United wobble gives title rivals hope

Fulham 2 Manchester United 0: Fulham blew the title race wide open with a sensational win over nine-man Manchester United at Craven Cottage. Danny Murphy put Fulham in front from the penalty spot when Paul Scholes was sent off for handling a Bobby Zamora goal-bound header in the 17th minute.

It was United’s second successive defeat following their 4-1 home mauling by Liverpool last weekend and the first time the champions and league leaders had suffered back-to-back losses in the league since April 2005.

But Fulham thoroughly deserved their victory after a first half which saw them rip United’s defence open time and again.

United struggled to impose themselves on Fulham who had taken the game to the Red Devils in a confident fashion. Zamora was allowed to run on freely after collecting the ball midway in the United half. Unfortunately for the Fulham striker he could not take advantage of his freedom and sent a 20-yard drive beyond Edwin van der Sar’s right-hand post.

It was all Fulham with United looking decidedly shaky. Their pressure paid off in dramatic fashion in the 17th minute when Scholes was sent off for handball. The corner from Simon Davies was headed goalwards by Brede Hangeland and after Zamora’s first flick-on was saved by Van der Sar, his second attempt was kept out by the hands of Scholes.

Captain Murphy stepped up to send Van der Sar the wrong way from the spot to give Fulham the lead.

United were clearly having a confidence crisis and the goal was just reward for Fulham’s bullish opening.

Fulham continued to dominate and only a brilliant save from Van der Sar prevented Zamora from making it two in the 21st minute.

Fulham wasted two more chances to go further ahead with Van der Sar saving brilliantly from Zamora again in the 27th minute and then two minutes later Dempsey sent a right-foot drive flashing wide from 20 yards.

It was an uncharacteristic performance from United with Ryan Giggs guilty of some dreadful passing. But Fulham had stung the league leaders with an all-action display to outplay their opponents from the start.

Ferguson decided Rooney would provide more firepower in attack as he replaced the ineffective Berbatov for the second half. In the 52nd minute a cross from Darren Fletcher saw Cristiano Ronaldo climb high to send a header just over the Fulham crossbar.

Ronaldo was becoming more and more frustrated at Phil Dowd’s reluctance to award a free-kick every time the Portugal international was tackled. The United winger was so incensed that he produced a two-footed lunge at Murphy which was surprisingly only punished by a yellow card.

Ronaldo was saved by the fact his reckless challenge did not connect with Murphy, but his antics found little favour with the home crowd who booed him at every opportunity.

But United were beginning to get back into the game and Fletcher brought a save from Mark Schwarzer in the 59th minute when he let loose with a low drive from 20 yards.

Fulham had Schwarzer to thank again in the 61st minute when he saved superbly to keep out a powerful header from Ronaldo.

In the 64th minute, the Australian produced an incredible double save at point-blank range to deny Park Ji-Sung and Rooney and then dived full length to keep out a Ronaldo drive.

Fulham were now reeling for the first time in the game and Murphy was forced off through injury to be replaced by Olivier Dacourt in the 67th minute.

United responded a minute later by removing John O’Shea and replacing him with Carlos Tevez. But Fulham made the game safe three minutes from time when substitute Gera struck their second from Johnson’s assist and Rooney saw red for a second bookable offence as the frustration of defeat proved too much to bear.