SEBASTIEN Bassong believes that the vast majority of the nation will be supporting Spurs on Sunday as the Lilywhites bid to rein in league leaders Manchester United.

Just nine points separate the top five Premier League sides before this weekend’s action, in one of the closest title races for years.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s United are the favourites to take the crown, having gone unbeaten in the league all season while also holding games in hand over all of their rivals.

But Bassong is well aware that a Tottenham victory will breathe new life into the battle for the championship.

And, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all hoping to see United’s lead at the top trimmed, the Cameroon international reckons that United’s supporters will be the only football fans backing the champions at White Hart Lane.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future in that top four, but the race is really quite exciting at the moment and I think all of the teams in the top group will be cheering us on to win the game and make everything even closer,” said Bassong.

“For the neutral fans, it’s all really tight. This is what we play football for. The battle for the title and the Champions League places is really interesting this year, and we’ll be on our game.”

While Tottenham are battling to stay in the title race and the top four spots, Harry Redknapp’s side also have the chance to end United’s impressive unbeaten record in top-flight fixtures since the start of the campaign.

Spurs have fared well against the top sides over the past 13 months – but a victory over United still eludes them.

The Lilywhites have lost six and drawn two of their eight meetings with Ferguson’s side under Redknapp – and the ‘draw’ in the goalless 2009 Carling Cup final then turned into a defeat on penalties – but Bassong hopes that will change on Sunday.

“I don’t why know but they’re the only team we haven’t beaten – hopefully we’re going to beat them this time,” he said. “It will be a tough game again but we’ve got a chance to win, we don’t have to lose again.

“Even if we lost our last league game against Everton, we’ve been in good form, and if we want to carry on like that and progress then we have to win these games against the top four teams.

“First of all we’re just thinking about finishing in the top four. That’s the first target and then if we’re in a good position then maybe we can try to do something more.”