Man U’s path to title clears up with win at White Hart Lane

United dominated the match but missed a host of chances after a fine performance by Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who foiled Van Nistelrooy on at least four occasions.

The league leaders brought back David Beckham, who was controversially left on the bench by manager Alex Ferguson for the Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Real Madrid last Wednesday, and Scholes after suspension into their midfield.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer switched from the right wing to the left to accommodate the return of Beckham. United were also without goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who was replaced by Roy Carroll. For their part, Tottenham gave a first start to Japan international Kazuyuki Toda, who played in all his country’s games at the World Cup last year.

United began brightly and in the first minute Van Nistelrooy tested Keller when he broke through the Defence and fired a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that the goalkeeper did well to save.

Keller’s opposite number Carroll also had to move smartly to save at the feet of Matthew Etherington after he broke through the United Defence on 11 minutes. But it was Van Nistelrooy who should have given United the lead after 29 minutes when he pounced on a mistake by Ledley King and struck a shot from just outside the six metre area that Keller managed to get a hand to.

Spurs defender Dean Richards then left the pitch injured and with the home side down to 10 men, Beckham delivered a perfect cross that Van Nistelrooy met with a firm header just after the half-hour mark but Keller was again on hand to tip the ball over.

Anthony Gardener replaced Richards before Van Nistelrooy was kept out once again by Keller, who smothered the ball after the Dutchman threatened to open the scoring as halftime loomed. United went on the attack immediately after the break and Solskjaer burned Keller’s fingertips as the goalkeeper pushed a blistering shot over the bar from 25 metres.

Gary Neville was brought on for Wes Brown at right back nine minutes into the second half as Ferguson tried to help his team up the tempo. Five minutes later Giggs whistled a shot across the face of the Spurs goal.

Beckham then blasted a free kick just wide of Keller’s left-hand post from 30 metres and another shot by Neville was charged down with Keller punching the resulting corner clear of the danger area as United stepped up the pressure.

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle introduced Steffen Iversen and Goran Bunjevcevic for Toda and Etherington with 12 minutes remaining. But it was Gus Poyet who came closest to an equaliser when his header on 83 minutes just flew wide.

It was Left for Van Nistelrooy to round off the win after he latched on to a fine chipped pass from Fortune and drove a low shot past the defiant Keller.

The match failed to live up to the excitement of last year’s eight-goal thriller when United came back from 0-3 down at halftime to win 5-3 but the victory gives United three priceless points as they close in on another premier league title. (Reuters)