1. What was clear from the very start of the game was that Manchester United were far superior to Fulham. The only question was whether we were going to be able to break them down, with Martin Jol setting them up 11 men behind the ball for large chunks of the game. Ahead of kick-off we’d be forgiven for not only wanting a win but a chance to boost our goal difference too, considering we battered them 5-0 at their place earlier this season. It was a difficult game for us though in the second half, particularly with a nervy 1-0 lead to defend, but we got the points and that’s all that matters.
2. I don’t usually like to start on a negative but this negative is so negative that I need to get it out of the way. That was maybe the worst Ryan Giggs performance I’ve ever seen. It was painful to watch. It felt as though he lost possession every time he was on the ball as he ran round like a headless chicken. Too often Michael Carrick would be on the ball in the centre of the park and was struggling to pick a pass, with Giggsy trotting off towards the box and not making himself available. It was unbelievable that we made three substitutions and he managed to stay on the pitch. Anyway, onwards and upwards eh Giggs? Must do better.
3. The only goal of the game came from a great ball in from Ashley Young which Jonny Evans fought to get on the end of, setting Wayne Rooney up with an easy enough tap in. Young and Evans were our best players on the pitch, with Evans putting in yet another brilliant defensive shift (and picking up the official Man of the Match award) whilst Young was good going forward and hard working when not in possession. Young seems to be finding that pre-injury form from the start of the season at just the right time. Oh, and 17 goals in 17 games for Rooney isn’t too shabby either!
4. The biggest talking point after the game was probably the penalty that never was, after Carrick caught Danny YSB Murphy in the box. It was a penalty, more clear cut than the one Patrice Evra believed we deserved in the first half, but we obviously won’t be losing any sleep over it. Some rival fans and journalists were outraged. Short memories. Who remembers the penalty Stoke should have been awarded and the red card Gareth Barry should have had on Saturday after just 17 minutes? Yeh, me too.
5. Anyone else feel like they’re just ticking the games off at the moment? By the time of that final whistle, I don’t care what kind of game I’ve just witnessed or what decisions have gone on, as long as we’ve got the three points. We’re just eight games away now. It wasn’t a classic against Fulham but we’re three points closer to the title. Come on United.
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