Manchester United held off Tottenham’s challenge, although it took a bizarre goal to give the scoreline a look which reflected United’s general edge.

United led through Nemanja Vidic’s 31^st-minute header from Nani’s free-kick. And there were six minutes left when Nani appealed for a penalty after falling under Spurs centre-back Younes Kaboul’s challenge.

A prostrate Nani handled the ball. But with Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes in control of the ball, referee Mark Clattenburg played advantage, without waving play on, but not whistling for a free-kick.

Gomes placed the ball on the ground for a free-kick, which allowed a now upright Nani to emerge from behind Gomes and side-foot the ball into the net. The goal stood after Clattenburg consulted his best-placed assistant.

United deservedly won, although both sides struck the crossbar in the first half from long-range, Ji-Sung Park for United and Spurs’ Rafael Van der Vaart, the Dutchman’s a spectacular effort.

Most of the game’s best efforts were long-range, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Javier Hernandez for United, Luka Modric and a deflected Roman Pavlyuchenko for Spurs.

And Nani hit the woodwork again after the second goal, with a viciously-dipping left-foot shot after a mazy run past two defenders.