Local boy Danny Welbeck led a second-half scoring
spree as Manchester United answered the title challenge
of neighbours City by belting three goals past Tottenham
at Old Trafford.
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It had been a frustrating night for Sir Alex Ferguson's
young troops until 20-year-old Welbeck, raised just
a couple of miles away in Longsight, rose to guide home
Tom Cleverley's cross.
Welbeck's impudent back-heel set up Anderson for the
second and Tottenham had given the game up for dead
by the time Wayne Rooney netted from close range.
It leaves United trailing City by the narrowest of
goal difference margins and whilst this might be a ridiculously
early stage of the season, it is clear they have no
intention of meekly bowing to the firepower the Blues
have unleashed over the past couple of weeks.
With Ferguson sticking to his pledge of naming Phil
Jones and Jonny Evans as the replacements for injured
duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, United's major
surprise came on the bench, where Javier Hernandez was
included two weeks earlier than expected after a bout
of concussion.
Missing Luka Modric - who wasn't in the right frame
of mind to play - Tottenham began with a hesitancy which
United came close to exposing through Cleverley.
However, as the half wore on, United's attacks reduced
in potency, their approach play lacked direction and
Spurs grew in confidence.
Rafael van der Vaart and Niko Kranjcar started to get
hold of the ball in areas of some concern so, after
a difficult start to his time in England, David de Gea
picked the perfect time to show off the ability that
persuaded Ferguson to pay £18million to sign him
from Atletico Madrid.
There was a kamikaze element to his first intervention,
as he tried to skip past Van der Vaart inside his own
area.
In giving the home fans a heart scare, the 20-year-old
was also showing off footwork of which the watching
Edwin van der Sar would be proud.
De Gea made decent stops from Van der Vaart look routine
rather than spectacular and with Tottenham opting against
peppering him with high balls, as was the case at West
Brom last week, De Gea was able to perform with an assurity
so obvious in his opposite number Brad Friedel.
Now 40, the American was handed a contract by Harry
Redknapp in the summer and was promptly allowed to extend
his record for consecutive Premier League appearances
to 276 matches.
Either side of half-time, Friedel denied former Aston
Villa team-mate Ashley Young with smart stops as United,
who dropped just two points on home soil throughout
last season, struggled to impose themselves.
Part of the problem was that the most experienced member
of their back four, Patrice Evra, has never found Aaron
Lennon an easy opponent to subdue.
Unfortunately for Spurs, what Lennon possesses in pace,
he lacks in awareness.
After skipping clear of a stumbling Evra, Lennon could
have rolled a pass to an unmarked Van der Vaart, who
was screaming on his inside.
Instead, he attempted to drill a cross through a crowded
penalty area to Gareth Bale and succeeded only in blasting
straight at Evans.
It was one of those times when a manager must feel
like screaming. Another came moments later when Van
der Vaart went for goal from 35 yards without ever looking
like getting anywhere near it.
After the frustration came that familiar sinking feeling
for Spurs.
Appearing to run down a blind alley, Cleverley rescued
the situation by whipping over a superb cross for Welbeck,
who rose majestically between Michael Dawson and Younes
Kaboul to glance a fine header into the corner.
Tottenham had Friedel to thank for not being blown
away.
Twice the veteran denied Welbeck, the second occasion
following a Nani shot he had also saved, and then Evans,
who had launched a fizzing volley from his far post
station.
United were worthy of their second though, which came
thanks to a brilliant piece of skill from Welbeck, who
returned Anderson's pass with an impudent back heel
that the Brazilian coolly finished into the bottom corner.
It wasn't quite plain sailing as De Gea's struggles
under the high ball returned to present Jermain Defoe
with a chance that he smacked against the post.
But with Friedel saving from Nani and Rooney scooping
over from three yards, United remained on top. Rooney's
late header merely emphasised their superiority.
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