Hero Van ends talk of crisis at United

On the Ruud back

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has enjoyed 700 senior games in charge of United. Has he ever had a player more valuable than Ruud van Nistelrooy? Probably not.

Ferguson always insisted United should be judged with their best striker back in the team — and now he is, the early-season crisis seems to have faded as quickly as the summer sun.

His penalty was the difference here — a difference that might not have existed a few weeks ago.

Suddenly, United look confident again. Not at their peak, but certainly a more formidable unit than that which scraped points late on against Bolton and Blackburn.

Rio Ferdinand and Gabriel Heinze have brought greater calm to the defence and, in Cristiano Ronaldo, United possess a unique talent who, even on his quieter days and this was one, is never less than terrifying to any full-back.

Attack

But it is Van Nistelrooy that defines United these days, and there was something very final in the way he put his penalty past Paul Robinson — something that underlined the message that, with consecutive wins against previously unbeaten Liverpool and Tottenham, United were back and the race was on.

The prospect of United reaching October without an away win would once have been unthinkable.

For a change, Spurs were the unbeaten side, for a change the crisis was taking place elsewhere.

United boss Ferguson said: "Tottenham have been rejuvenated this season and their fans were fantastic, they cheered every pass and every challenge and this was a difficult game for us.

"The fans tried to influence the referee but he did his job well and there were no contentious issues, just some hoo-ha. A lot of teams will come here and drop points but we defended well."

Spurs chief Santini was not so happy with stand-in ref Pat Walton and launched a blistering attack after the game.

He was also not convinced by the penalty. Santini said: "It was difficult to see because the incident happened on the opposite side but Erik Edman said there was some pulling from both players."

For 40 minutes Spurs matched United despite losing striker Frederic Kanoute to a hamstring strain on the half-hour.

Their first chance came after seven minutes when a corner from Robbie Keane was met by giant defender Noureddine Naybet who steered his header over the bar.

In the 23rd minute sloppy defending by Mikael Silvestre gave the ball to Pedro Mendes but his shot sailed over the bar.

United keeper Roy Carroll did need to be alert moments later when Mendes found his range, his shot dipping and kicking up viciously.

His opposite number, Robinson, was saved embarrassment after 13 minutes when a poor clearance travelled straight to Ronaldo with the goal now empty and its keeper stranded.

But Ronaldo's shot lacked venom and was blocked by Naybet. Robinson did react quickly moments later to save at the near post as Ledley King sliced his attempt to clear Van Nistelrooy's shot.

Then Ryan Giggs cut across from right to left before striking a fine shot from 25 yards that flew just wide with Robinson beaten.

Giggs and Ronaldo were constantly swapping wings and it seemed to panic Edman.

In the 41st minute he pulled at John O'Shea's shirt from Heinze's cross. True, the Irishman went over easily but the offence was plain to the nearby linesman — and ref Walton took his word and pointed to the spot.

Problems

Van Nistelrooy converted in style, his first league goal of the season, and Tottenham fans reacted angrily at half-time when they were shown the replay and O'Shea's fall.

Up to now, nothing had been heard of Jermain Defoe, on current form the best goalscorer in the country.

It could not last and, sure enough, in the second-half, he perked up to cause United no end of problems.

In the 50th minute, his speed caused problems and Ferdinand and partner Silvestre just did enough to send his shot wide.

Soon after, he played a one-two with Edman, ending with an audacious chip that won full marks for imagination but nil for the trouble it caused Carroll in the United goal.