Fortune favours United

On a night of apologies at Old Trafford, referee Michael Oliver may feel he owes Manchester City a huge one.

With United leading 1-0 and on the brink of going three points clear at the top of the Premier League, Michael Carrick appeared to clip Fulham substitute Danny Murphy in the penalty area in the 89th minute.

Yet despite Fulham’s strong appeals, Oliver refused to give a penalty, even though replays showed there was contact.

Fulham manager Martin Jol believes Oliver would have been a brave man to award a spot-kick.

“I thought it was a difficult decision,’’ Jol said. “I think if he had given the penalty he would have had to send Michael Carrick off.

“I think everyone in the stadium expected a penalty, to be honest.

“You have to be brave to give a penalty away at Man United.”

United defender Jonny Evans admitted Oliver could have given the spot-kick. Evans said: “You have a quick look to the referee but he’s waved it away.

“Having seen it back again you accept he could have given it.”

And his manager agreed.

“I think they had a claim (for a penalty), no doubt,” said Alex Ferguson. “We had a claim for a penalty in the first half when there was a clear hand ball. Maybe the ref was thinking about that.

“Michael Carrick has caught Danny Murphy’s heel.”

In his first programme notes since the Europa League exit, Ferguson apologised to United’s fans.

But City, who now trail United by three points in the title race with eight games remaining, will feel they are owed an apology from the match officials.

When all is said and done, however, Wayne Rooney’s 21st top-flight goal of the season, towards the end of the first half, leaves United in the driving seat.

Having destroyed struggling Wolves 5-0 in their last outing, United were hoping Fulham would prove equally obliging opponents. The Londoners were looking to avoid a ninth straight Old Trafford defeat, while Fulham’s failure to score at the venue in seven hours of action also filled United with belief that they could improve their goal difference. But this proved a night for patience as United struggled to impose themselves until Rooney struck three minutes before the interval.

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs headed an early chance straight at keeper Mark Schwarzer while Patrice Evra proved an unlikely goal threat in the 32nd minute with an overhead kick which flashed narrowly wide.

Rafael Da Silva spurned another chance when he shot straight at Schwarzer after good work by the impressive Antonio Valencia.

But the ruthless finishing which was so evident eight days earlier at Molineux was missing as Fulham created just as many chances as United before the interval.

Not for the first time this season, Clint Dempsey was his team’s main goal threat.

The US international twice tested David De Gea in the space of a few minutes, his second effort a curler from the edge of the area which had United’s keeper diving at full stretch to claw away.

Moussa Dembele also proved a handful but the Belgian lacked composure to hurt United.

Yet just when Fulham thought they had survived the opening half without damage, Rooney pounced from close range, after Jonny Evans had teed-up the striker from Ashley Young’s 42nd-minute cross following a mistake by John Arne Riise.

The sighs of relief could be heard all around the ground.

United, who meet City in what is looking more and more like a winner-take-all game on April 30, dominated possession after the interval but were unable to add to their tally.

Schwarzer was forced into action when Giggs played the ball over the top for Valencia but his shot was straight at the Australian.

With 15 minutes left, United spurned a glorious chance. Schwarzer, who had an excellent game, twice denied Young before Giggs had a goalbound effort blocked by Brede Hangeland.

Then United survived that scare in the 89th minute when Murphy went crashing inside the area following a Carrick challenge. But Oliver waved away Fulham’s appeals as United hung on for their ninth win in 10 league games.

MAN UTD (4-4-2): De Gea 7; Rafael 7, Ferdinand 7 (Smalling 74, 4), Evans 7, Evra 7; Valencia 8, Carrick 6, Giggs 6, Young 6; Rooney 6 (Scholes 78, 4), Welbeck 6 (Hernandez 63, 5).

FULHAM (4-5-1): Schwarzer 8; Kelly 6, Hangeland 5, Hughes 6, Riise 5; Frei 6 (Ruiz 67, 5), Dempsey 7, Diarra 6 (Murphy 71, 5), Dembele 6, Duff 6; Pogrebnyak 6.

Referee: Michael Oliver 5.