‘Hoodoo’ is often a word thrown around with consummate ease in football circles, yet it is rarely more applicable than when describing Manchester United’s puppet-master control over Tottenham Hotspur.

Prior to the Spurs 3 – 2 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season, they hadn’t beaten United since May 2001 – a stretch of 26 matches equating to 20 defeats and six draws.

Perhaps even more remarkably, we are hardly discussing a football giant bullying a minnow here. While the Red Devils are certainly giants, their power and aura inextinguishable, Tottenham also possess their own fear-inducing qualities.

Two top-flight domestic titles, eight FA Cups, four League Cups and two UEFA Cups feature in the North-Londoners trophy cabinet. Impressively, Tottenham and Manchester United are the only English clubs to win silverware in each of the past six decades.

Add into the mix Spurs’ strong financial status - according to Forbes they are the 11^th most valuable team in the world - along with their healthy crowd averages, and you begin to understand the enormity of United’s achievement in yielding such a stranglehold.

However, on the back of Sunday’s 1 – 1 draw at White Hart Lane, Tottenham have earned four out of six points against their bogey side this campaign and have taken another giant step towards establishing themselves as genuine title challengers going forward.

It was the dominant manner of their performance that was particularly eye-catching and no doubt pleasing for manager Andre Villas-Boas. Despite trailing for over an hour, Tottenham completely dictated terms and looked capable of raiding the scoresheet.

Heavy snowfall almost caused the much-anticipated fixture to be postponed, with seemingly valid doubts over the safety of the pitch discussed by officials pre-match. The decision to go ahead was resoundingly justified though, as the difficult conditions did little to hamper the tremendous standard and spectacle produced.

An absorbing battle for midfield supremacy largely characterized the opening stages, and ultimately proved to be a far cry from the Spurs second-half procession.

Tottenham’s Scott Parker, Mousa Dembele, Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale took on Manchester United’s Phil Jones, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa. Mouthwatering stuff, an abundance of brilliance.

The intense pressure being applied and weight of numbers in the centre-third made ball retention almost an exceptional deed. Suffice to say it was very hot in the kitchen.

Shooting chances were subsequently few and far between, which just added to the significance of the Red Devils 25^th minute dagger. Cleverley’s wonderful delivery from the edge of the box to the back post allowed Robin van Persie to nod home his 18^th league goal of the season.

It almost goes without saying who the scorer is when United are involved presently, such is the prolific nature of Van Persie’s goal poaching. He has registered in nine of his past 10 Premier League matches.

Given the weight of history on Tottenham’s shoulders, the imposing form of their opponents and having fallen 1 – 0 behind, a lesser side would have caved, succumbing to the mental demons. Instead, the Spurs showed resilience and class in asserting their authority.

Attacking trio Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon, comfortably covering for Emmanuel Adebayor’s absence on African Nations Cup duty, posed never-ending danger to United’s defensive unit.

Defoe and Dempsey were dynamic, while Lennon was arguably best afield. He lowered Patrice Evra’s colours in a commanding wing display, utilizing his pace to facilitate numerous forward thrusts.

Incredibly accumulating 23 shots to six, Spurs battered Manchester in a way that has been fleetingly seen in 2012/13. The only missing piece was a clinical finish.

Huge credit must be directed at custodian David de Gea for maintaining United’s ascendency for so long. Central defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand worked tirelessly in front of him – the latter’s 78^th minute recovery to deny Defoe was a key moment - but they were under serious duress.

It meant de Gea was somewhat exposed and the young Spaniard handled it with aplomb. He was alert and assured, saving eight times and twice doing so with his legs on pure reflex – a technique that is fast becoming his trademark.

With mere seconds remaining in the match and United still one-goal to the good, another hard-fought win seemed to be all but assured. Then the Red Devils received a dose of their own medicine – a late, game-changing strike.

Fittingly Lennon was the provider, calmly finding Dempsey who slotted his fifth goal of the season to equalize the contest 1 – 1. Manchester could hardly complain. To say Tottenham deserved a point would be an understatement, and the table toppers ability to pinch late points is widely recognised and unmatched.

Unbeaten in seven straight matches, Tottenham sit clear in fourth position and are on track for Champions League qualification. Such a feat would be a much-desired and well-earned reward for a wonderful season.

But hoodoo defiant displays against the best England has to offer suggests that the Spurs are building towards something bigger. The pinnacle of English desires - an English Premier League title.

Chelsea have got back to winning ways at their home Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 win over London rivals Arsenal.

The Blues raced to a 2-0 lead through Juan Mata and Frank Lampard in a stunning first-half performance where Arsenal were simply outplayed in a horrible first-half for the visitors.

But the Gunners came out looking to use all cylinders and got a goal back through Theo Walcott, fresh off signing a new contract.

Arsenal really should have taken the lead on just 5 minutes, but Olivier Giroud dragged his left-footed effort wide.

Giroud and the Gunners would suffer as seconds later Chelsea took the lead as a superb Cesar Azpilicueta ball was brought down brilliantly by Mata before the Spaniard clinically dispatched his strike into the back of the net.

That goal, though, angered Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger because the Frenchman believed that Francis Coquelin was caught late by Ramires in the build up, but referee Martin Atkinson waived play on.

The Gunners defence was very vulnerable and the Blues exploited it.

Mata played a terrific pass through to an unmarked Ramires who then was tripped in the box by Arsenal ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny. Lampard stepped up and buried his penalty into the bottom corner after sending the Polish custodian the other way giving the Blues a 2-0 lead just after 16 minutes.

Mata and Eden Hazard identified left-back Kieran Gibbs as Arsenal’s main weakness skinning the English fullback on several occasions, but Hazard and Ramires failed to add to the scoreboard.

Despite a great first-half, Chelsea started the second period like they’ll still in the sheds as Arsenal created two clear chances, but Per Mertesacker and Theo Walcott drove straight at Chelsea custodian Petr Cech.

The Gunners were a completely different side in the second-half influenced by Walcott and Santi Cazorla.

And it was Cazorla who set up the much needed goal splitting the Chelsea defence in half with a exceptional through ball, before Walcott’s composed, side footed finish brought the North Londoners back into the game on the hour mark.

Chelsea continued to struggle to finish off their opponents at the Bridge, as Ramires and Fernando Torres were both denied by Szczesny.

Moments after coming on Demba Ba was given the chance to finish off the Gunners, however, after rounding Szczesny the Senegalese’s strike was wonderfully blocked by Thomas Vermaelen.

The Blues held on for their first win at Stamford Bridge in three Premier League games and lurk six points behind Manchester City in second, while Arsenal still remain in sixth.

A brave Swansea City outfit have denied Manchester United all three points as the two sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

United took an early lead through Patrice Evra, but were plucked back by Michu, the Premier League’s leading goalscorer.

The Red Devils pushed all the way, although the Swans were up to the task with Captain Ashley Williams leading the Welsh side to a deserved point.

The game started at a fast tempo with both sides pushing early as Michu, up against the returning Nemanja Vidic, and Wayne Rooney looked dangerous for the respective side.

Jonathan De Guzman in the Swansea midfield was outstanding in the first-half with his brilliant pace, determination and accuracy from central and wide positions.

But despite the Swans good early start, United took the lead.

Robin van Persie perfectly picked out the towering Evra who flicked the opener into the bottom corner past a stretching Leon Britton.

However Swansea drew level just before the half hour mark with Michu finishing off the crumbs after Red Devils ‘keeper David De Gea parried De Guzman’s strike into the Spaniard’s path.

The second-half started just like the first with both sides seeking the decisive second goal, although Swansea Skipper Ashley Williams was sensational in defence denying Rooney and Ashley Young with two magnificent blocks.

United almost regained the lead, but van Persie’s stunning overhead volley bounced off the crossbar.

The Red Devils gained the momentum, but Rooney, Young and substitute Javier Hernandez couldn’t get through a solid Swansea back four.

On 77 minutes the game erupted as van Persie was fouled on the edge of the area, before Williams thumped the ball into the direction of the Dutchman. After the melee was broken up both van Persie and Williams were booked.

Seconds later a near post Michael Carrick header was touched onto the woodwork by Swans ‘keeper Michel Worm.

The loss of two points for United means they only lead Manchester City by four points. 

European Champions Chelsea and Premier League Champions Manchester City have finished scoreless at Stamford Bridge as both sides were left frustrated and missed the opportunity to climb the table.

After a dull opening 40 minutes both teams woke up in and around the half-time break, but despite their efforts, neither side could break the deadlock as Man City let go the chance of jumping to the top of the table, while Chelsea are five points behind leaders Manchester United.

The first-half started quite slow with neither side controlling the possession as both defences looked up for the task with some crucial interceptions.

New Chelsea Coach Rafael Benitez received a hostile reception with the majority of Chelsea fans singing the ex-Liverpool boss wasn’t welcome, while on 16 minutes the Blues fans sang “There is only one Di Matteo” backing their recently sacked Coach Roberto Di Matteo.

Both sides found it hard to muster first-half chances, although Man City did create two great chances just before the break.

Fullback Pablo Zabaleta played a quick one-two with Edin Dzeko, before firing at goal, but directly at Chelsea custodian Petr Cech.

The game’s biggest chance fell for anther Argentine with Sergio Aguero found unmarked in the six yard box, but the former Atletico forward’s weak header was easily clutched by Cech.

The Blues came out after the break looking for that decisive opening goal, but Ramires and Fernando Torres could only blast into the stands, but the hosts had the urgency they lacked in the first period.

Oscar gave Chelsea the spark the European Champions needed in an outstanding performance finding space before threading some excellent passes, but the score was still goalless after 70 minutes.

A deflected James Milner effort was City’s best chance in the second period, but Cech was in the right place at the right time to block the ex-Villa man’s strike, before Chelsea’s stand in Captain denied Matija Nastasic in stoppage-time.

On a positive note for Benitez Chelsea kept their first clean sheet in ten.