Manchester Utd 1-0 Fulham: Rooney strike the key as United go three points clear

The home side had the chances to kill the game off but a nervy finish saw Fulham denied a strong claim for a penalty when Michael Carrick looked to clip Danny Murphy in the box.

However, at this stage of the season points are more precious than performances and with eight games to go United are in pole position to retain their title.

Ryan Giggs started his first league game for a month, replacing Paul Scholes and Ashley Young was also recalled in favour of Javier Hernandez.

Fulham brought Aaron Hughes, Kerim Frei and Damien Duff into the side badly beaten at home by Swansea last time out.

Patrice Evra burst into the box to set up the first chance for Rooney, whose shot was blocked by Hughes. Rafael then sent in a cross for Giggs, whose header was easily saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Mousa Dembele then blazed a shot wide for Fulham before Clint Dempsey sent an effort straight at David De Gea.

Frei’s square pass on the edge of the area offered Dempsey another chance. The American’s curling effort was just creeping in too, with De Gea making an acrobatic save. Giggs’ cross then looped up off Stephen Kelly and into the path of Evra, whose overhead kick bounced wide.

Giggs was booked for sliding into Dembele before Welbeck ignored the veteran Welshman’s overlapping run and let fly with a 20-yard shot that Schwarzer saved. Valencia drove a ball across the area, then Evra had a penalty appeal for handball against Kelly waved away.

The pressure was mounting though and when Young floated over a cross, Rooney initially ducked underneath it. It was a strange move from the United striker. But it confused John Arne Riise, who failed to control, and Evans had the presence of mind to nudge the ball back to Rooney rather than try to score himself from an acute angle.

Once the pass found its man, Rooney finished with ease.

United were on the offensive again from the start of the second half, with Valencia exchanging passes with Rooney before sprinting onto Giggs’ chipped return. The second pass had taken him beyond the defence but Schwarzer made an fine save.

Hughes turned Rafael’s cross over his own bar before Rooney’s 20-yard shot rolled wide.

Schwarzer then reached out to turn a curling shot from Young round his left-hand post.

Welbeck was replaced by Javier Hernandez as Sir Alex Ferguson looked to turn United’s dominance into goals. Fulham were defending in disciplined fashion though and United were finding chances rare.

Both Rooney and Rio Ferdinand were replaced as the clock started to tick down, but after Young saw a fierce volley beaten away by Schwarzer, hearts were in mouths as Murphy went down under Carrick’s challenge – but referee Michael Oliver waved away protests.

Fulham manager Martin Jol refused to criticise the referee afterwards, saying of the penalty claim: “I thought it was a difficult decision. I think everyone in the stadium expected a penalty but you have to be brave to give one away at Manchester United.”

Ferguson admitted fortune had favoured his side in that incident. He said: “I think they had a claim, no doubt. But we had a claim for a penalty in the first half when there was a clear hand ball and maybe the ref was thinking about that.”