A smash and grab for United in Spain and a rollercoaster night of spot-kicks and early baths for Spurs at White Hart Lane. Another night in the Champions League; another couple of wins for Premier League sides. Here’s the notes on last night’s events…

The comparison has been drawn several times before but there were definite shades of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when Javier Hernandez emerged from the United bench to fire a dramatic late winner in Valencia. In a game where United contained their opponents for large spells but offered only a moderate threat on goal themselves, Hernandez provided the deadly quality that saw Alex Ferguson’s side assume a stranglehold on Group C.

United lacked the creativity of Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs; Ferguson deprived of their collective talents through injury. Jonny Evans and John O’Shea were omitted from the eleven – in the case of O’Shea, it would suggest he’s a certainty for the trip to Sunderland, while even Evans could once again be selected alongside Vidic as Ferguson continues to ease Rio Ferdinand back into Premier League action. That’s a tough decision for the United boss, who will have been encouraged by Ferdinand’s display last night and of course the clean sheet – the first in four matches.

In midfield Michael Carrick returned from injury to partner Darren Fletcher, with Anderson, Nani and Ji-sung Park completing a midfield five. Dimitar Berbatov cut a lone figure up front – Nani his closest ally in attack, although both Anderson and Park also pushed forward at times. A cutting edge was lacking however, right up until the introduction of Federico Macheda and Hernandez from the bench. It was Macheda who provided the pass for Hernandez to despatch the winner with a smart 12-yard finish.

With Scholes and Giggs both absent, Anderson could get the nod on Saturday, although Ferguson stressed that the Brazilian had not long returned from injury in his post-match comments last night.

“It was Anderson’s first game back for a long time playing at that level so he had to come off at some point”

Fletcher is perhaps due a rest and Carrick has himself just returned from a lay-off. Darron Gibson could be considered then although, with Michael Owen preserved last night, he looks set to start at the Stadium of Light which would suggest a four-man midfield. Fletcher, Nani, Park and one of Anderson, Gibson and Carrick would seem the likely setup.

In a bizarre White Hart Lane encounter, Harry Redknapp sent his Spurs side out on the attack and they obliged with a 4-1 win in what was a supremely entertaining match.

Rafael Van der Vaart was again central to matters, missing a penalty, scoring a goal and then earning a second yellow on the night which was to grant him an early bath. Roman Pavlyuchenko converted two more spot-kicks, before Gareth Bale capped his performance with the fourth.

Harry Redknapp’s team changes were significant. Heurelho Gomes and Ledley King both made returns from injury, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto came in at left-back which allowed Bale to be handed the freedom of a left-flank role once again. The Welshman responded with another lively display which returned a goal and an assist – further evidence surely that Redknapp has to deploy Bale in this role to fully exploit his talents.

The rest of Redknapp’s lineup suggested that he may have seen the light here. Luka Modric was shifted to a central midfield role with Jermaine Jenas making way, while Van der Vaart reverted to the right with Aaron Lennon dropping to the bench. Peter Crouch and Pavlyuchenko were partnered up front with Redknapp later suggesting that this 4-4-2 formation was here to stay – at least at White Hart Lane

“We could have played with one (striker) up and shut the midfield up but we didn’t, we went for it, we decided this is how we were going to play at home and it worked for us.”

It meant that Spurs went with a highly attacking and creative lineup, whether that will be reflected again against Villa this weekend is another matter. Bale owners will surely be hoping that their man will be handed the attacking role that utilises his pace and power so effectively, but Redknapp could well be more cautious against Houllier’s side with Jenas and Wilson Palacios offering the options to shift Modric back to the left and Bale to full-back. Ledley King will surely make way with his continued knee problems, so we will see changes at the back with Vedran Corluka in line for a recall alongside Sebastien Bassong.

As a result of his suspension, Van der Vaart will now miss Tottenham’s next Champions League tie – the trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan on October 20. That would make him seemingly nailed on to start the league encounter at Fulham that precedes it, and the home clash with Everton that follows. That immediately makes him more attractive as a Fantasy mid-price midfield option.