One down, two to go.
Having plundered three points from White Hart Lane, Manchester United moved a
vital step closer to stealing an even more prized possession from another corner
of North London.
Now five points clear of their main rivals, albeit having played a game more,
United could be even further ahead if, as expected, they defeat Charlton at Old
Trafford next Saturday.
Only Everton could thereafter prevent them winning the title back from Arsenal
- and that is if the Gunners win their own remaining three matches.
This weekend may, indeed, therefore yet prove to have been the most pivotal of
all this season.
After all, for so long at White Hart Lane it looked as though United could
face as much frustration as Arsenal in their costly 2-2 draw at Bolton 24 hours
earlier.
They were by no means at their best and, with Spurs keeper Kasey Keller in
inspired form, Ruud van Nistelrooy had missed five clear-cut chances to take his
tally for the season to 40 goals.
But while so much fuss had understandably been made over David Beckham's
omission from the starting line-up against Real Madrid, it was actually Paul
Scholes who was at least as badly missed.
Beckham may have been back in the side at White Hart Lane, but so too was
Scholes after a European ban.
While Beckham was involved in the build-up, it was Scholes who actually scored
the all-important first goal with 22 minutes left to relieve the growing
tension.
Van Nistelrooy finally found a way past Keller deep into injury-time and
United celebrated as if they had one hand on the Premiership trophy.
They had threatened from the start, with Keller denying Giggs and van
Nistelrooy in the opening few minutes, while the Dutchman was also just off
target under pressure from Stephen Carr.
Spurs, meanwhile, were depressingly lightweight in attack, where Robbie Keane
was ploughing a lone furrow with too little support from the flanks.
Roy Carroll, who was replacing Fabien Barthez, did well to smother the ball at
Keane's feet, while Dean Richards headed just wide.
However, the first-half effectively came down to a straight contest between
Keller and van Nistelrooy, which the American international won hands down.
While Richards was off injured, Ledley King allowed Solskjaer's pass through
his legs to van Nistelrooy only for Keller to claw away the Dutchman's attempted
chip as a goal looked certain.
Keller then tipped van Nistelrooy's powerful header over the top before diving
at the Dutchman's feet just as he turned effortlessly onto Roy Keane's
through-ball.
United captain Roy Keane delivered a stinging verbal assault on his team-mates
as they left the pitch at half-time.
Spurs nevertheless knew from the bitter experience of last season's
second-half collapse in losing a 3-0 lead not to underestimate United after the
break.
The visitors still needed to find more urgency and Keller was soon back in the
thick of the action, tipping Solskjaer's drive over the bar.
Giggs was by now increasingly appearing on the left wing and while one cross
was just too far behind van Nistelrooy, who looped a header over the bar,
another flew across the face of goal.
United's frustration levels were nevertheless growing, with Keane and Beckham
both contesting decisions by referee Jeff Winter.
No wonder, as still their chances came and went. Beckham's curling free-kick
was just off target, while van Nistelrooy flashed a shot just past the far post
after a sparkling counter-attack.
Finally, however, the breakthrough that had been threatened for so long did
come and, strangely enough, van Nistelrooy was not involved in the move at all.
Beckham delivered a long cross to the edge of the area and Scholes flicked the
ball on to Giggs before racing inside the six-yard box to head home the return
cross.
The home side gave United a few nervous late moments, with Gus Poyet heading
narrowly wide from a free-kick and Goran Bunjevcevic going sprawling in the area
but failing to win a penalty.
However, while Keller's reflexes managed to deny van Nistelrooy once more, the
Dutchman at last managed to beat the Spurs keeper as he latched onto a break by
substitute Quinton Fortune.
United were home and dry. The title is theirs to lose now.
Teams:
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Taricco, King, Richards (Gardner 31),
Davies, Poyet, Toda (Iversen 78), Etherington (Bunjevcevic 79),
Sheringham, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Acimovic.
Man Utd: Carroll, Brown (Gary Neville 54), O'Shea, Ferdinand,
Silvestre, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy,
Solskjaer (Fortune 72).
Subs Not Used: Blanc, Ricardo, Forlan.
Goals: Scholes 69, van Nistelrooy 90.
Att: 36,073
Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).
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