Tottenham’s defeat exposes the gap in class between themselves and Man United:

Before Manchester United’s visit to White Hart Lane on Sunday to face Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur side, Sir Alex Ferguson expressed the view that this game could define his team’s season. His reflection was an ode to the Lilywhites from north London and the major transformation they’ve undergone in the last few years, a testament to the work that has gone on at Spurs to make them a genuine top four side when years ago they were considered as perennial underachievers. That’s also not forgetting the fact that Fergie’s side have a ridiculously good record against Tottenham – no defeat in over ten years.

For Redknapp it was a chance to make amends – his team’s recent good run had crashed and burned at the Emirates Stadium last weekend in a devastating 5-2 defeat. What better way for his men to dust themselves down and pick themselves up than by getting three points against a team who they never beat? The England rumours had quietened down a little and everyone at the Lane would have been delighted to see Harry’s men return to form.

Sadly, as many may have predicted, it didn’t turn out that way. Spurs, for all their territorial possession and endeavour in the final third, just couldn’t muster a decent chance against a very ordinary looking Man United side and ended up on the end of a resounding 3-1 defeat. You could’ve put it down to the fact that key men were missing – Scott Parker and Gareth Bale, two incredibly important players who were conspicuous by their absence.

You could also argue that, were Emmanuel Adebayor not on the line to block Louis Saha’s shot with his hand, then the game may have turned out differently. The fact of the matter remains – the Champions didn’t have to get out of second gear and still walked away with, eventually, a very comfortable three points. Sadly for Spurs, that’s the real difference between the two sides; the mark of Champions for one outfit, the mark of a rank title outsider for another. Ferguson’s men know how to grind it out and Spurs can learn from this defeat as they look to form themselves into true title contenders themselves.

Let’s not take anything away from Tottenham – they have, thus far, had a magnificent season and have arguably been the finest side to watch. They’re fast, fluent and have players that play incisive, attacking football. However, this defeat against a team who look like they may well retain their title (back against them at your peril) simply goes to show that, despite all the early season plaudits, Tottenham are still a few players short of being a title winning side. Harry’s men need to take their eyes off the title and focus them on simply gaining that third Champions League spot – and with Arsenal hot on their heels and in great form it’s imperative that they bounce back quickly.

For United, this was just another performance that people have grown accustomed to seeing. They know how to win ugly, they know how to grind out results and they know how to force teams into submission. Before Wayne Rooney’s header just prior to the half time whistle, the men in red shirts had done next to nothing, barely a shot or chance to think of. Yet, 25 minutes after the restart they were in cruise control at 3-0 – Man United in microcosm. Their next eight games are against opposition outside of the top eight – despite City’s seemingly relentless assault towards the title, you’d be a mug to bet against Ferguson’s men lifting that trophy again come May.

Oh, to have a ticket for the Manchester derby on April 30^th. It’s going to be massive.

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