mido wins a corner for Spurs.

HALF TIME - Ryan Giggs second goal in two games is the difference between the two teams and United have produced some fine football at times. However, the slimness of the margin between the sides, and their own occasional goal-scoring opportunities during the opening forty-five minutes, will give Spurs hope in the second half.

Both Ronaldo and Richardson are caught offside as they scamper towards Saha's flicked through ball.

Two minutes of added time to be played.

Ryan Giggs weighs up his options as he faces down Chimbonda before curling a lovely cross in the direction of Gary Neville. It is only slightly too far away for the full-back to reach it.

Mido at the other end makes his way in to the United box but when his cross comes in there are too many red shirts in the way and United again get it out.

Jenas improvises his way past john O'Shea but United win it back and break through Giggs. Dawson does well to keep his eye on the ball and get a foot in to halt the Welshman's run.

The same player is then lucky not to concede a free-kick when he handles following a tackle.

Davids again gives the ball away needlessly. His distribution has been poor today.

Dawson (again) finds himself on the end of a lob over the United defence from Keane but Van de Saar comes out to smother the ball. If only it had fallen to one of the Spurs strikers it might have been a different story. Spurs have had their moments in this first half.

Corner to Spurs. Dawson comes in to try to get a head to the ball but he is muscled out well (and fairly) by Wes Brown. The England manager will be taking notes.

Steve McLaren is in attendance at his old club this evening and will be impressed with the form of Carrick in particular so far.

Sokora makes a good tackle on a pirouetting Ronaldo to begin a Spurs attack but Chimbonda is unable to reach the ball when it is played out towards him deep in United's half.

Neville does a sterling job at the back to race back and tackle Mido before preventing a corner with a clearance up the touchline.

Saha, Carrick and Ronaldo link well but then Richardson only has eyes for goal when he should have glanced to his left to play in Ryan Giggs. His shot is poor and easily saved.

Carrick dispossesses Davids but is then fouled and United take the free-kick quickly. Richardson is almost fed in from a Ryan Giggs flick but Chimbonda does well to get back and make the tackle.

Neville is blown for offside after he mis-times one of his trademark darting runs down the right flank.

Ghaly is unable to pick up Keane's through ball but Spurs build patiently once more after Ferdinand gives the ball away again to general groans from around Old Trafford. Eventually United get a throw.

Carrick again shows his vision to release Neville on the right but the United captain cannot get a decent cross in. Carrick is running the show in the middle so far.

Mido is caught offside and is rebuked by Keane for his carelessness. Spurs had been exerting a bit of pressure prior to this.

This time Keane has a shot on goal blocked by Brown and United are able to get it away.

Spurs concede possession easily but Ferdinand returns the favour and Tottenham attack through the middle. Jenas and Keane combine well but Jenas is under pressure from two United defenders when he receives the ball back and hits his shot well over the bar. Spurs best move of the game.

Giggs is the recipient of an elbow in the face from Zokora and leaves the field clutching a towel to his bleeding nose.

Wes Brown anticipates Robbie Keane's movement well to block the Irishman's path to goal.

Saha goes down a bit too easily after a collision with Chimbonoda but Mike Riley quite rightly waves away the somewhat half-hearted appeals of United's players.

Wes Brown gets a head to the corner but the ball is scrambled away close to the goal by Ghaly. United are looking good.

Great ball again from Carrick frees Gary Neville who wins a corner for United.

Ronaldo is brought down by Davids and the Dutchman is lucky not to receive a yellow card.

A nice ball in from the wing by Ronaldo is cleared well by the Spurs defence.

Robinson has now donned a rather fetching baseball cap in an attempt to defuse blame from his calamitous error (actually, the sun is somewhat dazzling at that end of the pitch and was most likely a factor in the goal).

Carrick plays a lovely ball through towards Saha but the Frenchman just doesn't have the legs to reach it.

GOAL - Ronaldo hits the free-kick from thirty-five yards and an unisghted Robinson can only parry the ball in to the path of Ryan Giggs who hits it home to make it a good week for the Premiership's player of the month. United take an early lead

Davids then scampers back to challenge Saha but the referee judges him to have fouled the United player.

Davids takes on Ronaldo at the by-line but his cross is cleared with ease by Ferdinand.

Mido gets back to defend and break up a United attack and then Carrick fouls Davids to give Spurs a free-kick.

United now break and Ronaldo comes inside his man showing good feet before unleashing a curling shot which Robinson does well to get down to save.

Richardson concedes a free-kick in the middle of the park and Spurs try to probe forward. Chimbonda hits an inviting cross in towards the head of Mido but it is slightly over-hit and United take it away.

Now United have a throw in Tottenham's half which is bathed in sunlight this evening. They fail to make anything of it though and are forced back.

This is the first of three big games for United here as they then take on Celtic and Arsenal at Old Trafford.

O'Shea heads the ball away to safety.

Spurs kick off in their changed away kit of light blue. Mido wins a throw near deep in United's half.

Michael Carrick, in his home debut, faces his old team for the first time. Any rancour Spurs fans feel towards their ex-midfielder should be tempered somewhat by the sixteen million pound profit their club made on the England man.

Aaron Lennon misses out for Spurs as they try to breach fortress Old Trafford, a ground where they have not won for seventeen years. Gary Neville returns to captain the home side who will be looking for all three points to return to the top of the table following the earlier results in the Premiership today.