Aaron Hughes’ late header proved little more than a consolation as Fulham slipped to a disappointing defeat to Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

Hughes headed home Giorgos Karagounis’ corner with 14 minutes remaining, but by then the Whites were already trailing 4-0.

It was an eventful evening for Hughes at Old Trafford. The Northern Irishman gave United the chance to open the scoring in just the third minute when he handled Wayne Rooney’s corner under pressure from Chris Smalling, with Ryan Giggs scoring the subsequent spot-kick.

Rooney added a second in the 50th minute, with United increasing their advantage moments later through Javier Hernandez. The Mexican made it 4-0 via a deflection off Hughes on 66 minutes, before the Fulham man gave the Whites the smallest glimmer of hope with his late header.

Martin Jol made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday. In came John Arne Riise, Chris Baird and Alexander Kačaniklić, with Karagounis and Ashkan Dejagah dropping down to the bench. Kieran Richardson missed out completely with a calf injury.

United almost went in front with 40 seconds on the clock. Rooney attempted to bundle his way through, with his second effort turned inches past the post by Mark Schwarzer’s leg. From the resulting corner, Hughes jumped with Smalling but deflected the delivery clear with his hand. Referee Mark Clattenburg immediately pointed to the spot and Giggs dispatched his spot-kick to the right of Schwarzer, who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it from nestling into the back of the net. Fulham couldn’t have wished for a worse start.

At the other end, Bryan Ruiz almost put Dimitar Berbatov away but his pass was cut out by Rafael Da Silva, before a dangerous cross from Sascha Riether was just a few yards in front of the Bulgarian.

On 16 minutes, Riise failed to cut a crossfield pass from Giggs out, with Nani nipping in. The Portuguese winger cut inside but fired tamely straight at Schwarzer. Three minutes later, Fulham were given an almighty let-off when Damien Duff appeared to handle a floated pass from Giggs, with referee Clattenburg waving play on. Less than 30 seconds later, a corner was only half-cleared by Fulham. The ball fell to Rooney, whose shot was turned brilliantly onto the bar by Schwarzer.

United continued to dominate. Nani curled a shot just wide on 24 minutes, before Schwarzer gathered an effort from distance by Rooney. On the half-hour mark, Schwarzer made a fine save low down to deny Rooney from close range after the England man had met Giggs’ cross.

Fulham went close to snatching an equaliser in the 32nd minute when Riether’s shot from distance fizzed just wide of David De Gea’s right-hand post.

Jol made a change at half-time, with Karagounis replacing Baird. But it was United who went close to increasing their advantage in the opening minutes of the second period. Nani twisted his way into the box but saw his shot saved by the legs of Schwarzer. The rebound fell to Rooney whose effort was cleared off the line by Hughes.

But the Red Devils - and Rooney - didn’t have to wait long to add a second. The striker collected Anderson’s throughball in his stride, turned inside Hughes and sent a left-footed drive past Schwarzer.

Two minutes later it was 3-0. The Fulham defence failed to clear their lines from Rooney’s cross and when the ball fell to Hernandez, the Mexican turned home from five yards.

As the rain fell down, the game looked over for Fulham at this point but Duff sliced a shot wide after jinking in from the right. The Whites then made their second change of the game on the hour mark, with Hugo Rodallega replacing Duff. The move saw Ruiz switch to the right flank.

Fulham’s day got worse on 66 minutes as the hosts made it 4-0 when Hernandez cut inside from the left and saw his shot deflect off Hughes and past the wrong-footed Schwarzer.

The Whites made their final change in the 70th minute, with Dejagah coming on in place of Ruiz. Hernandez was hunting his hat-trick, but he curled well over with 15 minutes remaining.

The travelling Fulham fans finally had something to smile about on 76 minutes. Dejagah won a corner down the right which Karagounis took. The Greek’s delivery was met by Hughes who lost Rooney and headed past De Gea.

United responded, with substitute Shinji Kagawa seeing a fierce drive flash just over the bar. Rooney had the ball in the net on 83 minutes but Clattenburg ruled it out for a foul by Hernandez on Riether.

Rodallega dragged a shot wide from distance late on as Fulham slumped to a disappointing defeat.