Manchester United held on after Rafael da Silva's dismissal to secure a scrappy 0-0 draw at Tottenham on Sunday to stay unbeaten in the Premier League and keep Manchester City off top spot.
United striker Wayne Rooney returned from a two-week injury layoff and was twice denied by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but his team's decade-long unbeaten run against Tottenham continued.
In Tottenham's most threatening moments, playmaker Rafael van der Vaart headed wide and curled the ball over the crossbar.
''Defensively we kept our nerve today and they never really troubled us, considering some of the goals they have scored at home and some of their performances,'' United manager Alex Ferguson said. ''We just didn't quite have the cutting edge.''
While United is locked on 45 points with archrival City after 21 matches, Ferguson's side has two games in hand. But the draw means that Arsenal is now just two points off the pace having played one more game than United.
Rafael was sent off in the 74th minute after the right back was booked for tripping Benoit Assou-Ekotto after having already been cautioned for a rash challenge on Wilson Palacios in the first half.
Ferguson was clearly unhappy about the red card, but declined to comment on referee Mike Dean's decision.
''You can see for yourself,'' Ferguson said. ''I don't need to discuss the referee.''
Having lost their previous four league encounters with United, a draw can be considered progress for Spurs, who have been beaten only once in 14 matches in all competitions.
''The game was very tight with not much space,'' Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric said. ''We are a little bit disappointed that when they had 10 men we didn't score. It's a good sign you are disappointed you only drew against such a good team.''
The game started at a frantic pace, with one-time United target Gareth Bale demonstrating his threat down the left flank from the kickoff and causing trouble for Rafael.
In the opening 10 minutes, Rooney skewed a shot wide and had 20-meter (yard) effort blocked by Gomes as he searched for just his second goal from open play all season.
The first of seven yellow cards came after 20 minutes when Van der Vaart was booked for hacking the ball away, but the Netherlands forward came close to producing an opener when he rose above Nemanja Vidic to meet Bale's cross with a header.
United was more assertive after the break, with Michael Carrick flicking Ryan Giggs' corner just wide of the post. The 37-year-old Giggs was making his 600th league appearance for United, where the Welsh winger has spent his entire career.
''He's an incredible human being and an example to anyone that wants to use him as a role model,'' Ferguson said.
A diving save from Gomes thwarted Rooney when he struck from the edge of the penalty area.
Even after Tottenham enjoyed a man-advantage, the home side couldn't find a way through United's defense.
''They're still overloaded, still got a shape about them and two central defenders defending for their lives,'' Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said.
A curling shot from Van der Vaart floated wide of fellow Dutchman Edwin van der Saar's goal.
''Chances looked few a far between, but I think we edged the game,'' Redknapp said. ''Anyone taking points off Manchester United is doing well.''
The buildup had been dominated by former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham starting his month of training with Spurs after being blocked from playing by the Los Angeles Galaxy. He had to watch from the directors' box Sunday alongside England coach Fabio Capello.
