Manchester Utd - 3 Tottenham - 0 Alex Ferguson conceded at the weekend that Manchester United had been given a bloody nose but it is their recent impersonation of a haemophiliac which worries the club's supporters more.

Here, at the theatre of uneasy dreams, the flow was finally staunched. This was the first time in 11 games United have kept a clean sheet - the last occasion was against Northampton Town in the FA Cup on January 25th.

After just one victory in their previous six matches and months of damaging mismanagement there was more than a suggestion here of a spring revival.

David Pleat, the Spurs manager, was even more positive. He can see United causing an upset when they play Arsenal in Sunday's keenly anticipated fixture at Highbury. "I think this could be a twitchy game for Arsenal," he said. "I think the drain and strain of their European matches could work against them."

Pleat added: "I've known Alex for a long time and we had a chat before and after the game. He hasn't developed a thick skin - he was born with it. He's had more highs than blips in his life and I think he was very relaxed today. When you have very good players you know that they can come through spells. And, metaphorically, he would love to put two fingers up against anyone who gives him criticism.

"When you have Roy Keane pulling strings in midfield and Ryan Giggs running the ball, as well as some other wonderful players, he knows that he can still be very competitive. And I don't think he reads the papers."

However, the fact is that, realistically, they are out of the title race, even if they do get a result at Highbury. As they are also out of Europe and face Arsenal again in an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park on April 3th, their season now consists of damage limitation more than anything else.

Spurs, perhaps, are not the best team to use to gauge the state of United's health. They had not won here for 25 years and inhabit that no man's land between European aspirations and relegation skirmishes.

Pleat said there was a lack of punch in his side. That sounded unfair on his strikers. Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Fredi Kanoute, who started on the bench, represent a substantial threat. Spurs' real problem is the mediocrity of their midfield and their disrupted back four. The forwards hardly got a look of the ball.

The encouraging thing for United supporters, however, is that the side played with real urgency and spirit. Keane was in commanding form and Giggs, all swerve and verve, had such an outstanding game that George Best was warm in his praise afterwards.

It was Giggs who put United ahead in the 29th minute when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, making his first start for six months, crossed from the right and Giggs back-heeled past Kasey Keller.

Pleat was right, though, when he said that United's late two goals distorted the picture of this match because for much of the second half they looked capable of stealing an equaliser.

First Ronaldo shot home, long range, via the left post and then Giggs, with a delightful pass, sent David Bellion skipping through for the third goal.

"We were pushing the game at 1-0 and opened it up a little. It was a bit unfair, cruel if you like," said Pleat afterwards.

United's goalkeeper Tim Howard was dropped for this game, though "rested" because he was "mentally tired" was the official excuse. He could have played here and still felt rested at the end.

Most of all, this was a game that gave United supporters some grim reassurance and some hope for the big matches just around the corner.

Ferguson, a little beaten up by recent events, looked more like his old self afterwards when he said: "We should revel in the games coming up. Arsenal will not underestimate us. We will have a few players back and a few fitter by then. Winning trophies is the name of the game and it's what we're all about." It is - but he might have to wait until next season.