LONDON -- Wayne Rooney scored a brace as Manchester United twice came from behind Sunday to extend its unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions with a 2-2 draw at Tottenham but lost more ground in the Premier League title race Rooney levelled the score from close range in the first half against the run of play after Kyle Walker had put Tottenham in front. Rooney then salvaged a point for the Red Devils from the penalty spot in the 57th minute shortly after Sandro had restored Spurs lead with a superb strike in the 54th at White Hart Lane. "He played well again," United manager David Moyes said about Rooney. "He deserves the adulation hes getting. Hes playing well, scoring goals. When the moments come, hes taking them." The result brought some relief to under-fire Tottenham manager Andres Villas-Boas but left both teams unsatisfied. Defending champions Manchester United now trail leader Arsenal by nine points. "Were not as close as wed like to be," Moyes said. Ninth-place Tottenham is lagging 10 points behind the Gunners and will rue its missed chances. "It was a good response to a big defeat to Manchester City," said Villas-Boas, referring to the 6-0 loss at City last weekend that put his future in doubt. "It was not perfect, but it was a good response from a group of players that wanted to do well. The result kept us in touch with a group of teams at the top." Villas-Boas lashed out at journalists for a perceived lack of respect in the aftermath of his teams drubbing. "A couple of articles attacked my integrity and my achievements with the club," Villas-Boas said. United was again without the injured Robin van Persie while Nemanja Vidic started after recovering from a head injury. Villas-Boas made three changes from the Spurs side that lost to City, with Vlad Chiriches, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli replacing Younes Kaboul, Lewis Holtby and Erik Lamela. Looking for its first home win against United in 12 years, Tottenham got off to a strong start and dominated possession in an entertaining first half. United keeper David De Gea boxed a corner from Walker in the first minute and the visitors were kept in their own half by strong pressing from Tottenham. United left back Patrice Evra was lucky to escape a booking when he fouled Aaron Lennon, with referee Mike Dean playing the advantage. Spurs first clear chance came when Tom Cleverley clumsily lost the ball before Lennon -- who was excellent throughout the match down the right flank -- threatened De Gea with a low shot. United responded with a move ignited by Wayne Rooney, who stole the ball from Chiriches before serving up Antonio Valencia. But the England forwards attempt at goal from Valencias resulting cross was blocked by Sandro. Tottenham was logically rewarded for its dominance after a clumsy challenge from Jonny Evans led to a free kick that Walker converted from 20 yards (meters) with a low shot drilled under the jumping United wall in the 18th minute. Tottenham continued to press as a painfully slow United team struggled to string passes together. Spurs should have scored in the 28th after Roberto Soldado started a brilliant move with Paulinho, crossing the ball for the Brazilian who played it back for Soldado behind Evans. But the Spanish striker, alone in front of goal, fired his shot over. Tottenham was made to pay for its missed chances after an error by Walker, who flicked a cross back into Rooneys path. The United forward made the most of the golden chance and scored from close range with a clean finish in the 32nd, prompting chants of "Rooney, Rooney" in the away stand. The second half started slowly until Sandro turned Cleverley with a fine dribble and silenced the United fans with a superb swerving shot into the top right corner in the 54th. The lead hardly lasted as Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris fouled Welbeck in the box two minutes later. Rooney slammed the penalty past the Frenchman to equalize and move above Robbie Fowler into 5th place in the all-time Premier League top scorers, with his 164th goal. "It is not the first time that I have seen us concede penalties against Manchester United where players leave their leg to make contact and then fall down," Villas-Boas claimed. "I can understand it is difficult for referee Mike Dean to analyze but I dont think he is in a good position to judge and for me it is a bad call." Lennon received a standing ovation as he came off to be replaced by Andros Townsend before Soldado was substituted by Jermaine Defoe, but Villas-Boas attempts to shake Uniteds defence did not pay off. Townsend failed to connect with Walkers precise cross in the 79th minute at the end of a counterattack. "Tottenham had their own pride, which they showed today in their performance," said Moyes, admitting the result was disappointing. "I think the big games are all to come in the second half of the season ... There will be a lot of teams now looking to chase them (Arsenal) down and hopefully we will be one of them." Cheap Dennis Eckersley Jersey . Rooneys latest piece of football genius lost in the furore which now stalks David Moyes, and the man who gave the Manchester United striker his start as a 16-year old at Goodison Park back in 2002. Cheap Dave Henderson Jersey . -- Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night. http://www.cheapathleticsjerseys.com/?ta...inbach-jersey.Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end. Wholesale Athletics Jerseys . The team announced the moves before Sundays game against Houston. Shaw was 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 43 games for the Diamondbacks. Bergesen was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Friday. Cheap Oakland Athletics Jerseys . He will be practicing with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. - @AnaheimDucks Corey Perry has a knee sprain and will miss the next three to four weeks.Jenson Button says he will never get bored of the unique test of skill and concentration presented by Monacos iconic circuit. While the circuit has gained an unwelcome reputation for producing processional racing, the drivers themselves remain adamant that the legendary circuit - arguably the most famous in motorsport - continues to represent the ultimate challenge for man and his machine.Earlier this week, Lewis Hamilton described a lap of the revered 3.4km circuit as one of the purest thrills you can have in a racing car while championship leader Nico Rosberg said Monaco was the most legendary, exciting and challenging event on the calendar - the ultimate drivers track. Those sentiments were echoed by Button - like Hamilton and Rosberg, a Monaco resident - as he prepares for his 17th race at the unique setting.I really enjoy it. When you have a good car underneath you, and the balance is right which you are confident with under braking, there is nothing better than driving around Monaco. It doesnt matter what youre in - or at the front, the middle or the back - the whole way round you are pushing the limits, said Button.F1 Gossip: Vandoorne in, Button out?You are always trying to find that extra thousandth of a second. Its a very special place and a special grand prix. We will never get bored of it and its also very special that it has never changed - and probably will never change. Jenson Button collides with a drain cover after it was dislodged by Nico Rosberg in Practice One of the Monaco GP But while Button added a lot of other circuits can learn from this place, the Englishman was, ironically, the victim in a freak incident during Thursday practice when a loose drain became dislodged and clattered into his McLaren, wrecking the front-wing.dddddddddddd It was, nevertheless, an accident which could have had a far worse outcome.It was an incident that we definitely dont want to see again. We were lucky in a way that it only damaged the car, said the former world champion.According to team-mate Fernando Alonso, the incident has reinforced the case for introducing a form of canopy protection in F1 next year.Maybe sometimes its a drain that comes away, sometimes its a bird, sometimes its a mechanical part from another car that can hit yourself, Alonso told Sky Sports News HQ. So this is another reason to come back to the canopy idea. Lets make sure that between all of us, the sport in general, we minimise the risk that will be always there.Watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: F1 gossip: Button out, Vandoorne in? WATCH: Button hits drain cover ' ' '