Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United 2 Fulham 0: Reds move ten points clear
[LNB]These are carefree days at Manchester United. Old Trafford, bathed in spring sunshine, witnessed the most routine of victories from the club's back-up players against insipid Fulham. [LNB]A record-breaking and hugely satisfying 19th league title looms as United moved 10 points clear; a Champions League semi-final against Schalke is a distinct possibility, and a Wembley date against noisy neighbours a mouthwatering prospect. [LNB]So benign is the atmosphere at Old Trafford at present that owners Joel, Bryan and Avram Glazer risked a visit unaccompanied by a phalanx of minders, and nowadays there is barely a green-and-gold scarf in sight. Premier League titles, it seems, not religion, is the opium of the masses. [LNB] 1-0: Dimitar Berbatov opens the scoring for Manchester United[LNB]It was difficult to recall that thisis supposedly an embattled club, with fans raging against owners, themanager against the authorities and the star player against who knowswhom. [LNB]A five-match touchline ban for Sir Alex Ferguson has coincidedwith three successive wins, while the absence of Wayne Rooney matterednot a jot yesterday. [LNB]Ferguson can stop tilting at windmills; he iswinning all the battles that matter. [LNB]Tougher tests lie ahead this week,and on those games their season will be judged. But it was difficult toescape the general aura of wellbeing yesterday - even Michael Owen gota run out. [LNB]The only real blot on the landscape was Ferguson's horse,What A Friend, pulling up at the Grand National, but nothing thathappened inside the stadium yesterday should have unduly troubled thewily old master. [LNB] 2-0: Antonio Valencia heads the ball in from close range[LNB] Not that Ferguson saw it that way. 'I don't think itwas a job well done at all,' he grumbled. 'But winning is the name ofthe game and we showed that great determination. It was a hot stickyday and a lot of people were sunbathing.' [LNB]Fulham players mainly. 'Youhave to give yourself a platform if you're coming to places like this,'said their manager Mark Hughes. 'You need everyone playing well, youneed your chances to go in and you really need to compete, which wedidn't in the first half.' [LNB]Fulham had started as though they hadgenuinely considered the prospect of making the game a contest. Just 50seconds were on the clock when Gael Kakuta forced Tomasz Kuszczak intoa smart save and five minutes later the Polish goalkeeper, in for Edwinvan der Sar, had to touch Moussa Dembele's shot wide. [LNB] Fulham's bestchance, however, fell to Bobby Zamora. Played in between United'sdefence, he had clear sight of goal but pulled his effort wide. [LNB]Soonafter they were a goal behind, and their desire for a struggle appearedto dissipate. [LNB]United took the lead when Nani, a constant threat andplaying like a man determined to book his place in the Champions Leaguequarter-final, wriggled from two challenges, exchanged passes withAnderson then placed the ball at the feet of Dimitar Berbatov, who wasgiven the attacker's benefit of a marginal offside decision. [LNB]His finishwas a confident sidefoot past Mark Schwarzer, his 21st goal in theleague this season. Not bad for a support act. [LNB] Reasons to be cheerful: Ferguson's United are ten points clear in the title race[LNB]The second, 'a comedy oferrors', according to Hughes, was also inspired by Nani. Patrice Evrachipped a ball down the wing for the Portugal winger, who delightfullyslipped past the hopelessly rampaging Schwarzer. [LNB]He then steadiedhimself for a cross, which deflected off Aaron Hughes for AntonioValencia, almost on the goalline, to nod in. [LNB]In fairness, a half-timeencounter with Hughes did something to spark Fulham out of theirlethargy. A sustained period of possession eventually resulted in adecent shot from Eidur Gudjohnsen being tipped wide by Kuszczak - notthat referee Michael Jones, who awarded a goalkick, noticed. [LNB]But thederision that greeted Kakuta's 65th minute free-kick, which almostreached the second tier of the East Stand, gave a better indication ofthe seriousness with which Old Trafford was treating Fulham'schallenge. [LNB]Zamora's free-kick on 73 minutes was at least close andChris Baird should have done better than shoot wide as United slackenedtheir intensity and were, as their manager said, increasingly drawndeep. [LNB]Indeed, when Berbatov troubled Schwarzer in the 82nd minute it was their first strike on goal in almost 20 minutes. [LNB][LNB] PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: The drama as it unfolded Fergie: We are the victims - referee was leant on to get Rooney bannedManchester United FC news, features and opinion Fulham FC news, features and opinion [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Dimitar Berbatov, Alex Ferguson, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Paul Scholes, Brede Hangeland, Tomasz Kuszczak, John O'Shea, Wayne Rooney Places: Liverpool, Portugal Organisations: Football Association
