Beckham burns brightly

NOW Liverpool dare not look round. A late goal from David Beckham, a name that must now be etched deep into Tottenham's soul, won Manchester United a fast and absorbing match at White Hart Lane yesterday to bring the champions to within two points of the present leaders. United also have a game in hand.

Alex Ferguson's players are still not quite winning matches to the manner born. Yesterday's performance was high on industry, with inspiration often a distant cousin. But with five victories and a draw over Christmas and the New Year, Manchester United have clearly re acquired the winners' art - an art mislaid by everyone else in the top seven over the weekend - and it was this that ultimately frustrated an improved home performance by a much improvised Tottenham side.

When successive shots from Stefan Iversen and Andy Sinton each struck the underside of the United bar midway through the first half Spurs must have scented vengeance for their 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup at Old Trafford a week earlier.

In the event, another Norwegian, Ole Solskjaer, gave United the lead soon afterwards, and although Rory Allen headed the scores level at the end of the half, Beckham, whose inspired free kick had ended Tottenham's brief Cup ambitions, won the match with another marvellous shot just under a quarter of an hour from the end.

If United are to combine their Champions' League ambitions with a serious attempt at winning their fourth Premiership title in five seasons, they will need to retain the winning habit over the next two months - and before the quarter final against Porto occupies their minds.

During the early stages of yesterday's game it looked as if Denis Irwin's recurring hamstring injury, which forced Ferguson to reorganise his defence and start with a back three, would deny Manchester United the points they sought. Certainly the regularity with which Iversen was turning past Ronnie Johnsen or Gary Pallister offered Spurs a route to victory.

Yet the blond, leggy Norwegian striker was not quite able to finish what he had begun. After six minutes a volley dipped over the bar, after 26 a drive went wide. In between times came that double ricochet by Iversen and Sinlon and, in this instant, remembering the frequency with which Liverpool had struck West Ham's wooden bits the day before, United could have been forgiven for thinking that the runes were on their side.

Certainly they must have started to believe as much in the 23rd minute. Eric Cantona allowed a ball from Roy Keane to reach Solskjaer and then accepted a pass as the Norwegian turned for goal. The Frenchman's through ball was impeccable and so was Solskjaer's finely angled, low shot that found its way into the net underneath Ian Walker's diving body.

At that point Tottenham probably felt hard done by. They were still missing Teddy Sheringham, Chris Armstrong and Darren Anderton, and now Alan Nielsen, a midfield strength the previous weekend, had caught Iversen's flu. Yet David Howells and Clive Wilson, a makeshift midfielder, consistently carried the game to. United, who until the goal had responded only in brief spasms.

So it was with a sense of justice having been done that Spurs came off at half time with the scores level. In the 44th minute Sinlon's corner from the right was met with a firm header by Ramon Vega, the £3.7 million Swiss defender Tottenham have just bought from Cagliari. As the ball bounced into the goalmouth Allen nodded it past Peter Schmeichel.

Sensing a Spurs surge, United made a point of dominating the game as the second half began. With 20 minutes remaining Ferguson replaced Paul Scholes with Karel Poborsky. By now, Johnsen having moved to Ortodox left back, United were playing with a back four, giving Ryan Giggs greater attacking freedom.

For the second successive Sunday what turned out to be Tottenham's last chance of getting something from the afternoon fell to Allen, who again missed the target. That was in the 70th minute. Six minutes later the day belonged to Beckham.

There seemed little immediate danger for Spurs when Poborsky dispossessed Howells, but once Beckham had been found in space the inevitable beckoned. The 21 year old England player let fly from nearly 30 yards, and a glorious shot swung beyond Walker's reach and into the net.