Do Tottenham Hotspur Have the Nerve to Challenge at the Top?

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur were flying. They had brushed aside Liverpool, destroyed Hull, and were scoring goals for fun. Then they played Manchester United.

Last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to the defending champions has checked the momentum that the North Londoners had built up with five consecutive wins, and in doing so, abruptly unveiled a harsh truth to many expectant fans that perhaps their team is not mentally prepared for an assault on the upper echelons of the Premier League.

After Jermain Defoe rocked the stadium with a spectacular first-minute goal, Spurs were unable to turn the pressure they exerted on Man Utd's goal into an even greater advantage. And how they were made to pay.

Ryan Giggs' inch-perfect free-kick, and further goals from Anderson and an excellent Wayne Rooney, highlighted the difference between the two sides.

Man Utd always find ways to win football matches; Spurs have yet to master that art. That comes with experience and mentality.

While Tottenham missed Luka Modric's creativity and intelligence in an advanced midfield role, Wayne Rooney and - more relevantly in this case - Darren Fletcher stood head and shoulders above the rest of the players on the pitch.

For all of the stars that the Red Devils have in their squad, it is players such as Fletcher, Anderson, John O'Shea and Ji-Sung Park, who, through perseverance, reliability, and ingenuity, often lifted the side when other higher profile players momentarily lose their spark.

Tottenham have players with these capabilities, notably Tom Huddlestone, Giovani Dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko. But these players do not perform consistently enough on the big stage, and do not inspire the same confidence in Harry Redknapp as United's squad players do in Ferguson.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?