Starting Formations

Fulham
4-5-1

Zamora

Dempsey    Davies    Baird    Murphy (C)    Gera

Kallio     Hangeland     Hughes     Pantsil

Schwarzer

Manchester United
4-4-2

Berbatov    Tevez

Ronaldo     Carrick  Scholes         Park

Evra       Vidic     Ferdinand (C)     O'Shea

van der Sar

Match Report

Roy Hodgson opted to rest Andy Johnson and Paul Konchesky, who were both suffering from muscle fatigue, for Wednesday night's Barclays Premier League clash at Old Trafford. Toni Kallio was selected at left back with Chris Baird coming in for Olivier Dacourt in Hodgson's five man midfield. 

Manchester United got Wednesday's 8pm kick-of underway at Old Trafford. Fulham were quick to latch onto any misplaced United passes during the early stages as Hodgson's compact midfield five worked hard to afford United's players little time and space on the ball.

The home side created the first opportunity of the match, following a spell of possession down Fulham's left flank after seven minutes of play. A neat flick from Ronaldo on the touchline found Carrick bursting into Schwarzer's area but fortunately the midfielder blasted his effort high over the bar.

After 12 minutes of play Scholes opened the scoring for United, firing in a 30 yard, right-footed volley from Carrick's corner. As the ball arrowed through a host of players into the box Schwarzer attempted to save but the ball rebounded off the keeper and into the corner of the net.

Bobby Zamora almost brought the score level after 20 minutes, rising above Ferdinand to meet Pantsil's fine cross from the right flank. The striker's headed effort flew just wide of van der Sar's far post. Moments later the Whites were forced to scramble a goalmouth chance away to safety as Berbatov looked set to add a second for United.

United began to dominate as the half hour mark approached with some sublime passing play, orchestrated by Scholes in midfield. Tevez looked to have added a second when the striker broke through Fulham's defence to fire past Schwarzer from close range but Hangeland had expertly marshalled his back-line forward to catch the striker offside. Fulham's relief was short lived as Berbatov added a second moments later, meeting O'Shea's cross from the right to tap in from close range.

The urgency in United's attacking play dissipated following their second goal and the contest drifted towards half-time with few incidents at either end. Clint Dempsey got the better of Ferdinand and Vidic before the break, muscling past United's defensive duo to latch onto a long ball into United's area. Unfortunately Dempsey could not find a finishing touch as van der Sar collected the American's looping shot with ease.

At the other end Mark Schwarzer pulled off a fine save two minutes before the break to deny Paul Scholes, whose long range effort was heading for the far corner of the net before Schwarzer's diving save intervened. Berbatov headed Ronaldo's free-kick from the right flank into the net right before the half-time whistle but once again Fulham's offside trap was effective and the score remained two-nil to United going into the break.

Fulham made a bright start to the second half, retaining possession with a controlled spell of passing play. Fulham's most effective attacking play came in the form of John Pantsil, whose energy on the right flank saw him make several fine overlapping runs to the by-line over the course of the game.

A fine army of supporters urged on Fulham on Wednesday evening and Mark Schwarzer pulled of the save of the game in front of the away section fifteen minutes into the second half. Berbatov collected the ball on the right hand side of the area and sent a right-footed shot towards the top corner of Schwarzer's net. The Australian international reacted superbly to tip the ball over the bar.

United made two changes on the hour mark; Rooney replaced Berbatov whilst O'Shea made way for Evans. Within 30 seconds of his introduction Rooney added a third for United, tapping home Park's cross from the right at the far post.

Bobby Zamora almost pulled a goal back for Fulham after 65 minutes when his left footed strike across goal beat van der Sar but drifted just wide of goal. Roy Hodgson replaced Pantsil with Dacourt moments after Zamora's effort with Chris Baird switching from central midfield to right back.

Robert Milsom made his Barclays Premier League debut for Fulham ten minutes from time. It was a special moment for the Fulham Academy graduate who replaced captain Danny Murphy in central midfield.

Another Academy graduate, Wayne Brown, joined Milsom for the final five minutes of the contest at Old Trafford.

The introduction of Milsom and Brown was a bright moment in an otherwise disappointing evening at Old Trafford but Fulham will have the chance to get back to winning ways this weekend when they take on  West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage. Tickets are now on general sale |for this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash.

 

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