THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - UNITED FORTRESS TURNING INTO BOUNCY CASTLE
Manchester United had hoped to ease into Chelsea's slipstream at the top of the Premiership and give the front row grid a more realistic look after a season of false starts by the supposed title challengers. But Tottenham, after providing much of the afternoon's entertainment and scoring an exquisite equaliser, maintain that exalted position ahead of Wigan on goal difference if, at six points behind, not exactly on the leaders' shoulders.
Tottenham get little luck on this ground and earlier this year, were the victims of daylight robbery when an over-the-line effort was ruled out. So they found a way to score a goal that even the most home town referee could not disallow, Jermaine Jenas curling a free-kick from the edge of the box into the top right hand corner.
Worryingly for United, Rio Ferdinand, whose petulant summer has given way to a troubled season, was again the man in the dock, fouling Jermain Defoe for the free kick that Jenas dispatched so expertly.
It says much for Tottenham's progress under manager Martin Jol that this game was seen not only as a measure of their own improvement but the health of Manchester United's title challenge. And while Tottenham passed with flying colours, United's title bid looks in tatters, strange as it may seem to say that after nine games.
Undoubtedly, there are now big questions to be asked of United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is rumoured to be making this his last season at Old Trafford. If he cannot right a ship that looks on a permanent list, the club's new owners might believe that they need a new man on the bridge.
THE INDEPENDENT - JENAS ON TARGET TO DENY UNITED AT THE THEATRE OF DRAWS
Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly been promised "whatever it takes" from the Glazer family to catch up with Chelsea; whether Manchester United's American owners possess that sort of financial clout seems highly unlikely. From this distance, they appear to be as far behind Roman Abramovich in the financial stakes as Ferguson's side are behind the champions, who can go 11 points ahead of the field when they play the back-markers, Everton, today.
Four Premiership matches at Old Trafford have brought United a mere four goals and five points, Tottenham fighting back in the second half for a deserved draw, although they drop to third behind Charlton.
Despite that, and three previous wins in a row, manager Martin Jol has modestly insisted they are still not on a par with United and Liverpool, as well as city rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, and are therefore not ready for the Champions' League.
What Rooney brings to United was illustrated in the seventh minute in the build-up to their goal. The two teams were still settling down and exchanging pleasantries when Rooney bustled on to a ball near the halfway line and ran purposefully at the Spurs defence at such speed that he was past Michael Dawson before the centre-half had a chance to make a tackle. What Dawson did instead was nudge him as he went by. From Paul Scholes's free-kick Paul Robinson's failure to hold Ruud van Nistelrooy's header left Mikael Silvestre with a tap-in.
Ferguson's response to Scholes's apparent loss of form had been to make him captain and ask him to play deeper than usual, with Alan Smith encouraged to get forward, as of old. This rejigged midfield, necessitated by the absence of Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane and the surprising decision to start with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, subdued the selection from Jol's cast of thousands before half-time. Jol said he was delighted to see that Ronaldo's name was not on the teamsheet, but admitted his team did not take advantage until the second half. Scholes was more involved than he has recently been, while Smith produced some delightful touches.
THE OBSERVER - JENAS OUTWITS ONE-MAN UNITED
Problems are piling up for Manchester United if not even Wayne Rooney can put them back on the winning track.
Heard the one about United not winning at home from August to December? You soon might. They have no more home games in the league this month and only one in November. And it happens to be against Chelsea.
In his final game as a teenager Rooney showed only glimpses of his talent. He is entitled to a few ordinary days and United seem to be expecting too much from him. Rooney's own belief that he can score from anywhere and rescue any situation is not helping the situation either. Tottenham quickly realised that neither Rooney nor United were actually hurting them and came from behind to claim a point they thoroughly deserved and set alarm bells ringing across the Atlantic.
What Rooney brings to United was illustrated in the seventh minute in the build-up to their goal. The two teams were still settling down and exchanging pleasantries when Rooney bustled on to a ball near the halfway line and ran purposefully at the Spurs defence at such speed that he was past Michael Dawson before the centre-half had a chance to make a tackle. What Dawson did instead was nudge him as he went by. From Paul Scholes's free-kick Paul Robinson's failure to hold Ruud van Nistelrooy's header left Mikael Silvestre with a tap-in.
Ferguson's response to Scholes's apparent loss of form had been to make him captain and ask him to play deeper than usual, with Alan Smith encouraged to get forward, as of old. This rejigged midfield, necessitated by the absence of Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane and the surprising decision to start with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, subdued the selection from Jol's cast of thousands before half-time. Jol said he was delighted to see that Ronaldo's name was not on the teamsheet, but admitted his team did not take advantage until the second half. Scholes was more involved than he has recently been, while Smith produced some delightful touches.
THE SUNDAY TIMES - JENAS PUNISHES UNITED
Manchester United have announced they will have an extra 7,000 season tickets available next season but the main attraction in English football is now elsewhere. Chelsea’s dominance of the Premiership is such they did not even have to play yesterday for their grip on power to increase. Second played third at Old Trafford and cancelled each other out. The problem for United is they looked no likelier to win the championship this season than Martin Jol’s Spurs side.
Mikael Silvestre scored Premiership goal number 999 for his team; Sir Alex Ferguson must feel like dialling that number. Here his players began with fresh purpose and an early, nerve-soothing goal. But by the end of the match old doubts had crept back and, in the way they tried to coast in the second half, old bad habits. Tottenham, after a disappointing beginning, seized their opportunity with gusto. When Jermaine Jenas lined up a free kick 20 yards out — given after another dumb moment from Rio Ferdinand, who had fouled Jermain Defoe. Jenas stepped up and, with Edwin Van Der Sar positioned dubiously, bent a lovely shot over the wall and into the unprotected portion of net behind it. Tottenham deserved their point; home fans began streaming out of the exits, resigned to a third consecutive home League game without a victory.
The Theatre of Dreams is heavy with autumnal sighs. This draw, thoroughly earned by Tottenham Hotspur’s second-half revival, ended with the visiting fans taunting the majority of the 67,856 audience with chants of "60,000 Muppets".
Their chorus was justified because there was no harmony between crowd and home team, no lifting of the spirits — even after United had dominated for half the game — to suggest that the old effervescences, the Fergie fire was being summoned again.