From 3-4 to 4-3: the day that Tottenham evened the score

Three days after Cup trauma, White Hart Lane witnesses a reversal of fortunes

Supporters certainly get their money's worth at White Hart Lane these days, so much so that Tottenham Hotspur have even made Manchester United jealous. Following their spectacular 4-3 surrender against Manchester City at home in the FA Cup on Wednesday, Spurs set about restoring pride and confidence against Portsmouth. They did it the hard way, of course, remarkably winning 4-3.

United do not like anyone else taking the limelight, certainly not their neighbours City, and they have enough trouble from north London clubs with Arsenal top of the Premiership. Consequently they conjured up their own breathtaking 4-3 victory at Everton. Tantalisingly they, like Spurs in midweek, led 3-0 before succumbing to a fightback. In the end Ruud van Nistelrooy, who topped 100 goals for United, sealed victory for them, with his second of the match after his new strike partner Louis Saha had also scored twice.

By 5pm yesterday, Tottenham's caretaker manager, David Pleat, looked like a man who had visited the madhouse out of compassion and had been inadvertently locked in. "I am delighted with the win today after the traumatic week we have had," he said. One reason he thought Spurs deserved something was "because we have taken a lot of adverse, unfair, prejudicial..." His urgent flight to catch a plane denied the world the final noun. If it was "criticism", well, it is difficult for fans and neutrals alike to hang on to positives after seeing a team surrender a 3-0 lead to 10 men. At least there was a little more logic to this seven-goal extravaganza than that second-half capitulation to City as Pompey kept equalising.

What could have been better for Pleat than to see his £7m signing Jermain Defoe mark his debut with a goal from the edge of the penalty area after 13 minutes? Seeing sanity restored, perhaps. Eyal Berkovic equalised when Stephen Carr's clearance hit him and went in, but Robbie Keane put Spurs back in front. After the break Pompey threatened to take over until Keane put Spurs ahead again after Lomana LuaLua had marked his debut with the second leveller. Ivica Mornar, on his debut of course, then made it 3-3, only for Gus Poyet to win it for Spurs via his knee.

United took the Spurs midweek route, but with a twist. They were coasting at 3-0 up when Saha scored his second after 29 minutes. Everton had clearly learned more from Manchester City than United had and launched a second-half onslaught that nearly paid off. David Unsworth stooped to head in a corner four minutes after the interval. No need for United to worry. Another Gary Naysmith corner 16 minutes later, another goal, put in his own net by John O'Shea. Time for United to fret and they were right to do so when 15 minutes from time Kevin Kilbane headed in the equaliser. Not another Manchester 4-3, surely? Yes, but Van Nistelrooy clearly has no sense of romance because it was the Dutchman who pricked Everton's balloon with the late winner from Cristiano Ronaldo's cross.

Sir Alex Ferguson was mightily relieved. "I've never lost a three-goal lead as a manager and that was a real kick in the teeth but credit to Ronaldo for a fantastic cross." That is not the first time lately that United's manager must have feared he'd have to visit a dentist. Just as well his Portuguese purchase came up trumps.

But then who needs drama and excitement, anyway? Arsenal don't. A 3-1 win at Wolves means they are still top.