Gomes wins his Spurs at last: Tottenham 0, Manchester United 0

SIR Alex Ferguson declared himself satisfied with the performance, if not the result, as Manchester United were denied victory by a battling Tottenham outfit at White Hart Lane.

United edged the contest but failed to create enough clear-cut chances against a Spurs outfit that has improved markedly under Harry Redknapp.

And with Heurelho Gomes pulling off a superb injury-time save to deny Ryan Giggs, it left United unable to take maximum advantage of Liverpool’s failure to beat Hull earlier in the day and Chelsea’s draw with West Ham.

``It is not a bad result,’’ reflected Ferguson on the 0-0 draw. ``We dominated the game for the most part and their goalkeeper has made two fantastic saves near the end.

``We just needed that bit of luck or a break close to goal but we didn’t get it.

``But you have to admire the intensity of our game. Tottenham have been on a high since Harry Redknapp came.

``There is a bit of life about the club now. You expect to see them higher up the league and I am sure they will be.

``Overall, I am satisfied with the performance.’’

With Wayne Rooney suspended and Dimitar Berbatov failing to make much of an impression against his old club, United’s attack was not firing on all cylinders.

Ferguson admitted Berbatov, bought amid some controversy for £30.75million on transfer deadline day, will have better games. But, like many others in the visitors’ ranks, he did not get near his best.

``It was not his afternoon,’’ admitted the United boss. ``I made the point last week that we needed to start taking our chances, although we did not create that many today.’’

United remain six points adrift of Liverpool - and five behind Chelsea - with the gap set to open a bit further next week when Ferguson’s team do battle in the Club World Cup while their rivals are in Premier League action.

It is a trip that has added to United’s fixture congestion, although Ferguson would not have it any other way.

``We are delighted to be going,’’ he said. ``It is an honour for our club and we will go there to try to win it.’’

United dragged their weary bodies into Japan today determined not to use tiredness as an excuse if their campaign fails to match expectations.

With no Brazilian or Argentinean opposition to face over the next week, United are firm favourites to succeed where Liverpool failed three years ago by becoming the first English team to be crowned world champions under the new format.

But with a nine–hour time difference and just three days to acclimatise before tackling home favourites Gamba Osaka in Yokohama, it will not be easy for Ferguson's men, who had one training session in London before boarding their flight to the Far East.

However, John O'Shea does not feel the long trip is a legitimate reason for below–par performances.

"It would be so easy to use the travelling as an excuse but we don't want to contemplate that," said the Republic of Ireland defender.

"Obviously there will be jet–lag but that will be out of our bodies after a few days.”