Fabien Barthez bailed out a below-par Manchester United at Loftus Road by saving a Steed Malbranque penalty as Fulham were unfortunate not to inflict more misery on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in Shepherd’s Bush.
United are now six points behind leaders Liverpool and but for the flamboyant Frenchman’s kidology putting off Malbranque when his compatriot stepped forward to strike a second-half penalty, their predicament might have been even worse. The visitors were distinctly second best in a first half where they failed to match Fulham’s endeavour and intensity, in the absence of the injured Roy Keane and Nicky Butt.
It was no surprise when the Whites took the lead ten minutes before half time after Sean Davis seized possession from a sleepy Ryan Giggs. Rufus Brevett raced along the left wing and, when his cross fell at the feet of Marlet, Fulham’s record signing supplied an assured finish. The French forward enjoyed the better of a battle with his compatriot Laurent Blanc, pulling the experienced centre back out of position, and dropping into pockets of space behind him. Marlet won the penalty after a clumsy challenge from Blanc, but Barthez – who was booked for delaying the spot-kick – saved Malbranque’s tame effort from twelve yards.
United were level after stepping it up following a dozy first half. Paul Scholes, who had threatened an equaliser before the interval, but was denied by a superb Edwin van der Sar and Giggs became more influential: with the Welshman eventually pushed into a centre forward’s role alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian hauled United back into the game after a dreadful mix-up between Zat Knight and Alain Goma in the Fulham defence, with Solskjaer smashing the equaliser beyond a helpless van der Sar.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the final twenty minutes but had to settle for a point instead. Substitute Barry Hayles bustled his way into the penalty area but blasted wide, whilst Solskjaer headed a dangerous David Beckham cross over the bar for the visitors. Ferguson confessed himself relieved to escape with a point, whilst Fulham will know they let a big chance to record a famous victory slip through their fingers.
FULHAM (4-4-2):Â van der Sar; Ouaddou, Brevett, Knight, Goma; Davis, Legwinski, Finnan, Malbranque; Marlet, Sava (Hayles 78). Subs (not used): Taylor, Collins, Inamoto, Boa Morte.
FULHAM (4-4-2):Â van der Sar; Ouaddou, Brevett, Knight, Goma; Davis, Legwinski, Finnan, Malbranque; Marlet, Sava (Hayles 78). Subs (not used): Taylor, Collins, Inamoto, Boa Morte.
BOOKED:Â Marlet.
GOAL: Marlet (35).
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-5-1):Â Barthez, G. Neville, Silvestre (Forlan 80), O’Shea, Blanc; Beckham, Veron, P. Neville (Fortune 59), Giggs, Scholes; Solskjaer. Subs (not used): Ricardo, May, Richardson.
BOOKED:Â Blanc, Barthez, Beckham.
GOAL: Solskjaer (62).
REFEREE: Mike Dean (Wirral).
ATTENDANCE: 18,103.
