In-form Rooney helps Manchester United past Fulham

Wayne Rooney scored his 28th goal of the season   Manchester United scrambled to victory against Fulham at Old Trafford to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Wayne Rooney’s 28th goal of the season, coming three minutes before half time, proved enough for the hosts.
Sir Alex Ferguson was clearly not impressed, though, and his side were nearly made to pay the ultimate price for their profligacy when Michael Carrick bundled Danny Murphy over in the box a minute from time. Referee Michael Oliver incredibly waved away the penalty claims, a decision Fulham manager Martin Jol laster claimed he hadn't been brave enough to make.
Before kick off, Ferguson had gone for the jugular with his team selcction, hoping to capitalise on Manchester City's dropped points at Stoke on Saturday. Five offensive players and two naturally overlapping full-backs was a ploy designed to push Fulham on to the back foot, and so it did as Rooney and Ryan Giggs threatened the visitors’ goal in the opening minutes.
Fulham eventually emerged from their shells, though, and started to exploit the gaps being offered.
Mousa Dembele drove one effort wide after being invited to run at the United defence, then Clint Dempsey had an effort with a curling shot that Fulham’s 320-strong travelling support were ready to celebrate until David De Gea somehow found a fingernail to divert it.
United were dominant, but there was a lack of fluency in their play. A long-range Danny Welbeck shot and a penalty appeal for handball against Stephen Kelly were the best they could muster until Rooney struck in the 42nd minute.
Even that was a touch fortunate. Rooney ducked under Ashley Young’s cross when he seemed better placed to convert than Jonny Evans behind him, but John Arne Riise tried to control the ball when he should have cleared it. Evans capitalised on Riise's miscontrol and fed Rooney who rifled home from an acute angle.
The second half was more of a one-sided affair, beginning with Antonio Valencia's enterprising run and one-twos with Rooney and Giggs that required Mark Schwarzer's alertness to prevent United doubling their lead. The chances continued to mount, but there was a wastefulness about the finishing that better teams that Fulham will exploit in the title run-in.
Also a concern was the reappearance of Rio Ferdinand's long-standing back problem, and he was replaced on 70 minutes to reopen Sir Alex Ferguson's season-long central defensive frailties.
United should have made light of his departure by grabbing a second soon afterwards but Schwarzer produced a fine double save from Young’s volley and follow-up before Brede Hangeland prevented Giggs from converting.
In replacing Rooney with Paul Scholes, United seemed to be insuring themselves against unexpected disasters against a hitherto non-existent attacking threat. But, really, they owe the three points as much to Michael Oliver's failure to spot Carrick’s tackle on Murphy than any managerial wisdom.