For the last two seasons they have won only one of their opening four league matches - and still ended up winning the Premier League.
After crashing to a shock 1-0 defeat at promoted Burnley on Wednesday night, manager Alex Ferguson will not want another setback at Wigan on Saturday - especially as United have won all eight league matches between the two clubs since their Lancashire rivals were promoted to the Premier League in 2005-06.
Ferguson took a philosophical view of United's first defeat to a newly-promoted side for four years - a run of 17 straight wins - after Robbie Blake's stunning volley gave Burnley victory in their first top flight match for 33 years at Turf Moor.
"It is a bad blow to us. I know everyone will say we are never good at the start of the season, we usually take our time and by October we start to get going, but nonetheless we shouldn't be losing these games."
"We were sloppy, we didn't have energy and we couldn't get hold of the game and Wolves took advantage," he said.
"From a neutral's point of view you would have to say you have just seen a top four team out there," he said.
"They gave us a real lesson and we were never close to them," he added.
Tottenham's main concern ahead of Sunday's match is a knee injury which forced goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes off after just 16 minutes at Hull.
Chelsea play neighbours Fulham on Sunday and, despite Fulham's improvement under coach Roy Hodgson, start as strong favourites, especially after a superb display in their 3-1 win at Sunderland on Tuesday.
