Giggs 58, 86 (2 pens)        King 70

                                                                                            Nani 81

Two superbly-taken penalties by veteran Ryan Giggs took Manchester United back to the top of the EPL, seeing off in-form Tottenham.

United had to line-up without injured talisman Wayne Rooney, but ground out a result regardless.

After a first half-hour with  no attempts on goal whatsoever, United gradually asserted themselves and took the lead from the spot on 58 minutes.

Spurs were only behind for twelve minutes but only level for eleven after a fine strike nine minutes from time by Portugese winger Nani.

And Nani won a second penalty in the closing stages which Giggs converted with aplomb.

United were awarded their first spot-kick when Spurs stand-in right-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto upended Patrice Evra on 58 minutes.

In the absence of Rooney, Giggs drilled home the penalty with a confidence masking the fact that it was his first EPL goal from the spot.

The impressive Ledley King headed home Gareth Bale’s 70^th minute corner as Rafael Da Silva left his defensive position on the back-post.

But Nani’s lovely chipped finish from substitute Federico Macheda’s sliderule pass restored United’s advantage.

And when Wilson Palacios clumsily jumped into Nani’s back on 86 minutes, Giggs doubled his EPL penalty tally to seal victory over Tottenham.