Match Preview: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur












Old Trafford, Manchester
Tuesday 1st December 2009, Kick Off 20:00
Football League (Carling) Cup, Quarter Final (5th Round)



















Manchester United: 2nd in Premier League, 31 points from 42
Tottenham Hotspur: 3rd in Premier League, 26 points from 42

COMMENT:

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Old Trafford for the League (Carling) Cup Quarter Final on Tuesday night in what is a repeat of last year's Final at Wembley, which resulted in a 0-0 draw after extra time. United won the subsequent penalty shoot-out to lift the trophy for the third time in their history. The Reds had a fine 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Saturday which included a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney and a goal from veteran Welsh winger Ryan Giggs. Spurs meanwhile earned a point at Villa Park, thanks to a Michael Dawson goal, who was the team captain for the match. Tuesday's game will be the 8th time Manchester United & Spurs have met in the League Cup.

Manchester United's involvement in European Football meant that they received a bye in the League Cup second round and their first match in this season's competition was a 1-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers with Danny Welbeck scoring. This was followed-up with a 2-0 away win at Barnsley with another goal from Welbeck and one from Michael Owen.

Spurs were drawn away to Doncaster Rovers in the second round and won comfortably 5-1 with goals from Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O'Hara, Peter Crouch,  David Bentley and Roman Pavlyuchenko. This was followed by another impressive 5-1 win away to Preston North End which featured a Peter Crouch hat-trick and goals from Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane. The fourth round tie was played at home at White Hart Lane against Everton and goals from Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane were enough for a 2-0 win to Tottenham.

It's been far too long since Spurs beat Manchester United in any competition - you have to go as far back as May 2001 for a Spurs win in the Premier League - although there have been some recent games in which Tottenham did come close, none more so that the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in January 2005 which saw Pedro Mendes' goal from the halfway line ruled-out.

This year's Carling Cup competition is particularly strong, with all 8 Quarter Finalists coming from the Premier League, including the current Top 6 clubs. Monday also sees Portsmouth take on Aston Villa at Fratton Park while Tuesday's matches pit Blackburn Rovers at home to Chelsea and Manchester City at home to Arsenal.

TEAM NEWS:

Teenage strikers Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck are in contention to start up front for United, but Michael Owen may get the nod. Rafael Da Silva could be included at right-back to give veteran Gary Neville a rest, while Ben Foster is expected to replace Tomasz Kuszczak in goal.

Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King remain out for Tuesday night's Carling Cup tie at Manchester United. 'Woody' missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Villa with a groin problem while Ledley is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Sunderland. Harry Redknapp confirmed Saturday's central defensive pairing at Villa - Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong - will start again at Old Trafford.

Luka Modric (fractured fibula) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) remain out while Niko Kranjcar is cup-tied having played in the second round of the competition for Portsmouth. Harry also confirmed that Robbie Keane will start and eluded to making a few changes - as has been the case in the Carling Cup so far this season. "We've players who need matches - the likes of Alan Hutton, Gareth Bale, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane - so we'll change a few around and freshen things up a bit," said Harry. "The good thing is we've plenty of options." Meanwhile, Luka continues on his road to recovery. "He trained with the youngsters this morning (Monday)," reported Harry. "He played in an eight-a-side game, I watched some of it and he looked to be moving much, much better, so hopefully he's on his way back, but we want to make sure he's right."

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• These clubs have met 170 times. Manchester United have won 79 of those matches and Tottenham 46, with 45 drawn.

• United have not lost in 20 league and cup matches against Spurs. They have won 15 and drawn five since Tottenham's 3-1 home win in the Premier League in May 2001.

Manchester United

• Holders United are aiming to win this competition for the fourth time.

• All of their previous three League Cup triumphs have been under current boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

• The last goal United conceded in this competition was against Derby County in the second leg of last season's semi-finals.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have suffered just one defeat in regular play in their last 15 League Cup ties.

• They won this tournament in 1971, 1973, 1999 and 2008, and have been runners-up on three occasions.

• Leading Spurs to last season's final is the best Harry Redknapp has achieved in the League Cup as a manager.

• Peter Crouch is the joint leading scorer in this season's Carling Cup with four goals, including a hat-trick against Preston.

MICHAEL DAWSON ON UNITED:

Michael Dawson admits we've a few cup scores to settle with United - as we bid for a Wembley hat-trick in the Carling Cup. We travel to Old Trafford for the third-successive season in cup competition, this time in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup following FA Cup fourth round ties in 2008 and 2009. United came out on top in both of those ties and then dished out Wembley heartbreak in last season's Carling Cup Final, beating us in a penalty shoot-out after the final finished goalless after extra time. Michael will no doubt find further motivation from the fact that he was sent off in the first of the fourth round ties in January, 2008.

"We certainly owe them one," said Michael. "Old Trafford is a tough place to go but everyone is playing with a lot of confidence and we're playing good football. "It's a big game, we're all looking forward to it and we want to go to Wembley again, simple as that. We've been there for the last two seasons and it would be fantastic to make for a third year running." United represents the second of a three-game spell on the road in eight days following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa and Sunday's trip to Everton in the Barclays Premier League.

Skipper at Villa Park, Michael capped a fine display both personally and by the team by hammering home the equaliser in the 77th minute after we'd dominated the second half. "I was delighted, not just with the goal, but the fact that it earned us a deserved point," added Michael. "The first half wasn't great but we have to be happy with the way we came back from being 1-0 down at half-time. We dominated the second half and that says a lot at a tough place like Villa. "Maybe we should have won, but it wasn't to be. They deserve credit for the way they defended and you do wonder if it's going to be one of those days, so to get that goal was great."

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Tuesday evening's match will be the 176th meeting between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The first two games were played when United were known as Newton Heath.
The two clubs met in the 1967 Charity Shield at Old Trafford which resulted in a 3-3 draw and is best remembered for a goal scored by Spurs goalkeeper Pat Jennings.
United and Spurs also contested the 2009 League (Carling) Cup Final at Wembley which resulted in a 0-0 draw after extra time with United winning the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
Here are the results of the previous 175 games with Spurs' score shown first:

28-Jan-1899 F.A. Cup 1 13,721H D 1 - 1 Joyce
01-Feb-1899 F.A. Cup 1Replay6,000A W 5 - 3 McKay, Joyce (2), McNaught, Smith
11-Sep-1909Division 1 32,275H D 2 - 2 Steel R (2, 2pens)
22-Jan-10Division 1 8,000A L 0 - 5  
22-Oct-10Division 1 28,000H D 2 - 2 Minter, Humphreys
15-Mar-11Division 1 13,000A L 2 - 3 Birnie, Humphreys
04-Nov-11Division 1 26,000A W 2 - 1 Minter, Middlemiss
09-Apr-12Division 1 14,000H D 1 - 1 Bliss
19-Oct-12Division 1 12,000A L 0 - 2  
31-Mar-13Division 1 12,762H D 1 - 1 Minter
04-Oct-13Division 1 39,000A L 1 - 3 Middlemiss
07-Feb-14Division 1 28,000H W 2 - 1 Minter, Cantrell
21-Nov-14Division 1 11,000H W 2 - 0 Clay (pen), Cantrell
27-Mar-15Division 1 7,000A D 1 - 1 Minter
25-Sep-20Division 1 52,000A W 1 - 0 Grimsdell
02-Oct-20Division 1 34,600H W 4 - 1 Walden (2), Seed (2)
08-Oct-21Division 1 36,113H D 2 - 2 Wilson (2)
15-Oct-21Division 1 40,000A L 1 - 2 Dimmock
03-Feb-23F.A. Cup 2 38,333H W 4 - 0 Lindsay, Handley (3)
17-Oct-25Division 1 26,496A D 0 - 0  
30-Jan-26F.A. Cup 4 43,653H D 2 - 2 Thompson, Lindsay
03-Feb-26F.A. Cup 4 Replay 46,929A L 0 - 2  
27-Feb-26Division 1 25,466H L 0 - 1  
25-Dec-26Division 1 37,287H D 1 - 1 Dimmock
27-Dec-26Division 1 50,665A L 1 - 2 Handley
24-Sep-27Division 1 13,952A L 0 - 3  
04-Feb-28Division 1 23,545H W 4 - 0 O'Callaghan, Armstrong (2), Dimmock
12-Sep-31Division 2 9,557A D 1 - 1 Rowley
23-Jan-32Division 2 19,139H W 4 - 1 Davies (2), Hunt GS, O'Callaghan
10-Sep-32Division 2 23,333H W 6 - 1 Brain, Hunt GS (2), O'Callaghan, Evans W (2, 1pen)
06-Jan-33Division 2 20,661A L 1 - 2 Evans W
21-Sep-35Division 2 34,718A D 0 - 0  
05-Feb-36Division 2 20,085H D 0 - 0  
09-Oct-37Division 2 31,189H L 0 - 1  
19-Feb-38Division 2 34,631A W 1 - 0 Sargent
09-Sep-50Division 1 60,621H W 1 - 0 Walters
13-Jan-51Division 1 45,104A L 1 - 2 Baily
22-Sep-51Division 1 70,882H W 2 - 0 Bennett, Medley
26-Jan-52Division 1 42,668A L 0 - 2  
14-Jun-52Tour - A W 5 - 0 Walters, Bennett, Duquemin, Bailey, Medley      (in Toronto)
15-Jun-52Tour - A W 7 - 1 McClellan, Bennett (2), Duquemin (4)             (in New York)
01-Nov-52Division 1 44,286H L 1 - 2 Walters
25-Mar-53Division 1 20,215A L 2 - 3 Walters, McClellan
26-Sep-53Division 1 52,837H D 1 - 1 Duquemin
13-Feb-54Division 1 37,289A L 0 - 2  
08-Sep-54Division 1 35,162H L 0 - 2  
15-Sep-54Division 1 31,041A L 1 - 2 McClellan
22-Aug-55Division 1 28,713A D 2 - 2 Gavin (pen), Stokes
31-Aug-55Division 1 27,453H L 1 - 2 Clarke
24-Nov-56Division 1 57,724H D 2 - 2 Harmer (pen), Robb
06-Apr-57Division 1 60,583A D 0 - 0  
30-Nov-57Division 1 43,307A W 4 - 3 Smith R (3), Blanchflower og
12-Apr-58Division 1 59,836H W 1 - 0 Harmer (pen)
20-Sep-58Division 1 62,277A D 2 - 2 Smith R (2)
07-Feb-59Division 1 47,401H L 1 - 3 Norman
12-Sep-59Division 1 55,641A W 5 - 1 Mackay, Harmer, Smith R (2), Dunmore
23-Jan-60Division 1 62,602H W 2 - 1 Smith R (2)
03-Sep-60Division 1 55,442H W 4 - 1 Smith R (2), Allen (2)
16-Jan-61Division 1 65,535A L 0 - 2  
09-Sep-61Division 1 57,135A L 0 - 1  
20-Jan-62Division 1 55,225H D 2 - 2 Greaves (2)
31-Mar-62F.A. Cup SF 65,000SF W 3 - 1 Medwin, Greaves, Jones
20-Oct-62Division 1 51,314H W 6 - 2 Medwin (2), Greaves (3), Jones
09-Mar-63Division 1 43,416A W 2 - 0 Saul, Jones
09-Nov-63Division 1 57,513A L 1 - 4 Gregg og
03-Dec-63ECWC 2 (1L) 57,447H W 2 - 0 Mackay, Dyson
10-Dec-63ECWC 2 (2L) 59,597A L 1 - 4 Greaves
21-Mar-64Division 1 56,292H L 2 - 3 Brown L, Greaves (pen)
26-Sep-64Division 1 53,362A L 1 - 4 Robertson
06-Feb-65Division 1 58,639H W 1 - 0 Henry
16-Oct-65Division 1 58,051H W 5 - 1 Johnson, Clayton, Gilzean, Greaves, Robertson
18-Dec-65Division 1 39,511A L 1 - 5 Jones
10-Sep-66Division 1 56,295H W 2 - 1 Greaves, Gilzean
14-Jan-67Division 1 57,365A L 0 - 1  
12-Aug-67Charity Shield 54,106A D 3 - 3 Jennings, Robertson, Saul
23-Sep-67Division 1 58,779A L 1 - 3 Gilzean
27-Jan-68F.A. Cup 3 63,500A D 2 - 2 Chivers (2)
31-Jan-68F.A. Cup 3 Replay57,200H W 1 - 0 (a.e.t)  Robertson
03-Feb-68Division 1 57,690H L 1 - 2 Chivers
28-Aug-68Division 1 62,649A L 1 - 3 Greaves
09-Oct-68Division 1 56,205H D 2 - 2 Jones, Gilzean
22-Nov-69Division 1 53,053A L 1 - 3 Chivers
13-Apr-70Division 1 41,808H W 2 - 1 Gilzean, Chivers
05-Dec-70Division 1 55,693H D 2 - 2 Gilzean, Peters
06-Feb-71Division 1 48,416A L 1 - 2 Peters
13-Nov-71Division 1 54,058A L 1 - 3 Chivers
04-Mar-72Division 1 54,814H W 2 - 0 Perryman, Chivers
28-Oct-72Division 1 52,497A W 4 - 1 Peters (4)
24-Mar-73Division 1 50,017H D 1 - 1 Chivers
10-Nov-73Division 1 42,756H W 2 - 1 Knowles, Chivers
23-Mar-74Division 1 36,278A W 1 - 0 Coates
06-Sep-75Division 1 51,641A L 2 - 3 Chivers, Jones
17-Jan-76Division 1 49,189H D 1 - 1 Duncan
04-Sep-76Division 1 60,723A W 3 - 2 Coates, Pratt, Moores
12-Feb-77Division 1 46,946H L 1 - 3 Jones
16-Dec-78Division 1 52,026A L 0 - 2  
10-Mar-79F.A. Cup 6 51,800H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
14-Mar-79F.A. Cup 6 Replay54,510A L 0 - 2  
21-Apr-79Division 1 36,665H D 1 - 1 Jones
29-Aug-79League Cup 2 (1L) 29,163H W 2 - 1 Pratt, Hoddle
05-Sep-79League Cup 2 (2L) 48,292A L 1 - 3 Armstrong
01-Dec-79Division 1 51,389H L 1 - 2 Hoddle
05-Jan-80F.A. Cup 3 45,207H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
09-Jan-80F.A. Cup 3 Replay53,762A W 1 - 0 Ardiles
12-Apr-80Division 1 53,151A L 1 - 4 Ardiles
06-Sep-80Division 1 40,995H D 0 - 0  
17-Feb-81Division 1 40,642A D 0 - 0  
07-Oct-81League Cup 2 (1L) 39,333H W 1 - 0 Archibald
28-Oct-81League Cup 2 (2L) 55,890A W 1 - 0 Hazard
21-Nov-81Division 1 35,534H W 3 - 1 Roberts, Hazard, Archibald
17-Apr-82Division 1 50,724A L 0 - 2  
13-Nov-82Division 1 47,869A L 0 - 1  
11-May-83Division 1 32,803H W 2 - 0 Roberts, Archibald
04-Jun-83Tour/RSHT - A L 1 - 2 Archibald                                (Match played in Swaziland)
11-Jun-83Tour/RSHT - A W 2 - 0 Perryman, Mabbutt                  (Match played in Swaziland)
16-Dec-83Division 1 33,616A L 2 - 4 Brazil, Falco
12-May-84Division 1 39,790H D 1 - 1 Archibald
20-Oct-84Division 1 54,516A L 0 - 1  
12-Mar-85Division 1 42,918H L 1 - 2 Falco
16-Nov-85Division 1 54,575A D 0 - 0  
19-Apr-86Division 1 32,357H D 0 - 0  
07-Dec-86Division 1 35,267A D 3 - 3 Mabbutt, Allen C, Moran og
04-May-87Division 1 36,692H W 4 - 0 Thomas M (2), Allen C (pen), Allen P
26-Sep-87Division 1 47,601A L 0 - 1  
23-Feb-88Division 1 25,731H D 1 - 1 Allen C
28-Mar-88Friendly/Test - H L 2 - 3 Archibald, Hodge
01-Oct-88Division 1 29,318H D 2 - 2 Walsh, Waddle
05-Feb-89Division 1 41,423A L 0 - 1  
22-Nov-89League Cup 3 45,759A W 3 - 0 Lineker, Samways, Nayim
16-Dec-89Division 1 36,230A W 1 - 0 Lineker
21-Apr-90Division 1 33,317H W 2 - 1 Gascoigne, Lineker
01-Jan-91Division 1 29,399H L 1 - 2 Lineker (pen)
20-May-91Division 1 46,791A D 1 - 1 Hendry
28-Sep-91Division 1 35,087H L 1 - 2 Durie
02-May-92Division 1 44,585A L 1 - 3 Lineker
19-Sep-92FA Prem 33,296H D 1 - 1 Durie
09-Jan-93FA Prem 35,648A L 1 - 4 Barmby
16-Oct-93FA Prem 44,655A L 1 - 2 Caskey
15-Jan-94FA Prem 31,343H L 0 - 1  
27-Aug-94FA Prem 24,502H L 0 - 1  
15-Mar-95FA Prem 43,802A D 0 - 0  
01-Jan-96FA Prem 32,852H W 4 - 1 Sheringham, Campbell, Armstrong (2)
24-Mar-96FA Prem 50,508A L 0 - 1  
29-Sep-96FA Prem 54,943A L 0 - 2  
05-Jan-97F.A. Cup 3 52,495A L 0 - 2  
12-Jan-97FA Prem 33,026H L 1 - 2 Allen
10-Aug-97FA Prem 26,359H L 0 - 2  
10-Jan-98FA Prem 55,281A L 0 - 2  
02-Dec-98League Cup 5 35,702H W 3 - 1 Armstrong (2), Ginola
12-Dec-98FA Prem 36,097H D 2 - 2 Campbell (2)
16-May-99FA Prem 55,189A L 1 - 2 Ferdinand
23-Oct-99FA Prem 36,072H W 3 - 1 Iversen, Scholes o.g., Carr
06-May-2000FA Prem 61,629A L 1 - 3 Armstrong
02-Dec-00FA Prem 67,583A L 0 - 2  
19-May-01FA Prem 36,072H W 3 - 1 Korsten (2), Ferdinand
29-Sep-01FA Prem 36,038H L 3 - 5 Richards, Ferdinand, Ziege
06-Mar-02FA Prem 67,059A L 0 - 4  
21-Sep-02FA Prem 67,611A L 0 - 1  
27-Apr-03FA Prem 36,073H L 0 - 2  
20-Dec-03FA Prem 35,910H L 1 - 2 Poyet
20-Mar-04FA Prem 67,634A L 0 - 3  
25-Sep-04FA Prem 36,103H L 0 - 1  
03-Jan-05FA Prem 67,962A D 0 - 0  
22-Oct-05FA Prem 67,856A D 1 - 1 Jenas
17-Apr-06FA Prem 36,141H L 1 - 2 Jenas
09-Sep-06FA Prem 75,453A L 0 - 1  
04-Feb-07FA Prem 36,146H L 0 - 4  
26-Aug-07FA Prem 75,696A L 0 - 1  
02-Feb-08FA Prem 36,075H D 1 - 1 Berbatov
27-Jan-08F.A. Cup 4 75,369A L 1 - 3 Keane
13-Dec-08FA Prem 35,862H D 0 - 0  
24-Jan-09F.A. Cup 4 75,014A L 1 - 2 Pavlyuchenko
01-Mar-09League Cup Final  88,2170 - 0  (a.e.t - Spurs lost 1-4 on pens)
25-Apr-09FA Prem 75,458A L 2 - 5 Bent, Modric
12-Sep-09FA Prem 35,785H L 1 - 3Defoe
01-Dec-09League Cup 5 A
24-Apr-10FA Prem A



















LAST TIME WE MET...




































Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Manchester United

12th September 2009, Premier League, White Hart Lane


Manchester United produced a superb display to fight back from a goal behind and win away at Tottenham, despite Paul Scholes' sending off.

Spurs went ahead when Jermain Defoe fired in an acrobatic overhead kick only 38 seconds in, but Ryan Giggs' majestic free-kick levelled matters.

Anderson fired home his first United goal from the edge of the box, before Scholes saw red for two bookings.

Peter Crouch hit the crossbar, but Wayne Rooney's solo goal wrapped it up.

Rooney's goal was an exhibition of counter-attacking play from the 10 men and a brutal response to those wondering whether United would carry the same threat without Cristiano Ronaldo this season.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory, especially as United were forced to play for over half an hour without Scholes against a team that had won all four of their Premier League games this season.

And until Scholes' unfortunate dismissal, it was the two old stagers of the side in the former England midfielder and Giggs who brilliantly led United's renaissance, after they succumbed to the quickest goal of the campaign thus far.

With only 38 seconds on the clock and White Hart Lane still a veritable cauldron of anticipatory noise, Defoe produced a moment of sheer class to stun the champions.

Under pressure from Crouch as he tried to deal with a long ball into the United box, Nemanja Vidic could only head into the air and Defoe pounced to dispatch a magnificent overhead kick into the bottom corner from eight yards.

The occasionally unplayable Crouch went close with two long-range volleys, but as the game wore on the influence of Scholes and Giggs gradually increased and with 25 minutes on the clock, the Welsh wizard conjured up yet another memorable moment in his stellar career.

After Dimitar Berbatov had been brought down by Wilson Palacios, the 35-year-old, who was captain for the day on his 700th start for United, bent a quite wonderful free-kick into Carlo Cuducini's top corner to keep up his record of scoring in every Premier League season since its inception in 1992.

United were suddenly flying and - prompted by Scholes - some of their football was an absolute joy to behold. In the space of 10 seconds, Cudicini saved from Rooney, Berbatov's shot was blocked on the line by Sebastien Bassong and the Bulgarian then fired over.

The visitors deserved to go in front, but when they did their goal came from a most unlikely source.

A corner from the United right was half-cleared to Scholes and after his shot hit Ledley King, Anderson rifled in his first competitive United goal in his 76th appearance from the edge of the box.

Spurs needed half-time to reassess and the introduction of Jermaine Jenas almost paid immediate dividends, but after he teed up Robbie Keane to shoot the striker's effort was expertly deflected over by Vidic.

Jenas himself went close when Foster tipped away his curling 25-yarder, before Crouch rose highest to power a header against the United crossbar as Spurs piled the pressure on.

United's task appeared to get harder when Scholes was dismissed by referee Andre Marriner for two fouls, the second a very harsh decision after a collision with Tom Huddlestone.

But United and Rooney in particular were proving a real menace on the break and after he saw one shot tipped against the bar by Cudicini, he settled it with their next attack.

Fletcher's long-range pass found Rooney outside the Spurs box and he easily foxed Alan Hutton before keeping his cool to slot between the legs of the advancing Cudicini.

Ominously for the rest of the league, United - so often slow starters - moved up to second in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview: Season 2009-10
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