Indeed, if Old Trafford's political problems resolve themselves in the ensuing weeks, United will soon forget the day when two goals from Willem Korsten and one from Les Ferdinand gave Glenn Hoddle's side a hard-fought victory So United's season ends with three successive defeats. Yet, after winning the Premiership titlewith such evident comfort, they had nothing to prove at White Hart Lane yesterday, and duly proved it against a motivated Tottenham team who can carry this buoyant performance into the summer as a beacon of hope. Indeed, if Old Trafford's political problems resolve themselves in the ensuing weeks, United will soon forget the day when two goals from Willem Korsten and one from Les Ferdinand gave Glenn Hoddle's side a hard-fought victory. So disconnected from the actual contest had been all the pre-match talk that it may have come as a shock to many in the crowd when a game of football broke out. Surely, 36,000 people had merely congregated for a good natter? The topics were many, varied and engrossing. Would Sol Campbell stay at Spurs? Would Teddy Sheringham be eyeing up his old peg in the home dressing room? And what was the mindset on the visitors' bench? Is this really the end for Sir Alex? Was his chief henchman Steve McClaren merely in London to check on his route to Upton Park?Whatever, between them, regardless of distractions, they had clearly pondered long and hard over team selection. United's side though still not their strongest showed no fewer than seven changes from the youthful collection who began last week's defeat at Southampton.
Tottenham, the last month of whose season has been an exercise in forward planning and water treading, lacked the injured Tim Sherwood. As a result, in the continued absence of Campbell, Ferdinand became the third captain of Hoddle's short management reign.Ferdinand's armband was the only mark on Tottenham's newly paraded home kit ("designed in order to create a new, fresh and dynamic look for the club while being true to our traditions," the programme informed us). As much as a fashion show, the match started out as a sideshow particularly to hundreds of vociferous Manchester United supporters whose clear, sole intention was to dissuade their manager from early retirement.The incessant chanting of "Sir Alex Ferguson'' went uninterrupted even by the splendid goal which put the champions behind. Raimond van der Gouw, behind whose goal the cacophony continued, palmed away Simon Davies' left-wing corner and, from the edge of the penalty area, Korsten lobbed delightfully back into the vacant goal.Suddenly, mercifully, the match seemed to matter United responded with vigour and equalised at once.
Phil Neville half-volleyed a terrific cross from near the byline, Sheringham nodded it down and Paul Scholes finished.Thereafter as Spurs coped with Anthony Gardner's withdrawal after an awkward fall and the patching up of a wound to Davies' head United offered an increasing threat. Neil Sullivan flew to his right to parry a long-range drive from Ryan Giggs and plunged to his left to stop a Scholes shot.The most noteworthy event as the second half began was the appearance on the visitors' bench of Ferguson. Having spent the afternoon up to that point high up in the stand, his expression demonstrated an undiluted commitment to the cause Indeed, he should have been greeted with a goal. But, after being set up with trademark subtlety by Sheringham, Andy Cole flagged his shot nastily wide. Having miscued a pre-interval header, Cole was seemingly intent on saving his goals for August and occasions of sharper significance.As if suddenly cognisant of the season's impending close, White Hart Lane chose this moment to display its passion and, as the valedictory volume was turning itself up, Spurs duly scored.
