Fulham (1) 1-1 (0) Man United
Such are the solid strides being made by Fulham in their second Premiership season, Manchester United left west London wiping mighty beads of sweat from their brows. Were it not for an Ole Gunnar Solksjaer special at one end and a Fabien Barthez penalty save at the other, Sir Alex Ferguson's mood would have taken a significant turn for the worse.
With several of United's leading lights jaded after international duty, Fulham sensed the potential for triumph. When it stared them in the face, in the form of Steed Malbranque's spot kick, Barthez extricated United from what would have been their third defeat of the season.
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Fulham Steve Marlet scores against Man Utd again
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The French goalkeeper upset the locals with time-wasting antics intended to throw Malbranque's concentration, for which he was cautioned. While referee Mike Dean was sorting out a minor rumble between Gary Neville and Steve Marlet, Barthez tapped his boots clean on his posts. He fumbled as if he had something caught in his eye. He tested the elastic on his shorts. And as the ref turned to blow his whistle he carried on.
Unsporting? Ferguson naturally perceived it as professional. Fulham's assistant coach Christian Damiano was less impressed. 'Barthez profitted from the referee's position to destabalise Malbranque.'
To add injury to insult, Damiano pointed out that once the whistle had peeped Malbranque was entitled to shoot into a vacant goal as Barthez busily arranged himself at his post. Alan Shearer would have. Ruud Van Nisterlrooy would too. But Malbranque, a modest young man evidently in awe of the keeper who is a living legend back home in France, waited. Points for fair play, but in the end dropped points for Fulham. Once Barthez was ready he pulled off a fine save.
Jean Tigana's men were disappointed to have let slip a chance to defeat the quality of opposition they aspire to. They are shrewder now than the intimidated bunch who struggled to adjust to their Premiership introduction a year ago. They earned United's respect. Edwin van der Sar was a dominant force in goal. Zat Knight a giant in every meaning of the word at the heart of defence (and he can play as well). Sean Davis snapped away at the United midfield, trying to halt trouble at source.
Further forward, Steve Marlet and Facundo Sava led the line gamely, even if their embryonic rapport needs fine tuning. Not quite the same wavelength. Yet.
Fulham were playing nearly football. Nearly the right cross. Nearly a decent connection. On 35 minutes, they located the edge they needed. Rufus Brevett's tantalising delivery from the left evaded Sava's attempted flick, but Marlet arrived at the far post to bundle the opening goal past Barthez. Both Laurent Blanc and Mikäel Silvestre were absent in the line of defensive duty. Both had the chance to cut out the cross. Both stuttered.
United were straining to find sufficient fluency and urgency to trouble their hosts. With Ruud van Nistelrooy hamstrung, they lacked the attacking verve their fans have come to expect. Giggs, on his landmark 500th match for the Old Trafford club, managed to up the tempo when he raced onto Beckham's throw and drove dangerously as Edwin van der Sar boldly repelled the shot. Then, just after the hour United conjured an equaliser that was hardly on the cards. Solskjaer was the saviour, seizing his moment with ruthless zeal. David Beckham's lobbed pass from halfway should have been cleaned up by Fulham's defence. Instead the previously excellent Knight and Abdeslam Ouaddou tackled each other, and the Norwegian rifled a bouncing ball past van der Sar with typical ferocity.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Man U |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
8 |
| On Target |
6 |
3 |
| Fouls |
9 |
13 |
| Corners |
6 |
1 |
| Yellows |
1 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
It was anyone's game now, something both teams sensed, and Fulham's best chance to strike again came on 70 minutes, when Marlet's searing turn of pace made his compatriot Laurent Blanc look about 85. The referee, correctly, took a dim view of the elder statesman's nudge and pointed to the spot. Cue Barthez for some fun and games.
This is not the first time he has behaved like this, as Muzzy Izzet will recall from Leicester's visit to Old Trafford last season. (Izzet knocked into an empty net, the ref ordered a retake, Barthez saved.) He may not be everybody's glass of pastis , but his friends wouldn't have it any other way. The relieved Blanc planted another of those famous kisses on Barthez's bald head. Merci, mon ami.
Fulham:
Van der Sar, Ouaddou, Knight, Goma, Brevett, Legwinski, Davis, Finnan, Malbranque, Marlet, Sava (Hayles 78).
Subs Not Used: Inamoto, Collins, Boa Morte, Taylor.
Booked: Marlet(90,UB).
Goals: Marlet 35.
Man Utd:
Barthez, Gary Neville, O'Shea, Blanc, Silvestre (Forlan 80), Beckham, Veron, Phil Neville (Fortune 59), Giggs, Scholes, Solskjaer.
Subs Not Used: May, Richardson, Ricardo.
Booked: Blanc, Barthez, Beckham.
Goals: Solskjaer 62.
Att: 18,103
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).