THE SUNDAY TIMES - GIGGS TEARS APART TOTTENHAM
If Sir Alex Ferguson could have hand-picked the opposition to banish the mood of sackcloth and ashes around Old Trafford, he would surely have chosen Tottenham. They have never won there in the Premier League, and rarely looked like improving that dismal record yesterday in a match that struggled to rise above the mundane until the last minutes, when Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion illuminated a grey day with goals out of keeping with the drabness that had gone before.
Three-nil was flattering, but as satisfying as the result for Ferguson was his team’s first clean sheet in 11 games.
The first questions of the day were answered when the teamsheets were handed in. How would Ferguson react to the disintegration of United’s season? Tim Howard was replaced in goal by Roy Carroll. No, Howard hadn’t been dropped, he was "rested" because he was "mentally tired". An unfortunate piece of timing had Howard on the cover of the matchday programme, with Peter Schmeichel and Alex Stepney telling us that the American "has what it takes ".
Others "tired", and probably emotional, after the Manchester derby drubbing included Ronaldo, Nicky Butt and Darren Fletcher, all on the bench.
Surprise inclusions were Keane, ruled out with a hamstring injury on Friday, and Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, making his first start for six months.
THE TELEGRAPH - STYLISH UNITED RESTORE BELIEF
They had to survive a rocky spell, which was perhaps understanding considering their recent results, but Manchester United finished in style to register their first Premiership win in five matches and restore a little belief ahead of their two meetings with Arsenal.
United may require more than a fair wind to blow them back on course, but they negotiated swirling winds to give a glimpse of their former selves. The championship is surely out of reach, Europe is already a distant memory, yet self esteem and the new significance of the FA Cup are objectives for the remainder of their season.
Sir Alex Ferguson defiantly stated he was not cracking up and United were not in meltdown, and his team, depleted by injuries and suspensions, responded with a vibrant performance that ought to have given them more than a one goal advantage at half-time.
Spurs, who had their moments going forward, were prised open with ominous ease before Ryan Giggs put United ahead.
THE OBSERVER - GIGGS HELPS UNITED FIND SECOND WIND
There was just about enough evidence here to support Sir Alex Ferguson's assertion that the Old Trafford empire is not crumbling, though Tottenham Hotspur are hardly north London's most famous firm of demolition experts.
The next two games against Arsenal will provide a better structural survey of Manchester United's season, as Arsène Wenger's side can at least be relied upon to probe any areas of suspected weakness.
Spurs are the sort of team who might fail to take advantage even when an edifice is quivering to its foundations and if this was an opportunity to have a go at a vulnerable United they completely failed to recognise it. David Pleat left Frédéric Kanouté on the bench until the 80th minute, when he sent him on to take over from Jermain Defoe as a token, unsupported presence in attack, to chants of 'You don't know what you're doing' from the travelling fans.
THE INDIE - GIGGS CALMS THE RAGING STORM
The elements raged as if trying to shake the foundations around Old Trafford - not an infrequent occurrence these days - and although they succeeded in demolishing some scaffolding Manchester United finally secured solace from their storms. Whichever Gods they have angered of late were, maybe only temporarily, appeased. If the analogy casts Sir Alex Ferguson as some latter-day Lear, and, in sporting heritage it's not too far-fetched a thought, then surely Rio Ferdinand is his fool for, at the very least, being so foolish.
The £29m player sat in the directors' box, head resting on his hands like an incarnation of "The Thinker". He had plenty on his mind especially when, at times, it appeared United's defensive failings might undo them. Instead they achieved their first victory in five games and their first clean sheet in 11 courtesy of sublime goals from Ryan Giggs and the substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion. Giggs, with Roy Keane and the restored Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, provided the brio and ballast that has been so lacking. After the raggedness, came the ruggedness. Over-rugged, at times, for Tottenham Hotspur's acting manager David Pleat who complained about "shirt-pulling" and a clumsy challenge by Wes Brown on Jermain Defoe that went unpunished. "He might have been sent off," said Pleat who maintained that the two late goals created a "false impression". "They may have had some indifferent results," he said of United. "But they still have good players."
Their response was timely. Next up for United are successive matches against Arsenal who will not be so easily dismissed as their north London neighbours. For Ferdinand there was a bitter symmetry. This season's reverse fixture on 21 December came two days after his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test was issued. This game came two days after his appeal was dismissed.
Ferguson, unsurprisingly, made changes after the traumas of last weekend's derby defeat although his options were reduced. "I picked the team that was available," he said although he confirmed that goalkeeper Tim Howard would be "mentally" rested for the next few games. His midfield was recast with Solskjaer making a first start since August.