FT: Man Utd 5 Tottenham 2

FULL TIME: The final whistle goes and Old Trafford cheers. United are back on top of the table, having gone three points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand. A poor penalty decision got them back on track after Spurs had taken a shock 2-0 lead in the first half, and United ran riot thereafter.

90+2 Ronaldo is caught offside once again as United continue to try and give him a chance to get his hat-trick.

90+1 Assou-Ekotto puts in a mean sliding challenge on Ronaldo, and gets enough of the ball for it to be legitimate.

90 Scholes sends a long ball forward for Ronaldo, but he's flagged offside. There will be three minutes of added time.

89 A great ball over the top from Berbatov finds Ronaldo, but he's forced wide by Assou-Ekotto and can't get his left-footed shot on target.

88 Vidic's long ball forward finds Ronaldo, but he can only get a nick of a header that runs out of play for a goalkick.

87 A tired-looking Modric is taken off by Harry Redknapp and replaced by Tom Huddlestone.

86 A lovely one-two puts Tevez clear down the right, but his cross is too deep for Berbatov.

85 Keane has an effort saved from close range by van der Sar at one end, and United sprint down the other end where Ronaldo can't find Tevez with a low cross from the left.

83 Just about everyone has written in to question my eyesight with regards to the penalty. The first angle didn't seem to show a touch from Gomes but the second certainly did. Spurs fans will point to that as the turning point, but will also be disappointed with the way their side subsequently fell apart.

82 United are content to keep the ball and dink it around without much urgency, while the fight has gone out of Spurs who are in no mood to chase.

81 Keane looks to play a through-ball for Lennon, but Evra steps inside of the winger to cut out the Spurs attack.

79 GOAL - BERBATOV: Sloppy goal in the end. Rooney crosses to Berbatov, who heads straight at Gomes. However he doesn't hold on, and the ball zings around until Berbatov bungles it over the line from close range. Gomes will know he could have done better.

77 Gomes comes out of his box to head the ball clear as Tevez is played in behind the Spurs defence. The keeper's clearance is straight to Berbatov, but his first-time effort is a looped one which Gomes gets back to save.

76 All the urgency has been taken out of the game now, as Spurs win a free-kick inside their own half.

75 So close from Spurs! Bent cuts back inside on the edge of United's area and curls an effort just wide of van der Sar's post.

74 Rooney surges forward in search of a hat-trick but isn't allowed a forceful shot on goal. Instead he tries to chip Gomes, but the keeper plucks it easily out of the air.

73 United take the pace out of the game now that their lead is secured, and a shell-shocked Spurs don't seem to know what to do next.

71 GOAL - ROONEY: Spurs have fallen to pieces. Ronaldo dinks the ball to Rooney at the far post, where he's completely unmarked. While his effort is originally saved by Woodgate's slide, the defender then carries the ball just over the line and the goal is given.

70 Well what a turnaround. Ferguson makes a change as a result, taking off Rafael and bringing on O'Shea.

68 GOAL - RONALDO: And just like that, United are in front. Rooney crosses from the left, and after the ball drifts over King's head Ronaldo puts in a diving header to send the ball back across Gomes and into the Spurs net.

67 GOAL - ROONEY: Lovely quick passing from United results in Tevez putting Rooney in space on the left. The Englishman carries the ball into the box, fakes to come back inside and then shoots to beat Gomes at his near post.

65 Ronney pinches the ball off Corluka and surges forward, but he in turn is dispossessed by a sly tackle from Palacios.

64 Another poor tackle from Scholes - this a late one on Palacios - sees Scholes go into the book just two minutes after coming on.

63 Scholes takes all of 30 seconds to concede his first free-kick with a typically poor challenge.

62 Fletcher is replaced by Paul Scholes as United go in search of an equaliser.

61 Rafael sends in an inviting cross from the right, but it's just too high for the onrushing Ronaldo.

60 Spurs play the ball around in neat triangles, but then Modric's pass is too far forward for Assou-Ekotto and United have a throw-in.

59 Another look at that replay shows Gomes got a fingertip to the ball before taking out Carrick, so in fact that shouldn't have been a penalty. Such a tight call though.

57 GOAL - RONALDO: Ronaldo steps up and slots the ball straight down the middle as Gomes dives to his left. Game on.

56 PENALTY: Spurs are incensed and surround the referee Webb, but the replay suggests it was a straightforward decision. Carrick was played into the area and got a touch just before Gomes slid in to take him out. Gomes is yellow-carded.

55 After a period of pressure from United, Spurs breathe a sigh of relief as Lennon wins the ball and then a free-kick.

54 Ronaldo plays a first-time ball to Tevez, who takes a touch before shooting from close range. However Gomes was quickly out to make an excellent block.

53 The corner comes to nothing but United maintain the pressure as Spurs are unable to get out of their half. This could be a long 37 minutes for the visiting defence.

52 United surge forward and win a corner. Spurs only come half-clear whereupon the ball is stolen by Michael Carrick, who feeds Tevez. His cross finds Rooney at the back post, and he shoots and wins a corner.

51 Modric wins another free-kick, this time off Fletcher, as Spurs eek their way forward and take time out of the game. His delivery is just beyond Bent's leap and van der Sar gathers.

50 Rafael fouls Modric just inside United's half. Bent comes back on though he's not looking 100% happy.

49 Having landed awkwardly, Bent requires some time with the physio before limping to the touchline to allow play to continue. He should be okay to carry on by the looks of things though.

48 Bent goes up for a header and then goes down clutching his knee, but the free-kick goes against him for an elbow on Vidic.

47 It's a scrappy start to the second half, with both sides conceding possession as if it were an item of no importance whatsoever.

46 Sir Alex Ferguson has made a change during the break, pulling off the showboating but ineffective Nani and replacing him with Carlos Tevez. Good move, because there's no doubt Tevez will be hungry.

Marta in Benidorm has some suggestions: "Push scholes on, its desperate, hes the genius. Hes won about 8 titles in his own backyard. Please shout to sir alex to pull off berbatov, he's in cloud cuckoo land after that penalty miss at wembley."

The bookies are always an interesting indicator as to how a match may unfold. SkyBet have United at 4/1 to win from here, while Spurs are 4/7 and the draw is 14/5.

Ben Keraro in New Jersey has an interesting insight on United: "They are behind because Evra is going too far forward on the left side. Lennon has speed and can turn and dink really fast. But even worse is positioning by Man United when crosses are coming in. Ferdinand and Vidic should do a better job. They are also giving too much space to Luka Modric when cutting from the left side. Man United will be playing with the sun behind them But I hope Tottenham do not make too many silly mistakes right outside the box. Ronaldo does not need too many invitations to score from that range. Tottenham are still capable of scoring one more goal and if they do, A United comeback is will be made harder though it is not impossible. The worst that can happen in this game as it is now is 2-all draw. I still fancy an upset!"

"Dear oh dear, what is going on with Man Us defence?" wonders Peter Smith. "All that pressure and nothing. Then along comes spurs and knocks 2 in the back of the net in 3 mins. Is it the defence? Is it the man utd finishing? All those shots wasted. We need something special now to happen." The answer has to be 'all of the above' I reckon. Two sloppy moments of defending have erased a whole half of pressure and given Spurs renewed confidence. Stay tuned though folks, because I fancy United aren't out of this yet...

45+1 Fletcher concedes a corner from near the halfway line as he tackles Lennon. Modric's cross is cut out by the United defence, and that'll be half-time.

45 Wilson Palacios goes for a long-range effort from the right-hand side, but it drifts just over van der Sar's goal.

44 Corluka plays Lennon in behind Evra, but his low cross is cut out by Vidic.

43 Berbatov looks to have played Ronaldo in behind the Spurs defence, but the referee calls play back because the Bulgarian handled the ball before making the pass.

41 Jenas goes in the book for a late tackle on Fletcher.

40 Fletcher sets up Nani on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked by an increasingly desperate Spurs defence. Pressure is building.

39 United swing in a corner, but Gomes has been emoldened by that save and he comes out to grasp it first time.

38 Ronaldo's original effort is straight into the wall, but it rebounds straight back to him to allow a volley which dips towards the top right hand corner. It seems destined for the back of the net but Gomes leaps to his left to make a stunning save.

37 Woodgate's late challenge on Ronaldo earns him the first yellow card of the match, and Ronaldo can have another go with a free kick, this time from 35 yards out.

36 The Spurs fans are in full voice, but United continue to apply the pressure. On this occasion Rafael's left-footed drive from 20 yards out is well gathered by Gomes.

35 A smooth move from United sees Evra and Ronaldo combine with a couple of neat touches before the latter swings in a low cross, but Nani's flicked effort is wide of goal.

34 A shell-shocked United eek their way forward on the right, but Spurs are understandably encouraged and motivated now and it's Keane who gets back to win a free-kick and relieve the pressure.

32 GOAL - MODRIC: Two-nil! And again it's come from the right hand side where Lennon jinked his way to the byline before putting in his cross. While Bent can't make contact this time, it goes straight to Modric on the far post who chests the ball down before driving it past van der Sar.

31 Benoit Assou-Ekotto puts in a perfectly-timed tackle to pinch the ball off Nani as he attempts to drive forward down the right for United.

30 Well that's woken up the home crowd, who urge their team on as they drive down the right.

29 GOAL - BENT: It's slightly scrappy, but it's a goal nonetheless. Corluka swings in a cross from the right, and while Bent scuffs his header the ball falls at his feet and he hammers it in from three yards. What a coup for Spurs given the pressure they've been under!

27 Rafael tries to play Ronaldo in on goal, but Gomes comes out to beat the Portuguese winger to the ball.

26 Massive pressure from United sees the ball ping-pong around the Spurs box before coming out to Rooney on the edge of the area, and his shot is just over Gomes' bar.

25 United win a free-kick 30 yards out which Ronaldo takes. His effort strikes the wall and though he appeals for a handball, the referee isn't interested.

24 Nani whips in a great cross from the left, but Ronaldo is put under enough pressure by King to miss his header. Good chance for United there.

23 Nani lets the ball run out of play as he performs a series of step-overs but then wins a free-kick with some theatrics in going to ground.

22 The sliding tackles come flying in from Spurs as United make progress into their opponents' half, and eventually the defence pays off as Spurs win the ball and then a free kick.

20 Jermaine Jenas catches Barbatov with a high arm and United have a free kick around 40 yards from goal. Ronalod tries his luck with a direct effort at goal which bounces on its way to Gomes, but while the goalkeeper drops it initially, he then gathers the ball before a United player can get to it.

19 Keane tries to play Corluka in behind the defence on the right, but Patrice Evra gets back to win a goalkick as the duo slide out of play with the ball.

18 Spurs win a free kick just inside United's half and swing it into the box, where van der Sar grabs it at the second attempt.

17 Luka Modric beats Rafael down the left and, just as it looks like he's run out of options, crosses into the United box. Unfortunately it's just beyond Bent and the defence clear the danger.

16 Ronaldo tries a long-range effort with his left foot, but it flies high and wide of the Spurs goal.

15 Spurs gain possession in United's half but run out of ideas as they approach the penalty area.

14 The home side win the ball back and forge forward, but Spurs win a free-kick in their own half.

13 Keane's ball out to Bent on the right wing is well cut out by Nemanja Vidic, but United concede a throw-in deep in their own half.

12 After a couple of Spurs attacks in the first ten minutes, United have now taken control of the game and are dominating possession and territory.

11 A cunning run from Berbatov almost results in a chance for Rooney, but the Spurs defence cut out the attack in the nick of time.

10 Rafael puts in a teasing cross from the right, but Rooney just can't get his head to it in the centre.

9 Nani jumps on a loose ball in the Tottenham half, but his diagonal pass towards Berbatov is cut out by Ledley King on the edge of the Tottenham box.

8 Aaron Lennon puts in a perfect cross to the back foot, but Darren Bent' header is easily palmed behind for a corner by Edwin van der Sar as he covers his near post. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

7 Cristiano Ronaldo picks up a loose ball and drives forward, but Robbie Keane gets back to nick the ball away.

6 Carrick looks for Rooney with a long ball, but it's too long and Gomes gathers.

5 United win the ball back and probe down the right, setting Fletcher free to the byline. However his cross is too deep for Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.

4 Fletcher's poor ball forward is collected by Vedran Corluka and Spurs forge forward down the right.

3 It's end-ot-end stuff in the opening exchanges as both sides threaten without finding a final ball into the box.

2 United immediately go on the offensive and Darren Fletcher almost feeds Dimitar Berbatov with a through-ball, but Heurelho Gomes comes sliding out to beat the forward to the ball.

1 After waiting for Tottenham to conclude their spirit-raising huddle, Manchester United get us underway at Old Trafford.

Our referee this evening is Howard Webb. We're just about ready to roll, and of course you can send in your musings and insights on the match by emailing tristan.holme@teamtalkmedia.co.za.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Jenas, Modric, Keane, Bent

Subs: Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Chimbonda

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney

Subs: Foster, Anderson, Scholes, O'Shea, Evans, Tevez, Macheda

Team news: Meanwhile Ledley King and Jermaine Jenas come into the Tottenham line-up, although the main news out of White Hart Lane is the withdrawal of England star Jermain Defoe following the tragic death of his half-brother Jade, which was announced earlier today.

Team news: There will be no 800th Manchester United appearance for Ryan Giggs today, because he's not even been named on the bench. However Carlos Tevez is among the substitutes as the unhappy South American again plays second fiddle to Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United against Tottenham from Old Trafford. The Red Devils are second on the Barclays Premier League table following Liverpool's 3-1 win over Hull, but only trail on goal difference and have two games in hand. Can Spurs halt United's assault on the crown?