Rooney steals show yet again to fire United top

Although they wasted a huge number of chances, with Dimitar Berbatov the prime culprit, United did enough to re-establish their dominant position with eight games of the campaign remaining.

Rooney provided a suitably quickfire response after a goalless first half and then converted Berbatov's cross seven minutes from time to leave himself just 10 adrift of Cristiano Ronaldo's massive total of two years ago.

Berbatov himself then ended a frustrating afternoon by finally getting his name on the scoresheet.

On the occasion chosen to mark Old Trafford's 100th birthday, it was United needing to follow Chelsea and Arsenal, who after initial struggles, had each ended up with three points on Saturday.

On the face of it, a Fulham side in the middle of a titanic Europa League tie with Juventus would appear to be the perfect opponents.

Yet, as Ferguson pointed out in the build-up, Roy Hodgson has revolutionised life at Craven Cottage and masterminded a three-goal victory over United in December.

At the time, United were severely weakened by a loss of defenders. But with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic back in the fold those problems are now at an end. On this occasion, it was United's attack that misfired.

Following a frustrating opening period, it was all smiles at Old Trafford 29 seconds after the restart.

Neat build-up play from Berbatov, Nani and Rooney saw the latter open the scoring. And after creating yet another goal for Rooney with a neat cut-back in the closing stages, the #30.75million man finally located the target himself to complete a scoreline more in keeping with the one-sided nature of proceedings.