Victory no surprise, says Saha

FULHAM striker Louis Saha believes his side can maintain the awesome standards set in their sensational triumph at Old Trafford.

The Cottagers sent Manchester United reeling to their first home league defeat for over a year on Saturday and left the Barclaycard Premiership's biggest ever crowd applauding them off at the end.

Alex Ferguson was left to rue his decision to rest some key men as Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque and Junichi Inamoto all scored, and Saha and Luis Boa Morte came close to increasing the embarrassment.

However, Saha insists the victory was no surprise to a team completely revitalised this season under 32-year-old boss Chris Coleman.

Fulham captain Clark is a symbol of the club's dramatic resurgence since the dark days at the end of Jean Tigana's reign.

Out of favour under the Frenchman, Clark has started every game for Coleman and proved an inspirational figure from the moment he converted Malbranque's third-minute minute cross.

Clark said: "It was an unbelievable performance and it sets us up for next Sunday (at home to Liverpool)."

Diego Forlan's equaliser in first-half injury time allowed United to get out of jail, after a half in which they were fortunate not to be even further behind.

Ferguson starting the first game of his touchline ban named a midfield unrecognisable to the one which had performed so well in midweek against Rangers at Ibrox.

With no Roy Keane or Phil Neville and Paul Scholes dropped to the bench - United were rudderless and hesitant, and Fulham brutally exploited their weaknesses.