Third placed Manchester United missed a chance to keep up the pace on rivals Chelsea and Manchester City on Sunday after playing out a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League match.

Both sides endured a frustrating afternoon at White Hart Lane, especially Manchester United that had appeals for a goal turned down as the flag was up for offside on Radamel Falcao and Phil Jones.

Moments before then, Falcao had fired a tame effort straight at Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris 17 minutes in while Andros Townsend forced a good low save from United keeper David De Gea two minutes later.

United then, somehow, found themselves not in the lead twice in a minute midway through the first half, first with a Juan Mata freekick deflected off the Spurs woodwork before a Wayne Rooney cornerkick was scrambled over the line only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside on Falcao and Jones whose header had gone just over the goal line.

The Red Devils gained a foothold of proceedings from there on, with Falcao having another feeble effort saved, while Lloris also kept out efforts from Robin van Persie, Rooney and Ashley Young to keep scores goalless by the break.

The second half began on a scrappy note as the first did, with United again looking more likely to break the deadlock though it was Spurs that had the first real threat on goal through Townsend whose fierce effort was kept out by De Gea.

De Gea went on to deny Fazio and Christian Eriksen as the momentum shifted to Spurs, that should have taken the lead through defender Ryan Mason who instead shot well over after being set up by Harry Kane’s reverse pass.