Champagne can wait for Spurs, United

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Redknapp may have to deliver a crate of bubbly to Old Trafford rather than expecting Manchester United's Alex Ferguson to send one down to White Hart Lane.

Or maybe both managers should just wait and see what this week brings.

Redknapp had said before Saturday's home match against Chelsea that he expected a case of champagne from the Scot if his men did United a favour and beat the Premier League leaders.

Tottenham did that in style, winning 2-1, but United's last-gasp 1-0 defeat of rivals Manchester City in the derby at Eastlands left Spurs thanking them just as much.

While United closed the gap with Chelsea to a point with three games left, Tottenham leapfrogged City into the fourth place that carries a coveted Champions League play-off berth for next season.

With Tottenham visiting Old Trafford next in a match that could make or break United's rekindled hopes of retaining the title, neither manager is likely to be in a hurry to offer the other any gifts.

"They did us a favour today," Redknapp said.

"That was a result for us as well, giving us a lift. It's a great place to play your football, Old Trafford, and we look forward to it."

After beating London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in the space of four days, to make up for the dejection of losing to already-relegated Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Tottenham are on fire.

The Spurs players had watched Paul Scholes score the last-gasp winner at City before their match and that was all the motivation they needed.

"The lads were all having their lunch and when Scholes scored there was a little cheer," said defender Michael Dawson with what sounded like some understatement.

"It was great when we could go out there and go back into fourth spot."

Redknapp agreed, saying: "They were fantastic... to come back as they have and turn in two unbelievable performances against Arsenal and Chelsea is top class.

"Full credit to all the players... they have been great and what started off a bad week turned into a great week.

"We've had a great run and we can't do any more than we've done. It has been seven wins out of the last eight games I think," he said.