I didn't try to con ref, says United goal hero Ronaldo

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Mind you, on the evidence of the past two months, Ronaldo does not discriminate. If he plays these days, he scores.

With 13 goals in his last 13 competitive games, United's outstanding young winger continues to improve at a remarkable pace. Last night his stunning early volley and well-placed second-half header won United the game and moved them back into second behind Arsenal in this absorbing title race.

This was the 11th time Ronaldo had scored twice in a game for United and the 22-year-old would in all likelihood have registered his first hat-trick had referee Rob Styles not ludicrously decided that he had dived over a late lunge from Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi and booked him.

Styles once sent Ronaldo off, at Aston Villa in May 2004, and the Portuguese winger said: "I was not scared of that this time. I really think it was a penalty but the referee made a decision and I have to respect it.

"If he sees the replay then he will see that I just jumped to get out of the way."

Ronaldo was right on this occasion. It should have been a penalty. But as his manager pointed out, his reputation - not undeserved - goes before him.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "The incident was a result of a perception among referees that Cristiano dives. He is not like that any more. He is a magnificent footballer.

"But the goalkeeper has conned the referee into a ridiculous decision. His reaction suggested that he had dived."

Styles' error, which was also acknowledged by Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez, was soon compounded by Niemi saving from Ronaldo when he was free again with only minutes of the game left.

So Ronaldo must wait for his first hat-trick, but surely not for long.

And his efforts last night only make it more intriguing that Ferguson continues to wonder about a move for an another centre forward next month.

Although Ferguson has suggested recently that there is no need to strengthen his squad in January, he continues to consider a bid for Bolton's Nicolas Anelka.

The Frenchman is Chelsea's prime target for the transfer window, with Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy also on the London club's list, but competition from United will only serve to drive up the price and make it harder for Bolton to resist.

Ferguson's logic is understandable. History shows that the best time to improve a team is when things are already going well. Last night, however, the contribution of Ronaldo, allied to a terrific performance from Carlos Tevez, led one to wonder how on earth another forward would find his way in to this team.

United were not at their best. They played marvellously for the first 20 minutes and pretty well for the final 15. In between, they were moderate.

Such is the attacking talent in this team, however, they do not need 90 minutes of fluency to win comfortably, and here was a classic example. In the first nine minutes, for example, United almost scored on three occasions. Then, a minute later, they did.

Tevez went close twice in that opening assault as he stretched to head an Anderson cross wide of the far post and then brought the first save of the night from Niemi. Anderson was denied a shot by a last- ditch tackle from Dejan Stefanovic, only for Ronaldo to give United their lead in the 10th minute.

A corner from the left was cleared to the edge of the penalty area but when Fulham midfielder Steven Davis inexplicably headed the ball back into his own box, Nemanja Vidic touched it on and Ronaldo sent a rasping volley across Niemi and into the far top corner.

It was another picture goal but Sanchez must have despaired. It is hard enough to visit Old Trafford as it is, without helping United to create their scoring opportunities.

Peculiarly, United did not go on to secure the game in the remaining minutes of the half. Niemi saved painfully with his face from Tevez at the near post but by the end of the opening period it was Fulham who had finally developed some momentum, with Danny Murphy twice going close from distance and Shefki Kuqi heading haplessly over at the far post when found by a superb Simon Davies cross.

Not surprisingly, this was as good as it got for Fulham.

Davies shot across goal early in the second half before United shook themselves free again to score the decisive second.

John O'Shea, a half- time substitute for full back Patrice Evra, delivered a decent cross from the left just before the hour and Ronaldo, as he often does, leapt to head powerfully past Niemi from nine yards.