Rafael protests

By Chris,
January 16 2011

Rafael Da Silva was dismissed for two bookable offences as Manchester United drew their eighth away league fixture of the season. The point is enough to take the Red Devils back to the Premier League summit following a scrappy affair watched by 35,828 at White Hart Lane.

Brazilian full-back Rafael was dismissed with 16 minutes remaining after a foul on Benoit Assou-Ekotto earned him a second yellow card.

His dismissal boosted Spurs but – despite late pressure – the North London hosts could not find a way passed Edwin van der Sar.

The game was certainly not a classic. Out-of-sorts Wayne Rooney squandered United's first chance of the game, whilst towering striker Peter Crouch nodded wide of VDS' goal at the other end.

Rooney tried twice more to beat Heurelho Gomes during the first-half exchanges, whilst Rafael Van der Vaart went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock three minutes before the break as he nodded Gareth Bale's into the side-netting. 

After a flurry of early second-half chances from United, Spurs got back into their stride and slowly started to build momentum. They were boosted by Rafael's dismissal on 74 minutes but still no goals came.

Harry Redknapp through on Jermaine Defoe at the death, knowing that Spurs probably needed to win the game to sustain an unlikely title bid – but United held on for a deserved point following a fast-paced but unmemorable contest.

The Red Devils will hope to maintain their amazing unbeaten league run next weekend as Brum visit the Theatre of Dreams.

Full Time – Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United
Attendance – 35,828