Sign of Champions?

It is time to revisit that old cliche, that it is the sign of Champions to win a game despite not playing well. Manchester United seem to have purchased the rights to that particular cliche years ago and are more than likely working on a film version, so keen were they to publicise it with a dour win over Fulham. The possession stats were predictably one sided, as was the shot count, but this was as far from vintage United as Sir Alex Ferguson will be comfortable his side being for the remainder of the season. The Red Devils were sloppy, wasteful and profligate, a comedy of errors punctuating their possession of the ball. Fulham worked extremely hard defensively without offering much of a threat to David de Gea's goal, although the routine saves the Spaniard made would perhaps have caused him more problems during his early-season wobbles. There was a heart-in-mouth moment for all involved late on when Michael Carrick appeared to foul Danny Murphy just inside the United area but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved and did not award the visitors a chance to equalise from the spot.


The non-penalty is as good a place as any to start any analysis of the game, considering it will end up as the main talking point of a game somewhat devoid of controversial moments. Replays show that it should indeed have been a penalty, but it took those same replays to be certain of the point. At full speed, the only view afforded the referee, it could easily have been viewed as Carrick playing the ball, such was the angle of deflection. Once slowed down, TV cameras yet again allowing pundits a luxury the referee does not enjoy, it becomes clear that Carrick plays Murphy's foot which then moves the ball. Quite why we have an obsession with slow motion replays to labour fruitless points, I am still not clear. You can slow something down as much as you want to show the referee got it wrong, but you can hardly chastise him for it if you have needed slow motion to prove he made the mistake. Obviously it is a talking point, and obviously Fulham will feel aggrieved, but the overall balance of a game and all the other incidents get forgotten when one moment becomes the central focus for debate. Perhaps I should stop here though, as I am sure on another day I will hypocritically slate an official for messing up another key decision - probably one going against my own team, which Fulham are not!


United were worthy winners, just not impressive ones. Having spoken to my Cottagers friend who was sat among the away fans, and will readily admit to baying at the referee for not giving them the penalty, it seems that even he will agree the right team won. However, he, like me, was baffled by some of United's slack passing and wastefulness. We were also in agreement that the role of Mark Schwarzer will likely be underplayed in most reflections of the game, a series of quality saves going under the radar amidst the late almost-drama and the umpteen opportunities and dangerous situations spurned by United's attackers. A strong save from Antonio Valencia and an excellent double-save later on helped keep the score at the low-level that Fulham's overall defensive performance deserved, and the Australian goalkeeper, now 39, deserves the same Old Trafford plaudits for longevity usually bestowed on residents Scholes and Giggs.
The win moves United back to the top of the Premier League, and with a three point gap to their local rivals City with neither side in possession of a game in hand. The goal difference gap has shrunk significantly in recent weeks and it looks increasingly possible that this could be the key factor in deciding which half of Manchester walks away with the trophy. Before tonight, one could easily see United overturning City's three-goal goal difference advantage, such was the ruthlessness they showed in sticking five past Wolves. On tonight's showing, things are less clear, and Fergie may just have to hope his side get a result at the City of Manchester Stadium in a month to help steer the decision towards points instead of goal difference.