25 years ago today: Man Utd fight back from 3-0 down to defeat Spurs | OneFootball

At just after quarter to four on the 29th of September, Tottenham Hotspur looked like they were about to cruise to a victory over Manchester United, enjoying a three-goal cushion at half-time after playing some superb attacking football. What followed was one of the halves of football that epitomised two Premier League sides.

Both sides were in mixed form early in the 2001/2002 season. Reigning champions Manchester United had brought in Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastián Verón, and Laurent Blanc although defensive stalwart Jaap Stam left early in the campaign.

Glenn Hoddle meanwhile was in his first full season in charge of Spurs after having joined from Southampton midway through the previous campaign. Teddy Sheringham re-joined the club after leaving United and he was later joined by Christian Ziege, Gustavo Poyet, and Goran Bunjevčević.

The Tottenham boss had also pushed to bring in defender Dean Richards after he impressed during his time with the Saints. The transfer was protracted but was completed in time for him to make his debut against United at White Heart Lane...

Spurs start strongly

It was, at first, a dream debut for Richards as he met Ziege's corner from the right to open the scoring with just 15 minutes gone on the clock.

The second came 10 minutes later which saw Gus Poyet put in a perfectly-weighted pass for Les Ferdinand, who evaded the United offside trap and finished low past Fabien Barthez

The Red Devils did have chances in the first half but they were from distance, Nicky Butt firing wide early on while Verón later forced Neil Sullivan into a save. However, it was 3-0 just before half-time.

The third was a stylish goal too. Tottenham knocked the ball around the pitch with confidence before Poyet had space on the right to put in a cross from the right that Ziege met unmarked at the far post – 3-0.

Dramatic turnaround

Sir Alex Ferguson was known for his 'hairdryer treatment' at half-time but he was coy about what he said on that Saturday in September after the game telling the press: "I'm not saying exactly what I said to them at half time – why am I always asked that?"

No doubt Glenn Hoddle would have wanted his team to keep it tight at the back in the early stages but with just a minute gone the score was reduced to 3-1. Gary Neville flying forward on the overlap and his cross put in by Andrew Cole's stooping header.

The deficit was reduced to one with just under an hour gone. This time it was a David Beckham delivery from a corner that met the head of Blanc with the French defender scoring his first for the club. The scores were level in the 72nd minute as Mikael Silvestre (subbed on at half-time for Denis Irwin) crossed from the left with Ruud van Nistelrooy heading in.

From that point on, it was inevitable. United were in full swing and just a few minutes later Paul Scholes found Ole Gunnar Solskjær who fed in the on-rushing Verón to fire low and make it 4-3 to the visitors.

The victory was wrapped up in style in the 87th minute. Solskjaer getting past his defender on the left and then finding Beckham on the edge of the area. The United midfielder had more than enough time to pick his spot and ensure an unforgettable 5-3 victory for his side.

'Lads, it's Tottenham'

Perhaps one of the most enduring legacies of the 5-3 game is the phase 'Lads, it's Tottenham' – supposedly said by Ferguson at half-time time to motivate his team – which has now become an internet meme.

However, we don't know exactly when the United manager said those words with Roy Keane, a Spurs fan himself who wasn't a part of the squad that day, suggested it had been used before a home game. Either way, it's a game that certainly has become a part of the 'Spursy' mythos.