Manchester United V Tottenham

It would have taken a 3-0 victory over rivals Arsenal to match the exultant scenes at White Hart Lane as Tottenham came back from two goals down to deprive a furious 10-man Manchester United victory in the dying seconds.

It was a match that had simply everything _ four goals, bookings galore, controversy, a first-half sending-off for Gary Neville and that last-gasp comeback capped by Sol Campbell's second goal of the day for Tottenham.

But even the fact that United went top of the table for the first time this season on goal difference thanks to Chelsea's inability to win at Derby will have done little to ease Alex Ferguson's wrath at his defence and referee Uriah Rennie.

In the first 20 minutes, his side were breathtaking, destroying Tottenham with two fabulous goals on the break, both to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, playing up front with Teddy Sheringham in the absence of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.

But six minutes before the end of a first half in which three colleagues were also shown the yellow card, Neville was dismissed for his second bookable offence, a clear tug on David Ginola's shirt.

Tottenham were revitalised in a pulsating second half in which tackles flew in from all angles, with David Beckham at the centre of much of the controversy yet again.

And after Campbell had pulled his side back into the game with 20 minutes left and Allan Nielsen had missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise, the Tottenham captain finally levelled matters in the second minute of injury time.

Their joy was almost as great as when they knocked United's reserve side out of the Worthington Cup on the same ground just 10 days ago.

Ferguson's side were far stronger this time but were still fallible at the back in the opening exchanges as Peter Schmeichel flapped at crosses and miskicked clearances.

But just as Tottenham were pressuring with a freekick close to the United penalty area in the 12th minute, the Reds broke clear with devastating speed.

Ryan Giggs not only started the move, sending Beckham away down the right wing, but was in the penalty area to meet the cross with a diving header which keeper Ian Walker could only block.

The rebound fell to Solskjaer who made no mistake from close range and Spurs were left bewildered by the sucker punch.

They did not learn from their mistake though as United virtually repeated the move six minutes later. Again there was little obvious threat when the ball was won in midfield but again Beckham was sent away down the wing and once more he delivered an inch-perfect centre.

Solskjaer was so quick off the mark that he beat Campbell to the ensuing cross and gave Walker no chance with a half-volley on the turn into the far corner.

Tottenham were being outplayed as Solskjaer almost completed his hat-trick from another Beckham cross, although Anderton did clip the bar with a freekick and Ferdinand was full of running up front.

United's combative approach came at a heavy price, with bookings for Nicky Butt, Teddy Sheringham and Phil Neville before the defender's elder brother Gary was sent off.

The full-back clearly pulled back David Ginola in full flight and although the winger was virtually accused of cheating a few weeks ago against Nottingham Forest, this time there was little doubt Gary Neville was at fault.

United hastily regrouped, with Keane an emergency right-back until half-time when Henning Berg replaced Solskjaer and Ronny Johnsen filled in to mark Ginola, who gave him a torrid time.

Stam did test out Walker with a shot that deflected off Luke Young but the match turned ugly when Beckham flew in with a block tackle that sent Sinton to the ground in apparent agony and the referee showing an unwarranted yellow card.

The Tottenham defender had his revenge within minutes as he sent Beckham sprawling and Keane was so angered that he raced over to grab Sinton by the shirt as the Spurs fans increased their Beckham-baiting to a crescendo.

United were clearly rattled and with 20 minutes left, Tottenham were back in the game as Campbell rose high to power through a mass of players and meet Anderton's freekick with a towering header that flew past Schmeichel.

Three minutes later, they should have been level as Nielsen was left holding his head in his hands with shame after directing a free header just six yards out straight into the grateful arms of the United keeper.

Ginola was still tormenting Johnsen down the left and on one dazzling 40-yard run, he not only outfoxed the Norwegian defender but also Keane before slightly mishitting his shot, which was saved by Schmeichel.

Ginola also picked out Armstrong in the area with three minutes left but the striker headed over the bar. That appeared to be that.

But then came Campbell's late equaliser as he rose high a second time to meet a freekick from Anderton, a virtual carbon copy of his first goal as the United defence looked at each other accusingly in disbelief.

The final whistle blew seconds later with the United players anger still boiling at the decisions of referee Rennie, who was shepherded off the pitch by the Spurs team.

It was a match United had thrown away as their defensive frailties came back to haunt them yet again. Even being top of the table will not make up for that.