Chelsea returned to the top with an emphatic 7-0 home win over Stoke City on Sunday, while third-placed Arsenal's championship hopes mathematically ended with a 0-0 stalemate against Manchester City, who are fifth, at the Emirates Stadium.
Captain Ryan Giggs slotted home two penalties at Old Trafford to pile the pressure on Chelsea, who have three games left, but United may have to play their last two matches without striker Wayne Rooney, who was sidelined with a groin injury.
"I think we played well... the most important thing was we kept our nerve," said smiling United manager Alex Ferguson after what was on paper their toughest remaining fixture against fourth-placed Spurs.
"There were no signs of nerves whatsoever throughout the game, it was great to see that at this vital time of the season," he added. "We beat the in-form team of the week today, that says a lot for us."
Asked whether the England striker would play for United again this season, the Scot added: "We'll give him every chance and Wayne will be desperate to play himself but we'll just have to wait and see."
After a goalless first half on a sunlit afternoon in Manchester, United brought the game to life with Giggs's first penalty in the 58th minute.
Spurs, who beat Chelsea and Arsenal last week, levelled with a 70th-minute header from Ledley King that threatened to derail United's hopes of retaining the title.
Nani, though, restored the home team's lead in the 81st minute after being set up by substitute Federico Macheda. The Portuguese winger was also brought down by Wilson Palacios for the 86th-minute penalty converted by Giggs.
