Why Spurs win shows Man Utd will not win title

Manchester United have played below par all season. The loss to Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United will come back to haunt them if they lose the title.

They would already be out of sight with those wins.

However, even those losses seem bearable compared to the unbearable way the Red Devils played against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday at White Hart Lane.

The clinical finishing apart, Sir Alex simply did not expect to lose. He has not lost to Spurs since 2001.

He was not about to start now. He spent most of his time out of his seat, screaming in fury at his United players, who all seemed to operate in a daze.

Here is a look at some of the chief dozers on the night:

Danny Wellbeck: Somebody needs to tell him work rate is only good if you finally pick out the right pass. Something he refused to do on at least three occasions. A bad England squad hangover.

Paul Scholes: For the first time since he came out of retirement he actually looked like he came out of retirement. Was completely over-run in midfield by Modric and Co.

Michael Carrick: He has not yet got the memo that the moratorium on passing the ball forward has been lifted.

Phil Jones: Another England Wembley hangover candidate. Struggled to stay on his feet, or pass the ball.

Nani: Back from injury. Not back to his best. Not back to even his worst. Just not back.

This leaves Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Rio Ferdinand, Johny Evans, Patrice Evra and David de Gea.

Four of those are defenders who United have to thank for doing a reasonable job.

Rooney and Young gave Fergie’s his win.

That kind of performance will encourage Manchester City no end.

The fire power they have on the bench will be more than enough to snub out any United individual brilliance on April 30 – the day the title will be decided.

A win against Spurs is par for the course. The United performance was not. The Barclays Premier League title is still firmly in Manchester City’s grasp.

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