More misery for Moyes as Webb waves away penalty claim and Spurs seal 2-1 win with goals from Adebayor and Eriksen to welcome in the New Year in style.
It was exactly one month ago that Manchester United travelled to White Hart Lane in a match that saw them share the points with Tottenham in a four-goal thriller. Tottenham have seen a change in manager since that last fixture, with Tim Sherwood taking over the reigns from Andre Villas Boas and looking to steer Spurs to their second win at Old Trafford in as many seasons. The return fixture gave both teams the chance to kick off the New Year with a much-needed 3 points, vital to keeping pressure on the teams in the top 4.
Wayne Rooney passed a late fitness test and returned to the United line-up after recovering from a slight groin injury. Antonio Valencia was back from suspension and started on the right for the home side although Rafael Da Silva, Robin Van Persie, Phil Jones and Nani all remained sidelined with injuries. Tottenham's injury woes continued as Paulinho was ruled out after sustaining ankle ligament damage in their 3-0 win over Stoke but Aaron Lennon and Moussa Dembele passed late fitness tests to secure places in the starting line-up.
The home side made a bright start with Smalling the unlikely man to go closest to scoring early on after he made a good run in to the Spurs box and latched on to a ball in from Valencia on the right. He took the ball past Rose and drove a shot at Lloris that was saved, although the ball almost rolled under the Spurs keeper in the aftermath. Inside 15 minutes it was then De Gea's turn to be tested as United let Adebayor run freely with the ball and he passed to Solado. The striker saw the run of Lennon from the right and sent a perfect through ball to the winger, whose resulting first-time shot forced a good save from United's Spanish keeper.
It was a first half of little opportunities but Tottenham were the team to make the most of what they created as they silenced the home crowd just after the half hour mark when Adebayor scored his third goal in four games. It was a poor goal to concede for United as they allowed Spurs the space to break and then gifted Adebayor a free header from Eriksen's cross. It was a well taken goal from the former forgotten man though, as he looped his header over De Gea and into the net.
Shortly after scoring the opener, Spurs could have gone 2-0 up when Lennon once again got the better of Evra down the right and sent in a wonderful cross for Soldado. However, the only touch the Spaniard could get on it was with his knee which sent the ball wide, ensuring that his fellow countryman in the United goal was let off after his defence had left him exposed.
United had a penalty shout turned down early in the second half when Welbeck went tumbling in the box following slight contact from Chiriches. Howard Webb was quick to dismiss the appeals though as Moyes brought on Kagawa and Hernandez for Valencia and Carrick in a bid to get a goal back. It was Sherwood's side that went on to score the game's second though as they cut out a United attack and broke with pace. Adebayor and Soldado linked well before the latter played the ball to Lennon, who carried the ball into the box and then sent in an enticing cross. Taking a slight deflection off Vidic, the ball bounced just in front of Eriksen, who needed no further invitation to head the ball down and past De Gea. It was yet more poor defending from the home team, with makeshift right-back Valencia caught unaware and Evra left way out of position.
United knew they had to respond quickly and they probably couldn't have acted any faster as within a minute of the re-start they went up the other end and scored to put them back in the game with just over twenty minutes to go. It was their man-of-the-moment Welbeck who got the goal back as Januzaj put him in on goal with a delightful through ball. Welbeck then flicked the ball over the on-rushing Lloris with another confident finish, following his winner in the Norwich match on Saturday.
The Spurs goal had definitely woken United up and they continued to pile on the pressure in order to find an equaliser. Januzaj, who was uncharacteristically quiet up until United's goal, suddenly roared into life and almost created a second for United in the 77th minute. The 18 year old took the ball past Rose with ease and ran along the byline before sending in a low cross for Hernandez, whose flicked effort at goal was thwarted by Lloris.
Lennon, who had given the United defence a torrid time all game, then gave them another scare when he weaved his way past Evra and Valencia to set himself up with a chance to shoot from inside the box. However, after having done all the hard work, his finish was weak and straight at De Gea.
A few minutes from time United had a huge penalty shout turned down by Webb after Lloris' poorly timed challenge sent Young flying in the box. The winger was running on to a headed flick on from Welbeck when Lloris opted to try and win the ball and ran out from his goal with a high and reckless challenge. Webb then incensed the Old Trafford crowd even more when he chose not to give Januzaj a free-kick after he was clearly fouled outside the box. Rooney saw a late shot turned round the post by Lloris but it was their Captain Vidic who had the best of their late opportunities. The first a header off a set piece that Lloris had to get down low to save in his bottom right hand corner and the second a shot from inside a crowded box that was cleared off the line by Lennon.
It was a valiant effort by the home side but it was a case of too little, too late as the whistle went after five minutes of stoppage time and the game came to an end. Tottenham took their chances and then defended well in the final stages to earn the win although ultimately the main talking point from a United perspective will be the referee's decision not to award them a penalty that might have been key for them in their fight for a top four place come the end of the season. However, they cannot linger on missed opportunities and their attention now turns to two cup matches, the first an FA Cup clash at home to Swansea on Sunday where they will be hoping for a little more luck and a few more goals.
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