Match Review – Fulham vs. Manchester United
Manchester United traveled to Craven Cottage hoping to extend their lead over City to a massive ten points. Having recently demolished Fulham in a 4-1 victory, United were bullish right from the word go, having picked up 32 points from a possible 36 over their last 10 Premier League games. Fulham, on the other hand, failed to keep a single clean-sheet in the last 10 matches. Their win over West Ham in the week was their third in the last 16 Premier League games. Not very proud statistics to begin with and Fulham were not the darlings of the punters to start with.
Manchester United stood their ground and ensured that they did what they do best. Three points from a slow game which never really promised a cracker. Fulham were not trying to run for cover explicitly and even had a few decent chances to maybe grab a point. Overall, not even close to the other preceding fixtures, but three points for the challengers nonetheless.
Squads
Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson believes in the 4-5-1, with Robin Van Persie up front, followed by Wayne Rooney filling up the role of the supporting striker cum team mascot. Valencia and Nani played the wings, held together by Cleverly and Carrick, after Kagawa was left on the bench. Phil Jones looked likely to start in central defense again, but returning Evans took the spot. Ferdinand, Rafael and Evra started in their usual positions with the Spaniard De Gea between the sticks.
Fulham
Martin Jol was never a friendly figure, and his derby duty against Arsenal, as former Tottenham manager brought forth some interesting jibes on the touch line. But against United, Jol was expected to be a little defensive, and there was absolutely no shame in starting slow and steady or hoping for a point. Also, Jol has never gotten past United, in his entire career as manager.
Dimitar Berbatov was the face missing, after picking up a hamstring injury. Loanee Urby Emanuelson from AC Milan looked set for his debut, along with Frimpong from Arsenal, both starting on the bench. The 4-4-1-1 approach, with former Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega starting up front with Bryan Ruiz playing the ‘Rooney’ role for Fulham. Duff, De Jagah, Baird and Karagounis played midfield, and Duff was looking to add to his seven assists this season. Riether, Hangeland, Senderos and Riise were in defense, probably playing the most important part of shutting Van Persie and Rooney down, if Fulham were to survive. Also in the mix was veteran Mark Schwarzer, whose reflexes were in line for a demanding test.
Game Review
United looked like they never left and Nani kept pushing the flanks up, right in the first 10 minutes. Even Rafael got in to the action with a couple of crosses, but the Fulham back-line held strong. Also, Fulham seemed deep in their own half at most times, but pushed forward occasionally. Exciting box to box moves showed what United were capable of, but Fulham looked increasingly aggressive. Nani and Valencia ensured the balls were quick and pacy; the only problem was Nani’s rather interesting hair-cut. At 12 minutes, John Arne Riise reminded us of his left foot, and the blinder went whizzing pass De Gea who managed a few fingers on the ball, keeping the score keeper untroubled. 3 minutes later, Ruiz found an extra second off a Riise pass, and deftly pointed it towards goal, only to be thwarted by the post. Right after, United won a corner off Hangeland’s last ditch tackle to rob Nani, when Hangeland decided to pull one on his own keeper, but thankfully found just the crossbar with his looping header.
At the 18 minute mark, Rooney seemed to have been manhandled by the Fulham defense, but was denied a penalty after the referee dismissed any accusations of a push. Post that, Fulham degraded to a sluggish outfit, ambling forward at times, and employing hopeful long balls which maybe Rodallega could find.
On 32 minutes, the United attack found the post standing tall, once again. A smart move between Evra and Nani met Rooney with some space, whose effort curled just enough to disappoint the away fans with a dull thud. The highlight of the first half, in addition to the goalposts, was the blackout at 41 minutes. The flood lights decided to take a quick break and everything but the message boards was drenched in darkness. The teams went off to take an early half, but were called back to play the remainder of the half, once the floodlights came back on.
The second half started with tempo, but neither seemed interested anymore. United were happy holding on to the ball, while the home side were almost wishing for another blackout. Chris Baird made a decent effort from some distance, forcing a save from De Gea, before cynically tripping a charging Valencia to win the first yellow of the fixture. Changes were in order and Urby Emanuelson and Chicharito were the next on the list after the hour mark, after Aaron Hughes was brought on at half time for Hangeland who reportedly suffered a ‘knock’. After his antics in the 4-1 loss, he certainly wasn’t inspiring much confidence for the home support.
Cleverly made way for Ryan Giggs, and Ferguson was throwing everything but the kitchen sink to take maximum points from the game. Ruiz came real close to finding the lead with a header off a corner, but Rafael was waiting to clear it of the line in time. Van Persie, Rooney and Hernandez looked set to go all out, with short bursts of uncomfortable moments for the home side. With 11 minutes remaining, Rafael puts one forward, and Van Persie misses his move, but the ball finds Rooney. He charged Hughes whose closed stance makes it easy for the United front man to curl one past his body, negating Schwarzer completely, to draw first blood. The goal made it 10 in 17 matches for Rooney this season.
Right after the goal, Ferguson pulled the plugs on his wingers, and replaced Nani with Danny Welbeck. Fulham kept looking for a chance to come from behind and take at least a point, but they could not connect as well as their opposition. Crosses found no one and through balls kept overrunning the strikers, effectively signaling the acceptance of their fate. At the end, a header from former Arsenal defender Philip Senderos was pushed away by former Arsenal striker Van Persie, to deny any chance of a comeback. On the counter, Hernandez found a free run at Schwarzer, but messed it with a feeble effort. Certainly the only pulsating 5 minutes in the game, but nothing that could have rescued the fixture.
At full time, United made it to a 10 point lead at the top of the Premier League, courtesy a dead beat game. But three points are gold, and United aren’t complaining.