Josh Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester United for the 184th time on Sunday with plenty at stake. Spurs need three points to have any hope of pinching the Premier League title from Leicester City, while the Red Devils are in fierce pursuit of a Champions League place. It’s shaping up to be a classic and here’s a look back at 10 other top encounters between the two.
Man United 2 Tottenham 3 – September 2012
Andre Villas-Boas’s Tottenham won at Old Trafford for the first time in 23 years thanks to goals from Jan Vertonghen, Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey. Bale was just six months old when Gary Lineker hit Spurs’ winner in 1989.
Man United 5 Tottenham 2 – April 2009
With United having fallen below Liverpool in the table, it looked as though they would stay there when Darren Bent and Luka Modric had given Spurs a 2-0 lead at half-time. But in a devastating 22-minute spell Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney scored two each with former Spur Dimitar Berbatov rounding things off.
Man United 0 Tottenham 0 – January 2005
Had goal-line technology been in use then Spurs would have walked away from Old Trafford with three points. Even with the naked eye though, referee Mark Clattenburg should have been able to see Pedro Mendes’ late long-range lob fumbled over the line by keeper Roy Carroll.
Tottenham 3 Man United 5 – September 2001
Trailing 3-0 at the break to goals from the late Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege, United staged arguably the greatest comeback in Premier League history. Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham all struck to stun White Hart Lane.
Man United 2 Tottenham 1 – May 1999
When Spurs took at 24th-minute lead on the final day of the season, Arsenal fans were celebrating as they were suddenly handed the chance of winning the Premier League title. But goals either side of half-time from David Beckham and Andy Cole ensured United completed the first leg of an historic treble.
Tottenham 0 Man United 2 – August 1997
Following his summer move from United to Spurs, Teddy Sheringham was back at White Hart Lane for the opening day of the season. He hit the post with a penalty, much to the delight of home supporters, but got the last laugh with a late Ramon Vega own goal following Nicky Butt’s opener.
Man United 3 Tottenham 3 – December 1986
A month into Sir Alex Ferguson’s rein Gary Mabbutt had scored a sensational diving header, Kevin Moran volleyed Glenn Hoddle’s chip into his own net and Clive Allen nodded in his 22nd goal of the season from close range to see Spurs go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up with two minutes left. But Bryan Robson was then clattered by Danny Thomas and Peter Davenport rescued a point with a penalty.
Man United 3 Tottenham 3 – August 1967
This Charity Shield final had everything, including a goal from Tottenham keeper Pat Jennings who lobbed Alex Stepney from his own penalty area. The sides shared the shield, taking it for six months each.
Man United 4 Tottenham 3 (on aggregate) – December 1963
European Cup Winners’ Cup holders Tottenham were paired with United in the second round of their attempt to defend the trophy. And all was going swimmingly for the north Londoners who won the first leg 2-0. But Bobby Charlton inspired a 4-1 win the following week at Old Trafford to send Spurs crashing out.
Tottenham 3 Man United 1 – March 1962
En route to retaining the FA Cup, Spurs – who had become the first team in the 20th century to win the domestic double in the previous season – knocked United out in the semi-final at Hillsborough with goals from Jimmy Greaves, Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin.
