Tottenham 1 Manchester United 1: Clint Dempsey strikes at the death to cut United's lead to five points

The late drama came as Spurs pushed forward in a frantic final 10-minute spell. Dempsey found the corner of the net from six yards after United keeper David de Gea spilled a straightforward cross to send the Spurs fans home happy in the snow which had constantly billowed down from the north London sky.

The match, which had survived a late pitch inspection, had begun at a conservative tempo with both sides trying to find their passing range in the difficult conditions.

It was the home side who settled first with Scott Parker slipping as he curled a shot wide on 10 minutes. That was followed two minutes later when de Gea saved first from Aaron Lennon and then Jermain Defoe on his goal-line, though the flag was up.

The opener came on 24 minutes when Danny Welbeck drifted inside and found Tom Cleverley, who crossed to the back post for Robin van Persie who drifted off his marker.

The Dutchman found the net with a firm header for his 18th Premier League goal of the season. It was typical of the Dutchman who had hardly had a touch until that point as United sought to play on the counter-attack.

The goal opened the play up and Spurs refused to lie down. Their best chance before the break came on 39 minutes when a deflected shot from Gareth Bale stung the hands of de Gea who saved down low to his right.

The second half exploded into life with three good chances for Tottenham in five minutes.

First Defoe shot wide, before Bale curled over the bar with the outside of his foot and then Dempsey had an effort saved by the legs of de Gea when through one-on-one.

Dempsey had another effort stopped by the keeper on the hour as Andre Villas-Boas’s men continued to pour forward. Moments later Wayne Rooney, who had been left on the bench, came on in place of Shinji Kagawa.

Spurs rallied, though, and United’s lead is now reduced to five points.