United continue to reap rewards of loyalty

Yesterday’s result at White Hart Lane suggests there is more to come.

On a day when Chelsea sacked a manager for the sixth time in less than eight years, maybe it was fitting that Manchester United, who haven’t wielded the axe since November 1986, secured a crucial victory in north London that ensures the 2012 title race will be fought out exclusively between themselves and derby rivals Manchester City.

It wasn’t the greatest United display in manager Alex Ferguson’s reign, which now of course spans more than a quarter of a century, but the Scot described the match as the most of important of his team’s season so far and maybe he was right; because a header from Wayne Rooney and two well-taken goals from Ashley Young, largely against the run of play and in a match that Tottenham dominated for long periods, showed why United are title contenders and their opponents are not.