Scorers: Tottenham: Defoe 1

               Manchester United: Giggs 25, Anderson 41, Rooney 78

Manchester United laid waste to Tottenham’s 100% record, coming back from the early shock of a first-minute goal by in-form striker Jermaine Defoe.

A wonderful free-kick from the evergreen Ryan Giggs, Anderson’s first goal in United colours and a sublime counter-attack third from Wayne Rooney clinched victory.

And they did so despite playing the last half-hour with ten men after Paul Scholes was sent to the line for two bookable offences.

Spurs could not have asked for a better start, with all three strikers named in their attacking line-up playing a part in the goal, Peter Crouch eventually nodding the ball into the six-yard box where Defoe’s spectacular overhead kick flashed past an unsuspecting United keeper Ben Foster.

United were level, though, on 25 minutes, Ryan Giggs superbly curling a 20-yard left-footed free-kick over the wall, after Wilson Palacios had been penalised for his umpteenth foul.

And United were ahead four minutes before the break, Anderson driving the ball home left-footed after Scholes’ shot was cleared into his path by Ledley King.

Spurs gained some much needed impetus with the half-time introduction of Jermaine Jenas, who saw a right-footed shot magnificently tipped round the post by a full-stretch Foster on 55 minutes.

And Crouch hit the top of the crossbar after a towering leap above United’s defence from the resultant corner.

Scholes then heaped more pressure on United when he was booked for two of a series of rash challenges.

Yet Scholes’ departure saw United re-organise very effectively, able to rely on the fabulously energetic Rooney as a lone forward outlet while packing their third of the pitch.

Rooney had given Spurs due warning of his threat, forcing Cudicini into a fine low save before he latched onto a Darren Fletcher pass, outfoxed Spurs’ Alan Hutton and nutmegged Cudicini to seal victory with 14 minutes remaining