Brace yourselves: Red-hot Rooney overtakes Fowler in PL all-time top scorer list with both goals in 2-2 draw at Spurs.
David Moyes made three changes from the team that played at the BayArena as forty-year old Ryan Giggs and defender Rio Ferdinand dropped out of the squad and were replaced by Tom Cleverley and Nemanja Vidic, the latter making a return after missing the last two games. United's top goalscorer Robin Van Persie was again absent with combined toe and groin injuries. Andre Villas-Boas made several changes from the Tottenham team that won on Thursday in the Europa League but only three changes from the side that was well-beaten at the Etihad as Chiriches, Dembele and Chadli came in for Kaboul, Holtby and Lamela.
Tottenham started off brightly, eager to get a goal after a poor record of scoring just nine in their first twelve games. Within a minute the home team had won a corner but De Gea dealt with it with a powerful punch away. United showcased good link-up play between Kagawa and Welbeck in the early stages but there was a lack of end product from both players and Lloris had little to do. Spurs were also struggling to test De Gea in the opening fifteen minutes, Lennon went closest on 11 minutes with a dragged shot on his weaker foot that was easily collected by the United goalkeeper.
It was an open half with both teams vying to break the deadlock. United created the best chance on 15 minutes as Rooney won the ball off a dithering Chiriches not far from the Tottenham goal. Rooney then set Valencia on his way into the box but his first cross was blocked before he could finally get it back to Rooney. United's number 10 opened his body up ready to fire the ball into the far corner but was thwarted by a magnificent block from Sandro and Spurs eventually cleared.
Not long after that, the home side won a free-kick in a dangerous area on the edge of the United box. It was Evans who made the foul on Paulinho but it was largely due to a mistake by Jones that meant the Northern Irishman had to commit himself as Jones had let the ball bounce over him without making a challenge on the South American. Walker stepped up to take the spot-kick and took United by surprise as he sent it under the wall and into the back of the net to put the home side ahead.
United finally started to get a foothold back in the game since the early goal and looked to exploit Vertonghen playing out of position at left-back. Valencia ran at the Belgian defender whenever he got the opportunity and the centre-back was often exposed by the winger's pace. United's left-back Evra also experienced a busy first forty five minutes as Lennon looked lively throughout. Inside the half-hour mark the tricky winger showed strength to hold off Evra and pass to Paulinho on the right wing who put in a poor cross that was well over-hit. Luckily for Spurs it was picked up by Chadli who took on Smalling and won a corner that was swung in from the left by Walker but headed away well by Rooney in United's box.
It didn't take long for Rooney to prove his capabilities in attack either as he was the man to get United back on terms but not before Spurs missed a golden opportunity to go 2-0 ahead. It was a brilliant Spurs break that started as Vertonghen's clearance out of the defence was met with a beautiful flick off the right heel of Soldado that fell perfectly into the path of Paulinho. Paulinho then sent a perfectly weighted return pass through to Soldado who had now found his way into the United box but the Spaniard blazed his effort over the bar despite having time and space to test his fellow countryman De Gea.
Tottenham created another chance seconds later through Lennon as he got the better of Evra once more and made a darting run across the box to get onto the end of a Soldado through ball. Lennon then sent a decent shot at goal from close range but De Gea made a good block and Lennon's resulting cross flew across goal untouched and out for a goal kick. The home side were made to rue their missed chances though as United then got the equaliser.
Once again United got down the right channel as Jones found himself in space and sent a dangerous dipping cross into the box. The ball flew over the head of Rooney but struck Spurs' goalscorer Walker near the back post who inadvertently sent the ball back into the path of Rooney. The England striker needed no invitation to fire it home from the six yard line and United found themselves level despite looking the less likely team to score.
United began to build some momentum and Rooney was involved again after the re-start as he sent a lovely cross-field pass out to Valencia on the right wing. His cross was then cleared to Jones on the edge of the area who dragged a shot wide. Rooney lunged to make contact with the ball to divert it in but missed it and it rolled harmlessly out of play. It meant the two teams went into the half time break level after an open half in which Spurs made the brightest start but United finished on top.
It was a case of more of the same at the start of the second half as United were slow out of the blocks again and Spurs took the lead once more. Sandro took on Cleverley in the centre as he twisted one way and then another until he was 30 yards from goal and with the ball on his right foot. He then hit a stunning long range shot that swerved into the top right corner leaving De Gea with absolutely no chance. It is surely a contender for goal of the month, if not the season.
Before the White Hart Lane faithful could fully take it all in United had the chance to level things again as referee Mike Dean awarded the away side a penalty three minutes after Sandro had put Spurs ahead. The move started with a strong tackle from Vidic that allowed Rooney to break with the ball, he then saw the run of Welbeck and sent a through ball into the box. Welbeck reached it just before Lloris and as he touched it away from the keeper he was brought down by Lloris' hands despite the striker seemingly headed away from goal. United's man-in-form Rooney stepped up to take the penalty kick and scored with ease, striking it centrally as Lloris chose to jump towards his left-hand post.
United looked on top for a short period following the equaliser but Spurs then experienced a dominant spell and it was arguably the home team that created the best chance late on through Townsend, who came on to replace Lennon despite his constant threat all game. Townsend could have scored almost immediately as Walker bombed down the right and swung in a cross to him as he waited at the far post. The winger was in acres of space and threw himself at the ball but couldn't find the connection that may have sent the ball into the net.
Moyes finally made some substitutions for United as first Hernandez came on for Welbeck and then Valencia and the anonymous Kagawa were replaced by Young and Nani. It was a case of too little, too late though as the closest they went to finding the winner was right at the death when Lloris failed to claim a Rooney corner and the ball fell to Smalling. Luckily for Spurs he failed to punish the mistake and his shot from inside the crowded box was straight into the arms of Lloris.
The match ended 2-2 and was certainly a great advert for the Premier League. However, it was two points dropped for both sides after they were both in need of a win to propel them into a decent position before the run of Christmas games. Andre Villas-Boas will probably be the happier of the two managers as his side looked a thousand times hungrier than they did in the game at the Etihad. David Moyes may be content that United have continued their unbeaten streak and he will be delighted that Wayne Rooney has maintained his impressive run of form. However, the harsh reality remains that the Champions are now nine points off the top of the table and can't afford to drop any more points if they are to realistically be in contention for the title. Their next challenge is at home to Everton on Wednesday and Moyes will see his new club leap-frog his old side in the table if they can claim all three points.
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