Ferdinand factor still heady for United

SOCCER/English FA Premiership: The intrigue came too late. Afterwards, the Spurs head coach Jacques Santini implied there had been a conspiracy in the late appointment of Peter Walton as referee, but there were no mysteries to be solved in the match itself. This was business as it used to be for Manchester United.

For the first time since April, they have won consecutive Premiership matches. Alex Ferguson's side can once more be counted on to make chances regularly over the course of an afternoon and, if Rio Ferdinand's sauntering mastery of Tottenham's attackers is any guide, will not lose too many goals either.

The award of the penalty which decided the game has as little potential to be a genuine cause celebre as the selection of Walton. When Gabriel Heinze crossed deep in the 42nd minute, Erik Edman lost track of John O'Shea and, in disorientation, turned to grab the midfielder's shirt.

The Tottenham defender later pleaded guilty. "I am responsible," he said. "That is it. It is my fault." The misspelling of Edman's first name on the match programme cover must have been an omen of that garbled moment in the penalty area. Ruud van Nistelrooy converted forcefully from 12 yards.

United's fourth successive league win at White Hart Lane would have been lodged just as emphatically if several other opportunities had been taken. Paul Robinson pulled off good saves, a marginal offside decision went against van Nistelrooy, Robbie Keane bravely blocked a Mikael Silvestre shot and the substitute David Bellion headed against the Tottenham goalkeeper from four yards.

That last chance had come when Cristiano Ronaldo steered the ball on to his team-mate's brow with a bending cross from the left wing struck with the outside of his right boot. There is a boisterousness to his ability that is unusual in wingers, who often feel that rarefied skills entitle them to be languid.

The Portuguese international could not be smug at White Hart Lane, where several other United players excelled. Roy Keane followed his strong showing against Liverpool with another influential display. Heinze promises consistency, too, attacking confidently and showing the expected abrasiveness of an Argentinian defender, which will make him a cult figure at Old Trafford and a bête noire everywhere else.

Ferdinand mopped up Tottenham attacks that did seep into the penalty area and, as Ferguson said, the return of the centre back from an eight-month suspension has also bolstered Silvestre. Reassuring as the emergence of Ledley King has been, Sven-Goran Eriksson will surely keep faith with Ferdinand and restore him to the England line-up against Wales next month.

The single reservation lies with the lack of a proper test for him so far. United, similarly, will accept that this fixture hardly showed whether they will be able to bear comparison to Arsenal or Chelsea.

Santini started off with a formation that asked Jermain Defoe to be the sole, outright striker. Premiership sides generally lack threat when squashed into that sort of system and Tottenham, despite their cosmopolitan mix, behaved as if it were foreign to them.

The club's unbeaten start is over and a new phase has therefore been opened up for Santini. The head coach might have been envious had he heard Ferdinand talking of the signs of resurgence at United. They did not miss Paul Scholes, who may shed his recent jadedness as he rests to recover from a groin strain, and there is no longer any fear that the introduction of Wayne Rooney will be made in desperation.

How Tottenham might wish for such means. Their squad has been strengthened, but goals will stay scarce if the service to the forwards continues to be poor. Simon Davies could add some verve once he settles after his long lay-off and Sean Davis's recovery from injury might help, but there will probably still not be sufficient creativity to spare them many grinding afternoons.

This game certainly grated with Santini. Steve Bennett, who was initially meant to referee the match, took over from Graham Poll as fourth official when a decision was taken last week to reroute the latter to Craven Cottage. The authorities obviously thought that Poll might be needed to put down any new insurrections by Fulham players.

Santini would have preferred Bennett as referee and claimed Walton had been "smiling" with the United squad at half-time.

In any case, the inexperienced Walton handled the game fairly and well. It was not favouritism from him that made United faces beam.