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Premier League
Dec 1, 2013 at 12pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-2

Walker (18'), Sandro (53')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Rooney (31', 56' pen.)

Live Commentary: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United - as it happened

Read how Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw in the first of four Premier League matches on Sunday.
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The first of four Premier League matches on Sunday saw Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United at White Hart Lane.

Four goals were shared in North London as Wayne Rooney twice pegged back Spurs goals from Kyle Walker and Sandro.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Morning folks! This Sunday in the Premier League there's four games to tuck into and the first is a cracker as two sides who will feel a little out of position in the table meet at White Hart Lane. It's Spurs versus United and team news is coming right up...

SPURS XI: Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Sandro; Lennon, Dembele, Chadli; Soldado

SPURS SUBS: Friedel, Kaboul, Capoue, Holtby, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Defoe

UNITED XI: De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Jones, Kagawa, Welbeck; Rooney

UNITED SUBS: Lindegaard, Rafael, Anderson, Fellaini, Nani, Young, Hernandez

Okey doke, that's three changes made by Andre Villas-Boas from last week's Spurs side that were demolished by Manchester City last time out. Vlad Chiriches returns in central defence for Younes Kaboul while further forward Erik Lamela and Andros Townsend drop out for Nacer Chadli and Moussa Dembele. AVB has dropped his usual central playmaker of Holtby or Gylfi Sigurdsson and that will see either Dembele or Paulinho play further forward than normal.

David Moyes, meanwhile, makes four alterations to the side that drew 2-2 with Cardiff last Sunday. Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones, Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck are the ones selected in place of Rio Ferdinand, Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj and Javier Hernandez. Robin van Persie is still out with a groin strain so Wayne Rooney is their talisman up front.

REFEREE WATCH! The man with the whistle today is Mike Dean, who in his last two Premier League games has shown just one yellow card in each.

Both David de Gea and Chris Smalling are making their 100th appearance for United today. The club made posters for each on Twitter. Here's the De Gea one:


Both clubs were in European action midweek as well, faring much better than they did seven days ago domestically. United romped to a 5-0 victory at Leverkusen to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League while Spurs continued their 100% record in the Europa League with an assured 2-0 win at Tromso.

H2H! It's pretty well-known that Spurs have a terrible record against Manchester United. Of last 28 league and cup meetings between the pair, the North London side have achieved victory just once, with United winning 20 and there being seven draws. That one Spurs victory, however, came last season at Old Trafford when they won 3-2. That day they were inspired by Gareth Bale but he's now at Real Madrid and showed Spurs fans what they're missing by scoring a 'perfect hat-trick' yesterday. Here's the highlights from last year's game:


The big question for Spurs today is whether they can score a goal. They've managed just nine all season and sit in the bottom three of our attacking league.

PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes until we hit afternoon and kick off in North London. Today I'm going to side with Spurs. I fancy them to win 2-1 with Paulinho one of the names on the scoresheet.

Two people that I'm interested to watch are Chadli, who is making his first Premier League start since September 1, and Kagawa in the hole for United. The Japanese has started to sizzle of late and could be the key to a United victory today.

Here come the two sides out of the tunnel at WHL. They're both in their home colours of white and red today.

KICKOFF! Off we go in front of a rowdy crowd.

Spurs win a corner inside 30 seconds that right-back Kyle Walker jogs across the pitch to take. His delivery into the middle is superbly punched well away from danger by centurion De Gea.

Independent journalist Sam Wallace on Twitter: "Good news for Spurs fans: their team has already held out longer than they did against City last week."

Spurs centre-back Chiriches is sporting a protective set of clear goggles. How is he going to deal with in-form Rooney today?

Lovely interplay between Kagawa and Welbeck but the former can't dig out a good cross as the ball tamely hits the side-netting.

Dear oh dear! Lennon is clearly fouled by Evra but Dean plays an excellent advantage that allows Paulinho to streak forward. He lays in Walker steaming down the right but the England man takes an awful touch to run it out of play. Good chance to either shoot or flash it across goal if the Sheffield lad had been more composed.

Soldado is really sprinting around to pressure Vidic and Evans at the back. The latter manages to win a free kick after kicking it out of play as Soldado barges into him. Bit soft.

I mentioned before the game that either Dembele or Paulinho would be playing a little further forward than normal today. It appears that it's Dembele who has been given a freer role and he mimics Soldado in giving Evans absolutely no time on the ball. Good early energy from the home side.

SHOT! The first shot comes in the 11th minute as Soldado wins a flick-on that finds Lennon. The zippy winger could look wide for Walker but turns inside and has room to shoot with his left foot but it's a fairly tame effort that De Gea holds low to his left.

Rooney curls it out for Smalling with plenty of room on the right but his cross is deflected and spins right to the near post where Lloris is alert to get down and smother.

CHANCE! Best opening of the match as Rooney robs Chiriches before laying in Valencia. He charges into the box where his initial cross is blocked and falls back to him before he feeds Rooney. The England international takes a touch but sees his low shot, that was surely going in, superbly blocked by Sandro.

Free kick right on the edge as Evans trips Paulinho. Really dangerous position...

GOAL! SPURS 1-0 UNITED (WALKER)

The England right-back just runs up and blasts it at goal. By no means a great free kick but it whizzes under United's limp wall, giving the unsighted De Gea absolutely no chance.

Spurs on top now and they threaten again as Dawson shows great strength to meet a corner but his goalbound effort is blocked.

PENALTY SHOUTS! The home side appeal for a spot kick twice in the space of a few seconds. First Soldado tumbled in the area when challenging for Walker's cross before Chadli collected the loose ball and saw his centre stopped by Valencia. The Spurs players thought that the Ecuadorian used his arm.

That goal for Kyle Walker was his first in the Premier League since April 2012 when he scored against Blackburn. It was also Spurs's first PL goal for 298 minutes!

Walker's doing great work at both ends of the field as he stretches to cut out Cleverley's incisive through ball before diving in again to prevent the loose ball being snapped up by a red shirt. Will United step it up a gear any time soon?

CHANCE! It's a blisteringly brilliant counter-attack from Spurs but a terrible finish by Soldado as he blazes the ball high and wide after he had initially flicked cleverly for Paulinho, who drove forward before weighting his pass perfectly back to the Spaniard. That could be pivotal if United equalise before half time.

SAVE! It's all Spurs! Lennon's cutting run from the right is found and his low shot is kept out by De Gea before he collects the loose ball and looks for Paulinho but crosses to no-one at the back post.

GOAL! SPURS 1-1 UNITED (ROONEY)

And out of nowhere, United equalise! Spurs are made to rue those missed opportunities as Jones's cross goes over the head of Rooney but hits Walker's lazy foot and pops back perfectly for Rooney to prod home from six yards. An absolute stinker from Spurs' goalscorer.

That was Wayne Rooney's 163rd Premier League goal. It takes him level with Robbie Fowler on the all-time scorers list in fifth place.

Lennon has had the beating of Evra every time so far. This time it's in the area and he almost wins a penalty as the Frenchman challenges late but Lennon had already crossed so Dean can't really point to the spot.

Although considered by many to be a defender, Jones is often a threat when he plays in midfield like today and he almost sets up Rooney again with a cross-cum-shot that zips past the striker's reach. United will be delighted to be level if it stays like this come half time.

The fourth official indicates a single minute of additional time.

HALF-TIME: SPURS 1-1 UNITED

It's all square at White Hart Lane then with two Englishmen on the scoresheet. Kyle Walker's free kick put the hosts ahead before he then gifted Wayne Rooney a simple tap-in.

If you're only just joining us and want a quick rundown of the opening 45, our half-time report is right here for you.

To sum up the first period, Spurs were the far better side for the first half an hour but then gifted United an equaliser and the tide turned.

KYLE FIRES! Here's an image of Walker of celebrating the free kick which put Spurs in front:

Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker celebrates scoring the opening goal against Manchester United in their Premier League game at White Hart Lane on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

So, as things stand in the Premier League, both United and Spurs will end the match where they started in eighth and ninth respectively. United will be nine points behind leaders Arsenal, Spurs 10.

Here's a BT Sport graphic of some first-half stats from White Hart Lane:


It's surprising to see that United have had 62.5% possession. Spurs felt like the more dominant side and all four of their shots at goal were good efforts. The Soldado miss, in particular, just sums up their struggles in front of goal this year.

The half-time entertainment at WHL saw former defender Ledley King have his 'Movember' moustache shaved off:


KICKOFF! The second half begins with neither manager making a half-time change. United, like Spurs did in the first half, win an early corner.

Rooney's delivery comes to nothing as Spurs scramble it away at the second attempt.

Here's a shot from Getty of Rooney stretching out his right leg to poke United level after Walker's skewed clearance:

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney scores a goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at White Hart Lane in London on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

GOAL! SPURS 2-1 UNITED (SANDRO)

Surely this is goal of the weekend!! Sandro is known for his prowess at the defensive end but he's just delivered a truly unstoppable dipping 25-yarder that left De Gea rooted to the spot.

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED!

Lloris is booked for tripping Welbeck, who just beat him to Rooney's through-ball. Rooney to take...

GOAL! SPURS 2-2 UNITED (ROONEY, PEN.)

The United number 10 smashes it down the middle to score his and United's second. Spurs really have shot themselves in the foot today by conceding two cheap goals soon after going in front twice.

Spurs win a free kick to the left of the area that Walker viciously curls into the six-yard box. Excellent United defending to clear though.

United have a free kick of their own and it's a good shooting position for Rooney, now looking for his hat-trick. It's not a great effort though as he hits it into the wall.

With around half an hour to go now, it's so hard to call this game. The momentum is certainly with United and they've just gone quite close again as Rooney failed to turn home Evra's fierce low cross.

SPURS SUB: Villas-Boas is the first to blink as he brings off the impressive Lennon for Townsend. It's met with boos by the home fans and rightly so, Lennon has had the beating of Evra all afternoon.

What will Moyes do with his first sub? Will he bring on Hernandez and go for the win or opt for the physical presence of Fellaini to break up Spurs' attacks?

Superb stuff from Welbeck as he keeps the ball in and drives into the area. He's got little support in the box and fails to find a teammate. Let-off for Spurs.

SANDROOOOOOOOOOO! Here's a shot of the Brazilian celebrating his stunning goal:

Sandro of Tottenham Hotspur looks towards the bench as he celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League Match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at White Hart Lane on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

Defoe is about to come on for Spurs. Will AVB go for two strikes or take off Soldado?

SPURS SUB: It is Soldado who makes way. He'll struggle to sleep tonight after that first-half miss. Stinker.

UNITED SUB: Moyes indeed does send on Hernandez, with Welbeck the man to depart.



YELLOW! Evra becomes the first United name in the book for bringing down Townsend.

Some breaking Premier League news from elsewhere as Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is ruled out for up to eight weeks.

CHANCE! Walker has had a topsy-turvy game but just shown how good he can be going forward with a low cross that was inches away from the outstretched boot of Townsend at the back post.

YELLOW! Jones is the next name in the book and that means he will have to sit out United's next game at home to Everton.

Vertonghen does well to win a corner but it comes to nothing with Spurs looking quite blunt in attack at the moment. Moyes about to make a double change...

UNITED SUBS: Wingers Ashley Young and Nani are the duo who come on in place of Valencia and Kagawa.

SPURS SUB: AVB's last throw of the dice is to bring on Sigurdsson in place of Chadli. Can either side find a winner in the last five minutes?

Neat stuff from United as Hernandez skips away from a couple of challenges in the area before his low cross is cut off by a white shirt.

YELLOW! Vidic is forced into tugging down Defoe after the Englishman got wrong side of the Serbian.

Walker's corner takes a deflection and heads goalwards. Luckily for United there's a man on the line. THREE MINUTES added on.

Rooney's corner is fumbled by Lloris but United can't stab it home with almost all 22 players piled into the area.

FULL-TIME: SPURS 2-2 UNITED

It finishes all square at White Hart Lane then after goals from Kyle Walker, Sandro and a brace from Wayne Rooney.

A point apiece sees Spurs and United remain where they started the day in ninth and eighth. Leaders Arsenal have 31 points while United have 22 and Spurs 21. Click here for the latest table.

Anyway, that's all we've got time for on this commentary. Thanks for joining Sports Mole. Make sure you stick around on site for reaction and analysis from White Hart Lane as well as coverage of the other three Premier League matches today.

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Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United celebrates scoring the second goal during the Barclays Premier League match against Liverpool on January 13, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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