Tottenham were robbed of their first Old Trafford victory for 16 years by an atrocious blunder from a referee's assistant - but Manchester United's Barclays Premiership title charge was still blown off course by a stalemate with Spurs.

A bad night for Sir Alex Ferguson saw star man Ryan Giggs limp off with what appeared to be a hamstring strain during the first half and his side fail to convert a string of chances as Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson stood tall.

Not even a desperate last push, which saw Rio Ferdinand shoved up front for the final five minutes, paid off - and in the end the hosts were indebted to one of the worst decisions this old ground has ever seen just for the point which sees them drop 11 behind champions-elect Chelsea.

With time running out, Roy Carroll rushed well out of his area to make a clearance. After a brief flurry around the half-way line, the ball eventually fell to Pedro Mendes who from fully 60 yards launched a shot at the United goal as the home goalkeeper tried to recover his ground.

The Northern Irishman managed that task but then dropped the ball behind him, with TV replays showing it landed at least a yard over the line.

But the celebrations of the visiting fans were cut short as the nearside assistant, scampering down the touchline, refused to confirm the goal - leaving a posse of angry Tottenham players to surround referee Mark Clattenburg at the final whistle.

They really would have been moaning if Gabriel Heinze had curled home an injury-time free-kick - but after Robinson had made his final save of the night, Ferguson was able to join opposite number Martin Jol in his frustrations.

The United boss has spent most the season hoping a chronic run of injuries might come to an end, but virtually every week there seems to be more bad news for the him to soak up.

Afforded the rare luxury of being able to field an unchanged side - albeit one lacking nine senior figures, including striking trio Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and suspended Wayne Rooney - Ferguson could not believe his ill fortune as Giggs limped off.

The Welshman has been in the form of his life over the past two months, scoring in United's last three games and seemingly on a mission to overturn club policy of offering over-30s only single-year deals when their contracts come to an end.

Even before his unscheduled departure, Giggs' rapier thrusts threatened to unhinge a Tottenham defence which was not quite besieged but definitely overworked during a one-sided first half.

Alan Smith just failed to get a toe to one of the winger's crosses when any kind of touch would have put the hosts in front - and Giggs was also the provider when Roy Keane nodded the ball down for the striker, whose shot on the turn forced an excellent save from his former Leeds team-mate Robinson.

Giggs also volleyed a Heinze pass over, although as it turned out United's best two chances of the opening period had nothing to do with the 31-year-old.

If Keane's fizzing volley had found the net instead of flashing just wide of Robinson's goal, the assist would have been credited to Noureddine Naybet who nodded Darren Fletcher's hopeful punt forward straight into the Irishman's path.

Given the pace it flew by at, Robinson would have been relieved Keane's effort was not on target - although England's current number one provided ample evidence of his ability with a brave feet-first stop to deny Paul Scholes, who had muscled his way on to Smith's through ball.

Although offering little in the way of sustained attacks, Tottenham remained dangerous on the break and might have been rewarded for their hard work at the back had Robbie Keane been able to shoot himself after Carroll had fumbled - instead of laying a pass off to Pedro Mendes who fired over.

United refused to allow Giggs' absence to affect their attacking intentions, and his replacement David Bellion got beyond the Spurs defence and latched on to Phil Neville's cross-field pass.

Unfortunately for the hosts, the Frenchman could not gain control quickly enough - and by the time he steadied himself for a shot, Robinson had advanced and made the block.

No one could criticise Bellion for a lack of effort, but the speedy former Sunderland man lacks the class required to be regarded as a match-winner at this level.

His energy almost brought an unexpected reward even so when Noe Pamarot, under no pressure, prodded Bellion's cross towards his own goal - wrong-footing Robinson completely.

Time must have stood still for the summer arrival from Nice, who was eventually able to breathe again when the ball crashed back into play off the inside of a post.

It proved to be the nearest United would come - and while Mendes did 'score', Tottenham unbelievably failed to register either.

Teams:

Man Utd: Carroll, Phil Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Fletcher (Miller 76), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo (Spector 84), Giggs (Bellion 37), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Djemba-Djemba, Ricardo.

Booked: Phil Neville.

Tottenham: Robinson, Pamarot, Naybet, King, Edman, Marney, Pedro Mendes, Carrick, Ricketts (Gardner 90), Ziegler, Keane.

Subs Not Used: Bunjevcevic, Fulop, Yeates, Ifil.

Booked: Pamarot, Marney.

Att: 67,962

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).