SPURS held off a mesmerising Manchester United fightback to move just a point behind Alex Ferguson�s third-placed team witht heir first Old Trafford win since 1989.
Jan Vertonghen's early goal and Gareth Bale's searing solo strike on 32 minutes rewarded Tottenham's swagger and clear edge in possession before the break. But three goals in three minutes set up a dazzling finale.
Nani tucked in Wayne Rooney's brilliant 51st minute cross to halve the deficit. But Clint Dempsey instantly slotted home after United keeper Anders Lindegaard parried Bale's fierce shot. Shinji Kagawa conjured three sublime touches to angle home Robin van Persie's precision pass on 53 minutes.
But Spurs somehow repelled constant United pressure, Rooney curling a free-kick off the post and Van Persie rifling wide the type of left-footer he might normally have buried.
Nonetheless, United's second-half display was as fine an onslaught as any Premier League team has produced this season - whilst Tottenham look as promising as Harry Redknapp's side last term.
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