review: Fulham 0 v 3 Manchester united

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd

Match Review
Fulham 0 v 3 Manchester United, Craven Cottage, London, 15.00pm, Saturday 1st March 2008.
Goals: Fulham n/a            Manchester United: Hargreaves (15), Park (44), Davies (O.G.) (72).
Attendance: 25,314

Another week, another win for United & another stutter from Arsenal, the Gunners are doing their damn best to get right on out of the proverbial Premiership title driving seat & hand the keys to Manchester United after another gaffe saw Arsenal's lead cut to just one point.

SAF as he now can afford to do, rested several players with minimal if no disruption as Carrick, Fletcher & Vidic all missed the game and Rooney, Ronaldo & Anderson made up a Herculean bench.

The visitors started early and with maybe less match rust showing on Louis Saha, the former Fulham striker would have given United the lead.  Scholes gathered a loose ball & sent a picture perfect pass through on goal for Saha, the United Striker should have done allot better as his shot to his embarrassment went horribly wide with only Fulham's keeper Niemi to beat.

Carlos Tevez was next to test Niemi as the Argentine struck a shot which the Fulham keeper struggled to contain at first with his defender eventually clearing the danger.

Prior to the opening goal, Fulham could have easily taken the lead after seeing the ball sit up perfectly for a Danny Murphy volley and as good as the volley was it was only matched by the save as EVDS at full stretch diverted the ball wide.

United running the game with ease especially with Hargreaves & Scholes in midfield, would soon take a deserved lead as Brede Hangeland was adjudged to have fouled Carlos Tevez inches outside of the box, from the resulting free kick up stepped the Canadian born former Bayern Munich man with well taken free kick, leaving Niemi no chance, giving United the lead & also opening his account for the Reds.

Nani, enjoying much success on the wing, (Editor: imagine the Portuguese National team in Euro 2008, Ronaldo on one side Nani on another!!!) struck a shot just wide of the post & Paul Scholes shortly after was unmarked in the box meeting a corner resulting in Niemi reacting quickly & strongly saving as the pressure was turned up on the home side.

Fulham could have came back into the game soon after as again Danny Murphy, Ex Liverpool & occasionally the scourge of United, was left totally unmarked with a free header from Jimmy Bullards free kick, fortunately for the Reds the chance was headed straight at EVDS who smothered the ball. 

United then took full advantage of the lack of quality which has saw Fulham slowly sink into danger this season, taking a two goal advantage almost on the stroke of half time Carlos Tevez dribbled, fought & battled his way to the edge of the box before passing to Nani on the other side, the Ginger Ninja then showed why he has been a world class midfielder all his career as his football brain told him to run toward Nani on the right at the same time dragging defenders making it a nightmare for Fulham to mark.

Overlapping Nani, Scholes took the pass from the Portuguese winger & delivered a pinpoint cross for Ji Sung Park to meet for goal number two.

If it wasn't already enough for Fulham, SAF then brought on Rooney & Ronaldo for Tevez & Saha for the remainder of the game as United flexed their muscles in the form of squad strength.

Niemi saved from Ji Sung Park before the game was finally put to bed & undoubtedly out of reach for the Cottagers after an own goal from Davies saw John O'Shea's swept unluckily past Niemi.

Submit Your Comments & Opinions Below.

United's Man of the Match
Paul Scholes was on top of his game for this game, his passing was sublime as was his movement.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
Paul Scholes & Owen Hargreaves ruled midfield by a country mile, another midfield paring = another success, but what's your favourite?.
Carrick-Anderson, Hargreaves-Scholes, Fletcher-Carrick, Anderson-Hargreaves????

Can Arsenal keep this dismal run up, I bloody hope so!!!

Milestones
Owen Hargreaves 1st Premiership goal of his United career & 1st goal overall.
Ji Sung Park's 7th Premiership goal of his United career & 8th goal overall.

SAF's 387th Premiership victory.

Ryan Giggs Countdown
Sir Bobby Charlton =753 appearances
Ryan Giggs             =732nd appearance

21 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's Next Match
Tuesday 2nd March 2008 against Olympique Lyon in the UCL 1st KO Stage @ Old Trafford, with a 19.45pm K.O.

MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback

Name: Simon
Email: twoparared@hotmail.co.uk 
Comments: Cracking day out, what a difference it makes when we get a decent away allocation. Not shown to its full extent on motd but the anderson song was quality all game!!