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United pile pressure on Jol
26/08/2007 19:40 - (SA)
Manchester, England - Manchester United's season is up and running after Nani's spectacular goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson's champions a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in a controversial game on Sunday.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol, whose long-term position at White Hart Lane has been called into question, saw his side have two strong second-half penalty appeals turned down by referee Howard Webb when the game was goalless.
United defender Nemanja Vidic looked to have fouled striker Dimitar Berbatov in the 63rd minute and moments later Berbatov was at the centre of more high drama when his goal-bound effort appeared to be blocked by Wes Brown.
Spurs claimed Brown used his hand to keep out Berbatov yet Webb waved away both appeals.
Tottenham were better throughout at Old Trafford yet they were undone when Nani beat England keeper Paul Robinson from 30 yards in the 68th minute to earn United their first victory of the season.
Starting the day one off the bottom of the table after two points from the first three games, United desperately required a confident start yet they were fortunate not to fall behind inside the opening minute as Robbie Keane hit the bar with an ambitious lob from outside the area.
Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves went close for United but Robinson was forced into just one serious save before the break in his first match since his costly error for England four days earlier against Germany.
Impressive defensive performance
With England coach Steve McClaren looking on, Robinson produced a flying stop to deny his international teammate Rio Ferdinand yet that was the closest United went as Tottenham carved out the better chances in the first half.
French full-back Pascal Chimbonda went close with a header after sloppy defending by the hosts while Ricardo Rocha, who produced an impressive defensive performance, skied another opportunity over the bar from 15-yards.
Tottenham have only registered one win against any of the so-called "Big Four" since Jol took over just under three years ago yet it required a smart challenge by Vidic to deny Berbatov after an uncharacteristic error from the normally reliable Ferdinand.
This was an important game for Jol following a turbulent week at White Hart Lane yet that did not stop him from giving 18-year-old Gareth Bale his debut following his 10 million pounds move from Southampton in the summer.
And the young Welsh international did not let his manager down, turning in a mature performance as Tottenham continued to frustrate the hosts.
The second half was full of drama with Webb turning down two Tottenham penalty appeals in quick succession after Rocha had wasted a golden chance by heading wide from the edge of the six-yard area.
A powerful run by the impressive Bale found Berbatov who clattered to the ground inside the penalty area underneath a challenge from Vidic. As the ball trickled towards the line, Ferdinand made a dramatic clearance while Tottenham appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears.
Tottenham were then denied another penalty when Berbatov's effort struck Brown, the visitors claiming the England defender had used a hand.
In a frantic spell, Jermaine Jenas denied Carlos Tevez with a 66th minute clearance off the line before Nani's tremendous winner raised the roof.
The Portuguese winger was given time by Anthony Gardner to line up a long-range shot that took a slight deflection off Tevez as it flashed past Robinson.
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