NB: Video on this article has been removed in accordance to international license restrictions.
By Louis Anderson-Rich
Hello and welcome to Craven Cottage where we have Fulham looking to cause an upset against table-topping Manchester United.
Manchester United are currently sitting pretty at the top of the English Premier League, seven points ahead of Manchester City who couldn’t break down a resolute QPR midweek.
The last time these two sides met Fulham took an early lead only to lose 3-2. Now they’re on their home turf, they’ll be hoping they won’t capitulate like last time.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (available immediately AFTER the final whistle) and all the action of the English Premier League.
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LIVE COMMENTARY… Fulham 0 v 1 Manchester United
90+5 Min: We’re past injury time and Fulham have a free-kick on the edge of the box…Rodallega shoots! Hits the wall and that’s it! It’s all over!
90+3 Min: Free-kick to United to surely end the game…Fulham have a free-kick to end the game!!
90+1 Min: Urby Emmanuelson with a shot from the edge of the box after some sustained pressure! Goes out for a corner! Riise puts the corner in! bal lcleared off the line!
90 Min: Fulham still pushing but United are pretty much defending with 11 behind the ball. 3 Minutes to be added on.
88 Min: Fulham getting increasingly anxious to find an equaliser.
83 Min: Van Persie with a free volley from six yards! Blasts it over!
78 Min: Man United on the break, Rooney lurking on the left, he picks the ball up, saunters into the box, picks his spot and slots it past Schwarzer! GOAL!
77 Min: Free-kick for Fulham in a good position and it seems as though the entire team is standing around it…Chris Baird with the shot which is blasted high and wide.
76 Min: Fulham really putting Man U under the pump now, Emmanuelson with the cross, Evans races back and clears it behind for a corner…Duff whips the corner in, Dejagah to it first! Goes to the back post for Ruiz! Cleared off the line by Rafael!
74 Min: Danger for Fulham as they receive a ball in their box from a Rafael cross, Rooney is in there but he leaves it for Nani who smashes it into the ground but the bounce is cleared. Giggs replaces Cleverley.
73 Min: Fulham break down the left this time, Ruiz and Duff with the one-two, Ruiz on the byline stands up a cross, Dejagah comes screaming in with the header! Just wide!
71 Min: Fulham doing well down the right as Dejagah finds Chris Baird square in some space, Baird shoots! De Gea saves! Ruiz follows up! Shoots wide!
70 Min: Quick ball from United sees Nani and Hernandez play a nice one-two, Nani wins a corner for Man U…Van Persie crosses but again Fulham clear their lines.
69 Min: Free kick to Man U. whipped in by Nani but again the Fulham defence heads it away.
68 Min: Karagounis off for Urby Emanuelson.
67 Min: Van Persie with the curler! Schwarzer makes a fairly easy save in the end.
66 Min: Man United launch their own counter attack and Valencia is brought down on the edge of the box by Baird who receives a yellow card. Valencia is then hauled off for Hernandez.
65 Min: Rooney’s corner is cleared away and Fulham go on the counter attack which fizzles to nothing.
64 Min: Ball from Carrick over the top and Van Persie is away! Flag stays down! He’s forced out to the left, tries to put a ball to Rooney in the middle, cleared! Valencia follows up! Out for a corner.
63 Min: Baird gets a ball off Dejagah and has a shot! De Gea gets down well to save!
61 Min: Fulham with a free-kick from halfway. They go wide to Senderos who bumbles it on to Riether who goes down the line for Rodallega who can’t keep it in.
59 Min: United break quickly, Carrick with a ball over the top for Van Persie in behind the defence! Shoots! Offside and Schwarzer makes the save anyway.
56 Min: Rafael finds himself far forward and central…he takes a shot from outside the box on his left! Drifts wide.
55 Min: Nani shows off a bit of trickery down the left and gets the cross in but it’s cleared away by the first defender…Fulham counter attack and it’s Karagounis! He shoots! Dribbles just wide of the post!
54 Min: Schwarzer with a bit of skill at the back. Juggles it once and gves it to Senderos….Fulham on the attack now…Riise forward for Duff who can’t get to it first.
52 Min: United with a free-kick in a dangerous position, Van Persie to whip it in…Fulham up to get it away….United attack again though and Valencia bursts down the right to the byline, crosses it into the box but Senderos clears.
48 Min: Ferdinand carries the ball very far forward, gives it to Valencia who switches it to Nani who crosses, Van Persie gets his head to it! Schwarzer saves and holds.
47 Min: Ruiz with some lovely work after bringning the ball down he gets away from two United players, but his good work comes undone after his lob over the top to Rodallega is cut out.
46 Min: Manchester United kick-off and we’re back underway!
The players have made their way back onto the field and we are about to get back into the game.
FIRST HALF VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS NOW UP
47 Min: Riether down the right for Fulham…that’s halftime!
46 Min: Not much time remaining in this half…Corner taken, cleared, falls to Van Persie on his left! Schwarzer saves.
And let there be light! Players are back out on the field after floodlights was restored.
45 Min: This could be a very long game, players are of the pitch to stay warm.
43 Min: There’s been a floodlight failure at Craven Cottage so play will take a little break.
41 Min: United hit Fulham on the break and Van Persie and Rooney link up in the middle and then spit it out to Valencia on the right. Valencia with the cross, Rooney beats Senderos to the ball but it goes wide.
40 Min: Duff swings the ball into the box! United clear their lines once again.
39 Min: Fulham with a free-kick from a good spot, launched into the box but cleared easily…Fulham try to put the ball back in the box but can only get another free-kick.
38 Min: Long ball launched forward by Hangeland up for Rodallega who gets on the end of it! Plays it back into the path of Dejagah who runs straight into Evans and loses the ball.
35 Min: Van Persie slides the ball brilliantly across the park for Nani with space ahead of him down the left. He gets to the byline with a little trick but the cross goes straight out.
32 Min: Beautiful play from United sees Cleverly drop the ball back for Rooney at the top of the box, Rooney unleashes a shot! It hits the post and is cleared! Both goals leading charmed lives so far.
30 Min: Evra’s gone down and stayed down clutching his head. He got a knock from his own player Jonny Evans.
29 Min: Ball very nearly slips through for Van Persie in the Fulham box but Schwarzer comes off his line to clear.
27 Min: Duff wins a corner for Fulham after a jinking run…corner cleared at the near post but Duff is back inspace down the right, Ferdinand gets up strongly and clears.
26 Min: Rooney powers a low pass over to Nani on the left, then goes for the cross back in but Baird is back tracking and puts it out for a corner…Rooney’s corner is cleared by Hangeland.
25 Min: Evra on the left links up neatly with Evra but Riether takes the ball off him and clears the ball downfield.
24 Min: Deep delivery can’t find anyones head.
23 Min: Game has hit it’s first lull at the moment, United with a chance to change that with a freekick though.
19 Min: Wonderful through ball from Cleverley for Van Persie who touches it back for Rooney who shoots! Just dribbles wide of Schwarzer’s post!
18 Min: Dejagah hits a shot that falls to him at the top of the box! Blazes just past the post!
17 Min: Rooney goes down in the box under pressure from Hangeland! He’s screaming for a penalty but his protests are waved away.
16 Min: Another corner to Unted and Evans hits the crossbar with a header! Valencia with the follow up! Hits the side-netting!
15 Min: Out of nowhere Fulham launch an attack which ends with Ruiz having a pop from the top of the box! Hits the post! De Gea was well beaten and Ruiz will be gutted that didn’t go in.
14 Min: Very clever ball from Rooney finds Nani on the Fulham byline. Nani keeps it in and puts in a fairly ineffective cross that’s cleared.
13 Min: Van Persie on the ball in the middle, goes wide to Evra who is charging up the field, Senderos makes the tackle.
12 Min: Riise with a great hit on the bounce! De Gea makes a brilliant save! Ball was dipping but De Gea taps it over the bar.
11 Min: Nice link up between Van Persie and Rooney, Rooney goes wide to Valencia who puts in a low cross which is backheeled by Hangeland into the path of Rooney who shoots! Blocked and out.
10 Min: All United at the moment…Valencia down the right plays it back to Carrick who gives to Evans who gives the ball away very cheaply to Duff with space ahead of him! Takes a speculative shot that goes wide.
8 Min: Van Persie with a corner this time and Rooney gets the flick on! Great save by Schwarzer! Falls to Cleverly he can’t turn it in! Now Carrick! Hits the underside of the bar and is cleared!
7 Min: Nani takes a long ball down neatly, he cuts inside and unleashes a shot which is blocked and goes out for a corner…Rooney takes the corner, up goes Evans and Hangeland but Hangeland gets the better jump and clears.
6 Min: Ruiz nods the ball ahead of Evans very neatly and looks to go inside the box, Evans gets back and deals it with it well though. Sloppy start for the Manchester United backs though.
5 Min: Fulham with an early break, Ruiz puts a lovely lifted ball over the top for Rodallega! He’s left everyone in the dust! He’s into the box, tries to cut it back for Ruiz who shoots! Evans gets back and puts the block in.
4 Min: Evra with a sloppy pass sees Ruiz pick the ball up, now it’s Rodallega who wins a throw in for Fulham.
3 Min: Cleverly, Carrick and Rooney linking up early to try and put someone through but Brede Hangeland cuts out the final pass.
2 Min: Nani looking bright down the left hand side as he tries to get a cross in but it’s blocked…
1 Min: Fulham kick-off and the game is underway! Early ball forward from Fulham towards the Putney end, United deal with it easily and they head back down the other way.
Man United - David De Gea; Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley; Nani, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie
Starting teams: Fulham - Mark Schwarzer; Sascha Riether, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise, Ashkan Dejagah, Chris Baird, Giorgios Karagounis, Damien Duff, Bryan Ruiz, Hugo Rodallega
Man United have already put seven goals past Fulham this season in the league and the cup. They will be brimming with confidence going into this game.
Both teams lining up for the longest tunnel walk in football at Craven Cottage.
Players have had their warm-ups and are in the changing rooms receiving their last minute orders. Can United goa full 10 points clear at the top of the table? Will Rooney be on song?
Great game just finished at St James’ park as Newcastle beat Chelsea 3-2. How much longer can Rafa have?
Kick off is not far away but in the meantime watch Manchester United beat Southampton, Rooney getting a double.
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Teams:
Fulham: Mark Schwarzer; Sascha Riether, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise, Ashkan Dejagah, Chris Baird, Giorgios Karagounis, Damien Duff, Bryan Ruiz, Hugo Rodallega
Manchester United: David De Gea; Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley;Nani, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie
Pregame Banter:
Robin van Persie may be enjoying the plaudits as the Premier League's top scorer this season, but his Manchester United strike partner Wayne Rooney will be looking to extend his own fine run of form at Fulham.
The 27-year-old Rooney scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Southampton at Old Trafford on Wednesday, taking his tally to nine goals in as many games as United moved seven points clear of champion Manchester City.
United captain Nemanja Vidic has reminded his team how crucial three points against Fulham could prove in the title race, and will be hoping Van Persie adds to his tally of 18 league goals to date.
"Away games are always hard so we need to think about that. It's a good position we're in," Vidic tells the club's website. "It's important to win games, especially at this stage of the season, and every game now is important. Nothing is finished yet."
Fulham goes into the game on the back of a 3-1 home victory over West Ham on Wednesday and could give a debut to Urby Emanuelson, who was signed the following day on loan from AC Milan until the end of the season.
3 News/AP
source: newshub archive
