Keith Burkinshaw eight year spell in charge at White Hart Lane had ended, and although his successor Peter Shreeves threatened to win the league at Tottenham in his first year of the club, a new man was in charge come the start of the 1986/87 campaign. David Pleat was the latest man to try and win Tottenham's first championship since 1961.
United's hunt for the top flight title also extended back to the 1960s, and with Ron Atkinson seemingly unable to end the drought, Chairman Martin Edwards turned to Aberdeen's Alex Ferguson in November 1986. With just one win in his opening four matches, and one goal in that time, Ferguson would have been made fully aware of the job ahead of him, as his team hovered around the drop zone.
Former manager Tommy Docherty was stinging in his criticism of the state of the club on the pitch. "The United I saw at Wimbledon last week were not fit to wear the famous red shirts of the club I love. John Sivebaek, Mike Duxbury, Remi Moses and Clayton Blackmore are just not good enough. And Peter Davenport looks a failure."
Yet Docherty, for now, remained convinced that United had appointed the right man to turn the ship around. "Ferguson is a great manager, and I believe he will go on to become the most successful boss at Old Trafford since Sir Matt Busby." With an annual loss of £984,665 announced, and the team at the wrong end of the table, these were turbulent times at the club.
Ferguson was at least boosted by the news that Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan, and Norman Whiteside would return for the live clash with Tottenham, the trio coming through a reserve match at Leicester. After missing the 3-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest, Richard Gough returned to the centre of Tottenham's defence. Following two months out, Tony Galvin was selected in Pleat's five-man midfield.
The live coverage started at 3.00pm on the Sunday, with Jimmy Hill and Trevor Brooking given just five minutes to preview the match. Brooking, often chastised for sitting on the fence, fancied United to edge it by the odd goal. For most of the first half, Brooking looked like he was justified in his view.
Just the five minutes of build-up
As in 1983, there would be six goals for the viewing public to enjoy. "Both clubs have an aura of sparkling football," Pleat declared before the match. "We both believe in cultured open football. If we can produce the football we did in the first half against Forest last week we will thrill the TV viewers." What followed was a rare treat.
Just two minutes into the match, Clive Allen hit the post, an indication that this would not be a dull afternoon. Tottenham's striker had already scored 21 goals in his season to remember. He would end the match with another goal to add to his tally, although he had to suffer in the process.
It would be United that struck first in the 12th minute, Whiteside finishing off a smart free kick routine involving Robson, Davenport and Strachan. The under-fire Davenport then took advantage of some poor defending by Gary Mabbutt and stand-in full back Paul Allen, firing in from a narrow angle in the 36th minute.
Leading 2-0 at half-time - the first time United had scored twice in the league for two months - commentator John Motson was keen to point out that this was a dangerous advantage for the home team. Sometimes a cliché will have some truth in it.
In fairness to United, they had been forced to use forward Frank Stapleton as a centre back after Paul McGrath had limped off after half an hour. But what followed was chaotic, disorganised, and an eye-opening exercise for Ferguson. Goalkeeper Chris Turner and defender Kevin Moran hardly did their best to impress their new boss.
Mabbutt's flying header from Glenn Hoddle's corner - good enough to make it onto the BBC's 101 Great Goals video - gave Tottenham a way back into the match in the 57th minute. "This player, he's all purpose," declared an excited Motson, in relation to Tottenham's centre back. Just two minutes later, another centre back would play a big part in the continuing entertainment.
Moran had already missed a glorious chance to add to Whiteside's opener, but when he did find the back of the net it was in ignominious circumstances. Turner did not cover himself in glory, palming Hoddle's chip towards goal, yet Moran appeared to have things covered as the ball looped towards the net.
However, Moran inexplicably volleyed the ball into his own net, the immediate look of horror on his face neatly matching that of anyone affiliated with United. Within two minutes, United's advantage had been wiped out and Tottenham smelt blood.
The match developed into an end-to-end encounter, the 35,957 inside the ground, and the viewers at home enthralled at the breathless nature of the contest. Davenport had a goal ruled out from a United corner before Tottenham struck from another of their own. Turner was left in no man's hand as a Hoddle-Chris Waddle short corner looped over United's keeper. Allen headed Tottenham in front.
Turner came under the spotlight for his performance. "We were coasting at half-time by two goals and should have won by four or five. I accept responsibility for two of the three goals. I just had a bad game."
Allen's 22nd goal of the season came at a cost, with Strachan volleying the striker's nose as he attempted to clear. "I felt someone's boot flush in my face," Allen explained. "I don't know who it was. All I know is that the ball was in the net. The damage has already been confirmed following X-Rays and I will have to have my nose reset."
It looked as if Allen's pain would be worthwhile though. But with just two minutes left, substitute Danny Thomas bundled Robson over in the area, giving Davenport the chance to gain a point. Ray Clemence got both hands to the penalty but was unable to keep it out. The points would be shared.
"Well, if football is going to be like that, then let's have a lot more of it," Motson stated, with some justification. "It was, of course, the sort of match the TV cats lap up and makes managers go home and kick the moggy," Stephen Bierley wrote in the Guardian. The Express' John Bean called it "a match pulsating with passion and adventure."
Fun as it may have been for the neutral, Ferguson was less than happy. "We committed suicide - and there was blood all over the place. The concentration was bad. I should be standing here talking about a magnificent performance. Instead I'm concerned about the defensive errors."
Gradually United would edge up the table, finally finishing 11th. But it interesting to note the situation Ferguson found himself in at the time of his arrival, both on and off the pitch. "United's problems run deep," Bierley wrote after the Tottenham match. "They have crept up on the club like rising damp. It is not merely a question of re-plastering - the whole structure may need to be pared down and rebuilt."
Conversely, Tottenham would go from strength to strength during Pleat's first season. At one point it looked as if the team could challenge for all three domestic trophies, yet there would be no silverware come the end of the season. Just like the match at Old Trafford, Tottenham were entertaining but ended up falling short.
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