United fear factor stuns Spurs

The wonderful swivel and shot with which Scholes had put United ahead in the 40th minute, even if Sol Campbell was originally culpable for a poor clearance, perfectly summed up United's performance in a first half that, if not thrilling, was still breathtaking in an aesthetic sense.

But even the prawn sandwich brigade must want more than balletic movement and beauty. Football may be the beautiful game as played by United when they are up against inferiors, but for real theatre, there must be drama, excitement, doubt and dilemma.

Tottenham eventually added those elements, though striker Les Ferdinand admitted: 'The boss gave us a bit of a rollicking at half-time. It was only then that we started to try to take them on.'

Graham revealed: 'During the break I told them: "You are sitting back and admiring them. And, yes, there is a lot to admire, but we're here, we're in a game. How's about having a go?''' Suddenly, young bucks Ledley King and Alton Thelwell began to power forward with real belief.

Their more experienced teammates stopped being apologists every time they brushed up David Beckham or Scholes the wrong way.

The removal of the vapid Chris Armstrong gave Ferdinand someone to play with up front in Willem Korsten.

In the end, of course, the statistics say that it didn't matter.

United won, taking their Premiership run to eight successive victories. The championship is still over, no matter what anyone says. And Graham gave further credence to the belief that most teams are beaten before the pre-match warm-up when he said: 'Hands up anyone who really believed we had a chance of winning here today?'

There were no takers. Yet, at least Spurs could leave with an element of pride in their youngsters with the experience of knowing that they did not, in the end, simply lie down as so many have done and will continue to do.

The one failing of United's sensational first-half exercise was Dwight Yorke, who ran and ran and ran but could find no way out of the maze that incarcerates his talent.

If it is true that United's opposition are normally too scared to rely on their ability, it must also be true that Yorke is currently unable to throw caution to the wind and act naturally.

He wants one touch too many. He lays the ball off when, in his first season especially, he would shoot and be damned. He is too careful now. And the last thing he wanted was to be replaced by Solskjaer and for the Norwegian to score. But that is what happened.

Solskjaer must surely now be favourite to play alongside Teddy Sheringham against Sturm Graz in Wednesday's Champions League game for, unlike Yorke, he still plays with uninhibited freedom.

Ferguson's only worry will be how his defence copes. He talked up the partnership of Wes Brown and Gary Neville, stressing: 'They have been a revelation.' Against Premiership opposition, yes. But Brown is still learning his trade and European teams do not feel the fear factor against United.