United blaze four-goal trail in first half

HT Manchester United 4 Fulham 1

Manchester United scored four times against Fulham in the opening 20 minutes to lay down a marker for the new Premiership campaign.

With no new signings in their starting line-up and questions being asked over their ability to challenge Chelsea this season, the Red Devils’ response was an irresistible attacking display which tore sorry Fulham to shreds.

Louis Saha began the rout after eight minutes, then Ian Pearce netted an own goal before Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo – starting a game together for the first time since the World Cup – struck.

Cottagers boss Chris Coleman came to the edge of his technical area in an attempt to help his team stabilise the situation but Saha could have had two more in quick succession.

Liam Rosenior nodded his header off the line before the striker screwed Evra’s cross wide fromeight yards despite being totally unmarked.

And the hosts were inches away from grabbing a fifth on the half hour when Ronaldo’s lay-off found Scholes 30 yards out.

Scholes let fly with a ferocious shot which crashed back off the post, struck Niemi on the back of the head and was about to roll over the line before the Fulham keeper recovered his ground.

Given the cushion they had established, it was hardly surprising some of the impetus drifted out of United’s attacking play.

Rooney tried his luck from 25 yards out but his curling shot was weak and Niemi, for once, had nothing to worry about.

Pearce was at full stretch though as he tried to prevent Saha turning home Ronaldo’s cross.

Thankfully for the visitors, the next goal came at the other end as Rio Ferdinand got in the way of Heidar Helguson’s shot and deflected it past Van der Sar.