P: United 5-1 Fulham
PREVIEW: UNITED vs. FULHAM
A strong challenge to Chelsea’s Premiership crown has to start today with victory against Fulham. United used to begin league campaigns slowly in the firm belief that ground could be made up after Christmas. That looks impossible now.
Despite spending a near £20m in the close season, United look set to begin the match with more or less the same personnel that conquered Charlton in the last home game of the past season. This is however, a chance for Paul Scholes to remind the manager of his qualities before suspension and the probable arrival of another central midfield player.
Tipped by many to be a strong contender for relegation this season, Fulham come to Old Trafford hoping a good start will generate the will to survive. The team looks short for the top level with a lack of class in every department. Steed Malbranque, one of Fulham’s better players wont start due to a feud with the manager. Chris Coleman has had to defend his backroom staff in the face of cost cutting by the board and remains vulnerable to the sack if Fulham’s poor away days continue. Coleman will hope his close-season signings, in particular the defensive recruit Franck Queudrue, gel quickly to give the south-west London outfit a firm base for the months ahead.
Last season: United 4 Fulham 2
PREMIERSHIP RESULTS :
Bolton 2-0 Spurs/ Reading 3-2 Middlesbrough / Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa / Newcastle 2-1 Wigan / Sheffield United 1-1 Liverpool / West Ham 3-1 Charlton / Everton 2-1 Watford / Portsmouth 3-0 Blackburn / Chelsea 3-0 Man City
RESULT: United 5-1 Fulham
United: Saha 9; Pearce o.g 14; Rooney 15; Ronaldo 18; Rooney 63 / Fulham: Ferdinand o.g 39
MATCH REPORT
An entertaining league opener played at high tempo, had United four goals to the good within 20 minutes. This was the vibrant performance Sir Alex Ferguson and United fans had hoped for, with the team hitting top form almost from the first minute. The defence looked alert and robust. The midfield, with Scholes pulling the strings, was bright and inventive and Rooney and Saha linked to defastating effect. Fulham put in the kind of spineless display that gets managers sacked.
Sir Alex sprang a surprise team selection by giving Evra a start at left back, only his fourth in United’s last 14 Premiership games. The manager was rewarded with a committed display from the French international who attacked and defended with vim.
United controlled the first half with Saha capping a fine move with an excellent header to register his first goal of the season in the ninth minute. Rooney then put Fulham’s Pearce under pressure five minutes later, as United swept forward and the hapless defender put through his own net for a secoond United goal.
On 15 minutes, a looping Gary Neville cross found Saha lurking on the far post. The Frenchman thought he had scored with a volley only to see Fulham’s keeper Antti Niemi, save his effort. Rooney was first to the rebound to sweep United further ahead. In another excellent move, three minutes later, Rooney found Ronaldo with a perfect chip and the Portuguese winger drove home from close range. We’re you watching Alan Shearer?
Having demolished the London side so clinically, United let the tempo drop. Fulham pushed forward and having tested Van Der Saar from long range, claimed a goal after Ferdinand deflected a shot into his own net in the 39th minute of the match.
Fulham hardly registered a tackle and were second to every ball. A poor performance was marred still further by Brown’s ugly stamp on Ryan Giggs early in the second half which should have earned the midfielder a red card.
United finished the match strongly with another goal from Rooney after good approach play by Ronaldo and Wes Brown, who began the second half at right back in place of the injured Gary Neville. Ronaldo should have claimed a sixth with 20 minutes to go. Clean through with only the goalkeeper to beat, the winger scuffed his shot wide of the post.
TEAM…
MANCHESTER UNITED
Van Der Saar; Neville (Silvestre 45), Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, O’Shea, Giggs (Park 60); Rooney, Saha (Solskjaer 60).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Fletcher.
POST MATCH COMMENT…
Sir Alex: ‘I’m really pleased with the performance and the workrate of the players.The making and the taking of the goals was excellent.
‘There was a real excitement about our play, particularly in the first 20 minutes. But throughout the match we played with great confidence and belief.
‘Performances like today will go a long way [to helping us overcome Chelsea]. But more importantly the younger players are improving and maturing and the teamwork is getting better because of that.
Fulham manager Chris Coleman: ‘They steamrollered us. We couldn’t get the ball and when we did get it we gave it back too easily. We had a 10-minute patch when the wheels came off and then the game was finished.
