United go 10 points clear atop EPL after striker's fourth goal in three games
Wayne Rooney scored his fourth goal in three games as Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage to move 10 points clear at the head of the Premier League table on Saturday.
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Rooney’s 79th-minute strike, his 10th league goal of the season, came after the game had been held up for 10 minutes before half-time because of a floodlight failure and increased the pressure on second-place Manchester City ahead of their clash with Liverpool yesterday.
For long periods it looked as though Alex Ferguson’s side would have to be content with a point, with Fulham surviving first-half pressure before growing stronger after the break. But after hitting the woodwork three times in the opening half, United finally made the breakthrough when Rooney capitalised on a mistake by Fulham’s Philippe Senderos.
Rooney’s moment of composure eventually decided the game when he advanced from halfway after a mistake by Senderos.u00a0With Aaron Hughes backing off, the striker moved into the Fulham box before placing a right-foot shot inside the far post.
Fulham’s hopes of springing a surprise were dented when Dimitar Berbatov was denied the opportunity to face his former club after picking up a hamstring strain in the mid-week win over West Ham United.