Manchester United’s much-heralded resurgence under manager Louis van Gaal continues. 

After a year to forget for supporters of the club, they will enter 2015 on a high, and even though they could only manage a goalless draw in this league encounter against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane yesterday, things are looking up for van Gaal’s men. 

The quest to regain a place in the Champions League for next season remains very promising.

“We were fantastic in the first half but if you don’t score goals, you can’t win,” said van Gaal, after a hard-fought draw for his side. “We are playing in a top six club, and you create six to eight chances, you have to finish them.”

The Dutchman, however, bemoaned his side having to play two matches in as many days. “I said already before the matches, it is the culture of England [to play twice in 48 hours],” he added. “I think the human body cannot recover with 48 hours and in the second half it was a struggle.”

Spurs’s performance would have again frustrated their fans, as have many this season.

It was inconsistent at best, and despite looking more rounded after the interval, Mauricio Pochettino’s men had to make do with the point. 

On the evidence of this display, they will struggle to secure a spot which may provide them with European football next season. 

The previous six matches between these teams had produced 21 goals. However, despite the goal-scoring opportunities falling both ways, neither team did enough to seal victory.

Spurs could have easily been behind early on, and had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, their best performer, to thank for keeping them in the match on a number of occasions.

The visitors had many of the chances in an enjoyable first half and should have been ahead. Striker Robin van Persie had the best of these, on 39 minutes, but was unable to find a way beyond Lloris after breaking in behind Spurs’s backline.

After three league defeats early in the season, van Gaal’s men may have improved immensely but they still have defensive frailties.

Spurs hit back in the second half but were unable to score past Manchester United’s in-form goalkeeper David De Gea.

Pochettino was the happier of the two bosses after the match and praised his side’s mentality.

Manchester United travel to Stoke City on New Year’s Day in a bid to build upon their recent form, with Spurs welcoming London rivals Chelsea.