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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov netted against his old
side to send Man United through to the fifth round of the FA
Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Roman Pavlyuchenko put the visitors ahead in the fifth
minute with a glancing header from a Tom Huddlestone cross.
But Paul Scholes got the equaliser for the Red Devils after
35 minutes when his long range effort was deflected by
Huddlestone into his own goal.
Berbatov then got the winner a minute later with a pin-point
strike after being picked out by an exquisite pass by
Michael Carrick, himself a former Spurs player.
Despite having 10 senior players missing, United remain on
track for an unprecedented quadruple after this victory,
although for Tottenham the true test of the week will come
against Stoke on Tuesday while Sir Alex Ferguson's team
tackle West Brom.
Youngsters Fabio, on his debut, and Danny Welbeck both
impressed, while Carlos Tevez buzzed about in his usual
enthusiastic style and Berbatov, so hated by the visiting
fans, seemed to have all the time in the world.
Deft header
Still, when Nemanja Vidic got himself in a muddle and
allowed Pavlyuchenko to give him the slip and turn home a
deft header, United must have been slightly concerned.
The trouble for Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was his side still
had 85 minutes to hold out, although having survived a
quarter-final pummelling to emerge victorious with eventual
tournament winners Portsmouth on the same ground last term,
he knew it could be done.
But as the chances piled up, it was beyond imagination that
Tottenham could survive. How cruel, though, that one of
their old boys should wreak the havoc.
Michal Carrick's move north from White Hart Lane created
none of the animosity Berbatov's did. But in the same quiet
way, Carrick has gone on to become one of the most
influential members of Ferguson's squad.
When he spotted Scholes lurking with menace on the edge of
the box, he coolly rolled a corner into the veteran's path.
The shot was pretty fierce and once it had flicked off
Huddlestone, Ben Alnwick did not have a hope of keeping it
out.
A minute later Carrick floated a pass over the Spurs
defence. Berbatov's first-time control was awesome and his
second touch was a precise shot into the bottom corner that
again left Alnwick flailing.
Transformed
In the blink of an eye, or two Carrick passes, the tie had
been transformed.
Not though United's injury woes as Fabio collapsed in agony
in the early moments of the second period after he had
landed awkwardly following an aerial duel with Spurs
substitute Giovani dos Santos.
The young Brazilian hobbled off, almost certainly making it
an entire team Ferguson will be missing at West Brom on
Tuesday.
Fabio was replaced by Richard Eckersley, while United's next
substitution heralded the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, who
headed straight for the dressing room after wishing Zoran
Tosic the best of luck on his debut.
At the same time, Redknapp replaced David Bentley with
Jermain Defoe.
Welbeck then joined United's walking wounded late on and a
late penalty shout was the best Spurs could muster.
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Scholes (35 mins),
