United went to Craven Cottage today without Wayne Rooney as he was ruled out of the game through a virus, while Mark Hughes took charge of his first game at Craven Cottage.

It only took United 11 minutes to take the lead. Dimitar Berbatov receiving the ball on the edge of the box and laying the ball back for Paul Scholes to score from 25 yards out.

Fulham nearly got an equaliser minutes later when Bobby Zamora nodded the ball down for Simon Davies who saw his first time shot go just over the bar.

Fulham came close on the half hour mark as Etuhu found himself one on one with the keeper and seeing his shot saved. The ball falling back to Etuhu but his poor left footed shot saw Van der Sarr tip the ball out for a corner.

Fulham kept on pushing for an equaliser and they were rewarded 11 minutes into the second half. Damien Duff with some brilliant skill going past Evra, Duff then playing the ball to Zamora who cut the ball back inside the box for Simon Davies to smash home the equaliser.

Fulham were very close to taking the lead as a free kick found Zamora free at the back post but his shot went just wide.

United did take the lead though with six minutes to go. Nani crossing from a corner and the ball being turned into the back of the net by Fulham defender Brede Hangeland.

The referee then gave United a lucky penalty with four minutes to go, but Stockdale saved Nani’s penalty.

With one minute to go Fulham had a corner with the ball whipped into the box and Brede Hangeland scoring with a header to level the game.