Source: Daily_Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson: I hope Fulham defeat will not cost Manchester United the title
Dejected: Manchester United's Wayne Rooney[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson was last night left clinging to the hope that Manchester United's title challenge is still alive. [LNB]His team's worst performance of the season brought a comprehensive defeat at Fulham and dealt a savage blow to their chances of retaining their Premier League crown. [LNB]United have now lost five times in this campaign - twice in the last three games - and Chelsea can open a six-point gap at the top if they win at West Ham today. [LNB]The defensive injury crisis which left Ferguson's side looking so vulnerable at Craven Cottage is beginning to undermine their campaign. But the manager insisted it will not be over any time soon. [LNB]'It was a difficult day for us all round and I hope it isn't too damaging,' he said. 'I hope it doesn't cost us the league. [LNB]'There is no doubt there is fragility at the back. We need the defenders back to get us back in it. The quicker the better and the physios are working overtime, but there is no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.' [LNB]Ferguson was without seven senior defenders and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar due to injury. He fielded a three-man defence of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ritchie de Laet and they struggled badly. [LNB]But the makeshift backline was not helped by Paul Scholes and several others - the anonymous Michael Owen included - having an off-day in front of them. [LNB]Scholes, 35, whose contract expires next summer, was sent off at Fulham in a 2-0 defeat last season and made a series of errors this time, including giving away the ball to Danny Murphy for the first goal. [LNB] Celebrations: Bobby Zamora hails his goal against the champions[LNB]Bobby Zamora, who scored his fifth goal in four games, and Damien Duff did the rest of the damage, but Fulham could have won by more.[LNB] Ferguson added: 'We couldn't get behind Fulham at all. Their defence is very well organised and it was a difficult day for us. [LNB]'The first goal was important for them but it was a bad one for us. It was a soft goal to give away and that gave them the platform to build on. It was an uphill fight after that. [LNB]'To concede 20 seconds into the second half killed the game. We didn't anticipate that. The players are maybe feeling a bit sorry for themselves at the moment because of the situation they're in. [LNB]Concerned: Sir Alex Ferguson[LNB]'But the quality of the football wasn't as good as it normally is.' [LNB]His Fulham counterpart, Roy Hodgson, said: 'Sir Alex has my sympathy. We played a wounded United and that worked very much in our favour.' [LNB]It was the resurgent Zamora who inspired the victory, scoring the second goal, setting up the third and proving irresistible all afternoon to continue his rich vein of form. [LNB]Of his striker, Hodgson said: 'Bobby played well last season and played a large part in our success, but the goals eluded him. This year they haven't. [LNB]'We're really delighted with him. He has never stopped working, even when he really needed a goal.' [LNB]Hodgson, while admitting that his side were helped by the makeshift look to United's rearguard, was still full of praise for Fulham's efficiency. [LNB]'I can't ask any more of our team than to beat who is front of them and to play as well as they can,' he said. [LNB] Fulham 3 Manchester United 0: Joy for Roy as title-chasers humbledMark Hughes sacked by Manchester City: Roberto Mancini to take charge and Brian Kidd to be his No 2New deal Ryan Giggs looks ahead to more trophies with Manchester UnitedMANCHESTER UNITED FC
