5 Reasons Why Tottenham Should Have No Fear of Manchester United

Tottenham's Premier League trips to Old Trafford used to be synonymous with frustration and disappointment. 

Diabolical refereeing decisions decided many of Spurs' visits to Manchester. From the Roy Carroll/Pedro Mendes fiasco to the Cristiano Ronaldo penalty that never should have been in 2009 to the controversial Nani goal a year later; Spurs never seemed to get a fair shake against Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

The remarkable 3-2 triumph under Andre Villas-Boas ended the 23-year drought in some style, and then Tim Sherwood's team repeated the feat last season. 

If Spurs are in unfamiliar territory, so too are Manchester United, who no longer possess the aura of invincibility that was reinforced every time Tottenham came calling. 

The Theatre of Dreams should hold no great fear for Spurs now, despite the huge pressure on them to dig out a remarkable third straight win there. 

Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead

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Tottenham teams were visibly affected by the club's long winless run at Old Trafford. 

Many times Spurs were competitive and even, occasionally, the better team but lacked the mental fortitude to see through the result. 

As that streak grew ever longer, it seemed to become a heavier millstone around the necks of Spurs' players.

Notable Absentees

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Angel Di Maria and Jonny Evans are suspended, Robin van Persie is injured and both Ashley Young and Luke Shaw are in doubt for this match. Star striker Radamel Falcao remains seemingly an afterthought, so United are somewhat thin on the ground. 

Of course, Louis van Gaal can still call on a star-studded lineup, but the absence of players who have been among his best this season can only be good news for Spurs. 

By contrast, Mauricio Pochettino has virtually his entire squad to choose from while his players have enjoyed two days more rest than their opposition. 

Spurs have generally outworked their opponents thanks to superior fitness levels this season. 

They are also coming into this match off the back of a morale-boosting win over QPR, while United lost their last chance at a trophy when Arsenal beat them 2-1 in the FA Cup. 

Form Is Temporary

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Both Tottenham and Manchester United have taken 13 points from their last six games. Identical form means that neither side has an overabundance of momentum or pressure. 

The pair are also among the league's best performers away and at home respectively. 

Tottenham know that they need to win to keep their Champions League hopes alive, while United are desperately clinging on to fourth place.

Remarkably, if United were to win, they could rise to within striking distance of Manchester City in second. 

While Spurs face a significant test in their trip to face Van Gaal's men, there is nothing in the numbers to suggest that this is an especially forbidding away day.

The Greatest Living Englishman

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Harry Kane is the leading English goalscorer in this season's Premier League. 

Not only has he been prolific, he has also been a scorer of timely goals. 

Scoring at key moments distinguishes good players from great ones, and Kane's winning or decisive goals against Chelsea, Arsenal and QPR are just a few examples of the value he brings to the team. 

Arguably, Kane is the most feared player on either side. 

Years ago, United could spray possession to Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney or Ronaldo. Any one of those would strike terror into Spurs' fans and defenders. 

Of that trio, only the Englishman remains.

At this moment, Kane is the greater threat; but only a fool writes off a champion.

Rooney continues to be a vital player and a somewhat reliable goalscorer. This may end as Rooney's worst season for United, yet he has 14 goals already. 

Better to Be Lucky Than Good

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So often in football, it seems that your luck is either in or out. 

For Spurs this season, they've had the rub of the green.  

In seasons past, it always seemed that something would go wrong to wreck Spurs' chances of victory or even survival at Old Trafford. 

Manchester United have also been perceived as a "lucky" team this season, but this article from the Telegraph shows that perception to be flawed. United have been objectively less lucky than Spurs this season. 

While Tottenham won in 2013 and 2014 through a combination of good attack and desperate defensive play, they are yet to take three points at Old Trafford in a match that they didn't really deserve to win. 

Spurs fans would take great satisfaction from a lucky win against the team that has, until recently, been their most frustrating opposition.