Spurs hand United third straight loss

Ferguson puts a brave face on events at the Lane

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Man United

The history books will record this as a morale-boosting Spurs victory, and a third straight Man Utd defeat, but the real issues in this match concern those looking on from the sidelines.

The futures of Alex Ferguson and Sol Campbell could be the most important factor for their clubs next season, and both will have crucial decisions to make in the coming days.

Ferguson has said he will sever all links with United at the end of next season, but speculation has mounted that this could be his final game in charge of the Old Trafford club.

Scholes got United's only goal of the game

Campbell has been injured since Spurs' FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal but, as every big club across Europe knows, his contract is up at the end of the season.

Glenn Hoddle will hope that this victory over the champions will persuade Campbell to stay.

The White Hart Lane club took the lead on 17 minutes when Raimond van der Gouw opted to punch a corner and the ball fell to Willem Korsten on the corner of the box.

The Dutchman took the ball on his chest and hit a smart, dipping volley first time over the head of the United keeper and into the back of the net.

I turned down a lot of opportunities in the year thinking I'd be staying at United, but now I'll be looking elsewhere

  Sir Alex Ferguson speaks after the game

The lead lasted less than five minutes, however, as Phil Neville broke down the right after some neat interplay in midfield, and his cross found Teddy Sheringham at the far post.

Sheringham nodded back across goal and Scholes finished first time across Sullivan.

Giggs almost doubled the lead on 25 minutes when he picked the ball up 25 yards out and hit a swerving shot which Sullivan did well to tip around for a corner.

But Spurs were matching the champions and went close again themselves just before the half hour when Korsten crossed to the near post and Simon Davies slid in inches from the ball.

Ferdinand capped the win with Spurs' third goal

In the end, all Davies got for his troubles was David May's footprint on his head as the United defender accidentally trod on him.

The next chance fell to United but Andy Cole completely missed his header when Ryan Giggs picked him out on the centre spot.

Little changed for Cole in the second half - put clean through on Sullivan on the hour mark, the United marksman swiped at his shot and sliced wide of goal from 15 yards.

Korsten showed the United man how it should be done when he hit a right footed shot low into the bottom corner of Van der Gouw's net on 67 minutes to make it 2-1.

It was a great way to finish the season but I feel my job doesn't start until 1 July when we get back for pre-season

  Glenn Hoddle

Les Ferdinand, captain for the day, had a chance to make the win more emphatic on 72, but he pulled his shot wide from an angle after being put through by Davies.

But Ferdinand made amends just moments later when he struck a low shot into the corner of the United net from 25 yards to make it 3-1.

Spurs and their fans will enjoy the day, but it means little in the great scheme of things.

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Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Gardner, Doherty, Young, Leonhardsen, Clemence, Etherington, Davies, Ferdinand, Korsten. Subs: Walker, Freund, Perry, Thelwell, Piercy.

Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, Irwin, May, Johnsen, Silvestre, Phil Neville, Butt, Scholes, Giggs, Cole, Sheringham. Subs: Goram, Fortune, Stewart, Wallwork, Djordjc.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)