review: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 v 0 Fulham

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Match Review
Manchester United 2 v 0 Fulham, Old Trafford, Manchester, 20.00pm, Monday 3rd December 2007.
Goals: Manchester United: Ronaldo (10), (58)    Fulham: n/a.
Attendance: 75,055

Manchester United moved back into 2nd place in the Premiership with a comfortable victory at Old Trafford on Monday Night, two goals from MUFCINFO.COM's MOTM Cristiano Ronaldo was more than enough to see off the the biggest club in West London.

SAF chose in what many believe is his strongest line up with Anderson & Hargreaves in centre midfield, Rooney & Tevez up front & Giggs & Ronaldo wide & in a quite rare scenario this season, United found themselves up 1-0 inside ten minutes.

Even before the opening goal United had chances to go ahead as an Anderson cross found Tevez only for the Argentine to miss, Tevez also testing Niemi moments later with no end result.

The home side finally beat Niemi after good work from Nemanja Vidic saw the Serb cause a massive murdering influence with leaping headers, the second after Davis surprisingly heading the ball back into his own penalty area, the thankful Vidic leapt nodding the ball into the path of Ronaldo whereby he smashed home a scorching volley into the East Stand goal.

A personal duel Tevez v Niemi was ensuing with the Fulham keeper getting the upper hand after again foiling Tevez efforts.

The final highlight of the 1st half ended much like the entire 45 minutes as Tevez was prevented a goal as Niemi saved a curling shot.

Dirty Gremlin look-alike Danny Murphy forced EVDS into action and also curled a 20-yard shot wide otherwise our Dutch keeper, like many of Danny Murphy's ex teams supporters were unemployed.

United then doubled their advantage almost on the hour heavily influenced through Patrice Evra's replacement (due to illness) JOS, The Irishman found Giggs with a throw in on the edge of the box in front of the Stretford End & after Giggs laid the ball to O'Shea, the Irishman crossed a perfect ball to Ronaldo who met the ball with power beating The Apache's arch nemesis Niemi for a second goal.

On another strange day although United ran the game, Fulham unlike so many other teams at Old Trafford did find some joy in attack and could have scored lacking only in the final portion of the pitch to trouble EVDS.

The scores stayed respectable but in reality United should have had more with Rooney chance after peeling away from the Fulham defence & miscuing & spare a thought for Tevez who threw everything at Niemi in the visitors goal.

The siege of the Finnish Stoppers goal continued in controversial circumstance as referee Rob Styles booked Ronaldo for diving after Saha feed the speedster, bearing down on goal he knocked the ball beyond the visiting keeper ready to score only to be brought down by the arm of the almost invincible keeper.

The Portuguese star my thank his lucky charms as he sarcastically applauded Rob Styles's decision, walking on the tightrope of another card & a potential second sending off of the season.

Without mentioning the Finish players name again (as its is becoming repetitive) both Giggs and Saha had chances to mount up United's score sheet only to be foiled by the OVERALL Man of the Match.

Was Ronaldo's Yellow card harsh??
Was it a penalty, is Ronaldo a diver any more so than Steve "I leave a leg trailing when I get tackled in the penalty box" Gerrard????

Submit Your Comments & Opinions Below.

United's Man of the Match
Ronaldo, enough said!!!.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
Just how good was the visiting keeper, A mention in dispatches, a total class performance & a big pat on the back to Antti Niemi, Carlos Tevez wont want to play him ever again.

Just a note to all Readers, I get married this week (Friday) and have been busy doing what people do, so sorry for the late report.
I however will be attending the game on Saturday with my new wife!!!.

Was our prediction correct?
No!! We said 3-0. MUFC INFO 3 v 18 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
SAF's 377th victory of his Premiership career.

Wes Brown's 270th competitive appearance of his United career.

Ryan Giggs Countdown = 33 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's Next Match
Saturday 8th December 2007 against Derby County in the Premiership at Old Trafford with a 15.00pm K.O.

MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback

Name: Dave C
Email: 
Comments:  Good luck on your big Day, hope all goes well XXX Don't be too hung over so's you can't enjoy the game.

Name: Bobby
Email: 
Comments:  Just want to wish you a happy wedding tomora mate

Name: Nobody
Email: 
Comments:  just seen ur marks were hidden soz bout that rooney 5 u avin a giraffe..

Name: Patty
Email: 
Comments:  y u stopped giving marks outta ten .. 

Name: Tomo
Email: 
Comments:  Hey mate - hope the "wedding" won't stop any future Euro aways - good luck and congrats! We are off to Roma, so reckon I will need "good luck" over there. Tomo (from Kiev).