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2010-03-14
Manchester United 3-0 Fulham
Old Trafford
(75,207) (LgPL) (13:30)
Lineup: Van der Sar, NevilleG, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Nani, FletcherD, Valencia, Berbatov, Rooney
Goals: Rooney2; Berbatov1
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| Manchester United 3-0 Fulham | | by Bill
Wayne Rooney took his goal glut to 32 with another fine double to take Manchester United back to the Premier League summit.
Although they wasted a huge number of chances, with Dimitar Berbatov the prime culprit, United did enough to re-establish their dominant position with eight games of the campaign remaining.
Rooney provided a suitably quick-fire response after a goalless first half and after he converted Berbatov's cross seven minutes from time to leave him just 10 adrift of Cristiano Ronaldo's massive total of two years ago, Berbatov ended a frustrating afternoon by finally getting his name on the scoresheet.
It has come to that stage in the season where every round of fixtures bring their own pressure.
And, on the occasion chosen to mark Old Trafford's 100th birthday, it was United needing to follow Chelsea and Arsenal, who after initial struggles, had ended up with three points yesterday.
On the face of it, a Fulham side in the middle of a titanic Europa League tie with Juventus would appear to be the perfect opponents.
Yet, as Ferguson pointed out in the build-up, Roy Hodgson has revolutionised life at Craven Cottage and masterminded a three-goal victory over these same opponents in December.
At the time, United were severely weakened by a loss of defenders.
With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic back those problems are now at an end. On this occasion, it was United's attack that misfired.
The hosts had plenty of possession and got into the right areas often enough.
But at some stage, all their first half attacks broke down.
Only twice could the Fulham defence take complete credit.
A collective effort ensured Rooney did not profit when Darren Fletcher elected to square the ball after charging into the box to reach Berbatov's return pass.
Mark Schwarzer denied Rooney later in the half with a fabulous one-handed save after the England man had curled a shot goalwards from 20 yards.
Restored to the starting line-up after missing the midweek demolition of AC Milan, Berbatov had no-one to blame but himself for failing to convert his best chances, both of which were headers.
True, that part of the game is not the Bulgarian's strong point but, after finding space deep inside the Fulham box, he should have done better after being picked out by Antonio Valencia and Nani respectively.
Rooney was grumbling at half-time after being hauled down by Stephen Kelly without winning a penalty. He was all smiles 29 seconds after the restart though.
A scrappy build-up saw Berbatov nod the ball into his strike partner's path. Rooney then fed Nani before advancing into the big hole Fulham's disorientated defence had left.
Once Nani delivered the return pass back into exactly the same area, the outcome was inevitable.
With the home side in front, so was the result.
Anxiety remained though as long as the wait for a second continued.
Rooney and Berbatov both failed to profit from decent half chances, in the latter man's case an acrobatic volley from Valencia's cross that flew narrowly wide.
At least they could claim to have got somewhere near the goal, unlike Patrice Evra, who screwed his 25-yard shot so wide it resulted in a Fulham throw.
The value of having Ferdinand and Vidic back in harness was seen as the clock ticked down.
Starved of possession and chances, Bobby Zamora had been given little opportunity to press home his England credentials.
But when he ran onto a flick from substitute Eric Nevland, Zamora must have felt it was the moment he had waited for.
Instead, after being caught out by the initial move, Vidic darted back and snuffed out the opportunity with a thunderous challenge.
For Zamora it was a frustrating afternoon.
It looked like being the same for Berbatov after he failed to convert Park Ji-sung's neat cross.
But after creating yet another goal for Rooney with a neat cut-back seven minutes from time, the £30.75million man finally located the target himself, from Park's cross, to complete a scoreline more in keeping with the one-sided nature of proceedings.
Teams:
Man Utd Van der Sar, Neville (Fabio Da Silva 87), Ferdinand,Vidic, Evra, Valencia (Park 73), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani,Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Obertan, Corry Evans, Diouf, Gill.
Booked: Valencia.
Goals: Rooney 46, 84, Berbatov 89.
Fulham Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland (Greening 62), Hughes,Shorey, Davies (Duff 46), Murphy, Baird, Dempsey (Nevland 72),Gera, Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Okaka, Stoor, Dikgacoi.
Booked: Murphy.
Att: 75,207
Ref: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
sportinglife.com | | |
| United 3 - 0 Fulham Media Report | | by Barry
Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United beat Fulham to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Rooney, who saw a long-range strike saved in the opening 45 minutes, slotted home from 12 yards after just 30 seconds of the second half.
Mark Schwarzer denied Darren Fletcher but Rooney sealed the points with a low strike across goal after superb approach work from Dimitar Berbatov.
A teasing cross from Ji-Sung Park was then headed home by Berbatov.
Fulham might have defeated United 3-0 at home in December but Roy Hodgson's team had precious few sights of goal at Old Trafford - and the result ensured their miserable run away from Craven Cottage in the Premier League continued.
Fulham's last league away win was at struggling Portsmouth on the opening day of the season - but with a Europa League match against Juventus and an FA Cup quarter-final looming, their priorities currently lie elsewhere.
United's defeat at Craven Cottage remains their heaviest of the season but in the return contest Sir Alex Ferguson's team dominated territory and possession - and created the vast majority of the game's decent chances.
Berbatov was selected to start alongside the in-form Rooney and linked play effectively as United repeatedly carved open their opponents backline as they increased the pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea, although Carlo Ancelotti's team have a game in hand.
More to come from Rooney - Phelan
Nani was sent clear down the left flank after intelligent play from Berbatov before delivering a teasing cross that the unmarked Bulgarian, who had drifted into the Fulham area, headed wide at the near post.
Berbatov also saw a shot blocked, while Rooney was inches away from connecting with a cross into the box, forced a good save with a crisp low strike and should perhaps have been awarded a penalty after Stephen Kelly appeared to prevent him from jumping to head a cross.
But occasional good fortune and obdurate defending ensured that Fulham got through to the break without conceding.
Hodgson gracious after defeat at Man Utd
Hodgson's team had shown precious little in attack but a brilliant dipping strike from long distance by Clint Dempsey almost caught out Edwin van der Sar.
And Bobby Zamora, looking for his ninth goal of the Premier League season, failed to hit the target with an ambitious volley after a long ball forward from Danny Murphy.
But Fulham's chances of completing a first league double over United receded when Ferguson's team scored exactly 30 seconds after the restart.
Rooney slipped the ball out to the heavily involved Nani and was allowed to drift into space inside the Fulham area to collect the return pass and slot home his 24th goal of the Premier League season.
Schwarzer spilled a shot from Nani as United looked for a decisive second, while Fulham somehow cleared the ball after a goal-mouth scramble, Rio Ferdinand hooked the ball just wide from a corner and Berbatov again headed wide.
Modest Rooney happy with second half
United, who play Liverpool and Chelsea in their next two Premier League home fixtures, were almost punished for their profligacy when a neat flick from substitute Erik Nevland sent Zamora through on goal but Nemanja Vidic did superbly to make a crucial block.
Schwarzer brilliantly denied Darren Fletcher with a one-handed save but could not prevent Rooney from scoring with a low strike across goal after brilliant approach work down the right by Berbatov had created the opening.
And United's dominance resulted in Berbatov scoring the goal his performance merited, with the striker finally hitting the target from six yards.
bbc.co.uk | | |
| PL Fixtures in March | | by Barry
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Man Utd v Fulham, 13:30
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Sunday, 21 March 2010
Man Utd v Liverpool, 13:30
Blackburn v Chelsea, 16:00
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Wednesday 24th March 2010
Portsmouth v Chelsea, 19:45
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Saturday, 27 March 2010
Chelsea v Aston Villa, 15:00
Bolton v Man Utd, 17:30
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