United grab crucial win at Spurs

Spurs 0 Manchester United 1

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his first Barclays Premiership goal of the season to give Manchester United the first win on their travels during this campaign.

Left-back Erik Edman tugged John O’Shea and the referee’s assistant signalled for a spot-kick which referee Pete Walton awarded, giving the Dutch striker the chance to fire the ball into the left corner.

This was a deserved victory for United in Alex Ferguson’s 700th top flight game in charge, their second in a week following the return of Rio Ferdinand, and it sent out a clear message to Arsenal and Chelsea that it is going to be a three-way fight for the title.