England hunt the Keegan spirit

When the time comes for Kevin Keegan to affirm that as a creature sustained by emotion his heart will always rule his head, he would do well to remember yesterday's events at Old Trafford.

Despite the denials, the Fulham manager will be invited to fulfil his greatest ambition by becoming coach to the England team.

Keegan has shown that he not adverse to sipping from poisoned chalices in the past, and there will likely be a predictable outcome if the Football Association asks him to place patriotism above his instinct for self-preservation.

While reaffirming his determination to see out his contract at Craven Cottage, Keegan admitted that he is willing to talk. "If the Football Association come on then I will talk to them; I never said I wouldn't," he said.

Those who wish to see Keegan installed as Glenn Hoddle's successor will argue that a man of his passion and knowledge deserves a place on the greatest stage. They have a point.

It rained and it was bleak in Manchester yesterday but Keegan lapped up every single minute; he was, by his admission, in his element.

His Fulham side's marvellous FA Cup adventure was ended but, much as they had done when defeating Southampton and Aston Villa in previous rounds, they performed with commendable spirit and skill. Indeed, they were unfortunate not to finish an easily forgettable match on level terms.

But for Andy Cole, who neatly turned home an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cross, with the aid of a deflection, after 26 minutes they would have earned a replay.

They did not and it will be Manchester United who play host to Chelsea in next month's quarter-final.

Fulham's problem was that United really do not care who they play. They turn up, they perform, they win - usually without considering their frailties or the pedigree of the opposition.

In truth, apart from a 15-minute spell of compelling first-half play which was to yield the goal, United were very poor.

Keegan will still be preaching the virtues of selfless endeavour on his death bed, and it was simply by playing uncomplicated football, at an admittedly rapturous pace, that Fulham made life so uncomfortable for United.

The suspicion was that with Arsenal in town on Wednesday for a Premiership game of obvious significance, Alex Ferguson would opt for a Vialli-shuffle.

Perhaps it was the loss of Ryan Giggs to injury and Roy Keane and Paul Scholes to suspension which persuaded him otherwise. Perhaps it was professional respect for Keegan.

With hindsight, Ferguson probably wishes he had started with Jesper Blomqvist for it took his side 25 minutes to appreciate that their football was being undermined by a criminal lack of width.

As Keegan pointed out, his players did create the chances to have scored at least once, and with United so perplexingly awful for long periods, that would have been sufficient to take them back to London.

If blame is to be apportioned then John Salako will need broad shoulders and thick skin this morning.

Midway through the second half, Fulham's full-back Steve Finnan drove in speculatively from 30 or so yards. Peter Schmeichel dropped down to his right, but although he managed to stop the shot, it rolled free, directly into Salako's path. But in his haste to sweep home he neglected to lift the ball off the sodden turf and Schmeichel saved again.

Meanwhile, Keegan has applauded Arsenal for their offer to replay their Cup tie with Sheffield United. Keegan said if he had been the Arsenal boss he would have told his team to let the other side score to even up the contest.

"I thought Arsene Wenger had it spot on when he said he'd replay the game," Keegan said. "I can forgive Kanu, but I don't know what Overmars was thinking. Maybe he is on a goal bonus."

Manchester Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, Berg, Irwin (Greening 46), Beckham, Butt, P Neville, Yorke, Cole (Johnsen 88), Solskjaer (Blomqvist 65). Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, May. Goals: Cole 26.

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Coleman, Symons, Hayward, Smith, Collins (Uhlenbeek 87), Salako (Trollope 74), Lehmann (Betsy 59), Hayles. Subs Not Used: Brazier, Arendse.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).