Manchester United will attempt to continue to turn the screw on Manchester City in the Premier League title race when the defending champions host Fulham on Monday night.
Sir Alex Ferguson's
team are not exactly producing dazzling performances, but they have characteristically hit resolute, confident and ruthlessly efficient form at the perfect time of the campaign.Eight wins from a nine-game unbeaten run has reeled in City and Roberto Mancini's wobbling side now only lead the table on goal difference after drawing at Stoke at the weekend.Victory over Martin Jol's Fulham could therefore move United three points clear of their derby rivals as another masterly season-long plan from Ferguson appears close to coming to fruition.To accompany United's run without a defeat, the legendary Old Trafford manager has been playing his trademark mind-games to unpick his rival's confidence and has suggested Mancini is feeling the pressure.
team are not exactly producing dazzling performances, but they have characteristically hit resolute, confident and ruthlessly efficient form at the perfect time of the campaign.Eight wins from a nine-game unbeaten run has reeled in City and Roberto Mancini's wobbling side now only lead the table on goal difference after drawing at Stoke at the weekend.Victory over Martin Jol's Fulham could therefore move United three points clear of their derby rivals as another masterly season-long plan from Ferguson appears close to coming to fruition.To accompany United's run without a defeat, the legendary Old Trafford manager has been playing his trademark mind-games to unpick his rival's confidence and has suggested Mancini is feeling the pressure.Ominous
Fulham will as a consequence know they are facing a tough task and they will be wary of suffering a repeat of the 5-0 thrashing they experienced at the hands of United at Craven Cottage in December.A factor behind United's strong finish to the season has been the performances of Wayne Rooney, who has scored 16 goals in his last 16 appearances in all club competitions.The striker has also netted five goals in his last four appearances against Fulham at Old Trafford.Ominously for Jol, United have also won their last seven home Premier League games against Fulham, with the Londoners failing to score in their last four and their only goal in the previous match was an own goal by Rio Ferdinand.Ferguson will be picking from strength for his starting line-up and Nani (ankle), Anders Lindegaard (ankle) and Michael Owen (thigh) along with long-term casualties Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher are the absentees.Concerns
Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Fabio da Silva, Paul Pogba and Phil Jones all came through a reserve outing on Thursday unscathed.Fulham have no new major concerns after coming through last week's defeat by Swansea without any new injuries.But they will be without third-choice goalkeeper Neil Etheridge for at least the next couple of weeks with a wrist problem.Zdenek Grygera (knee), Steve Sidwell (hernia) and Orlando Sa (hamstring) are expected to be the only notable absentees.Jol's hopes of an unlikely win will be built around Pavel Pogrebynak, who has scored five Premier League goals from five shots on target.
all came through a reserve outing on Thursday unscathed.Fulham have no new major concerns after coming through last week's defeat by Swansea without any new injuries.But they will be without third-choice goalkeeper Neil Etheridge for at least the next couple of weeks with a wrist problem.Zdenek Grygera (knee), Steve Sidwell (hernia) and Orlando Sa (hamstring) are expected to be the only notable absentees.Jol's hopes of an unlikely win will be built around Pavel Pogrebynak, who has scored five Premier League goals from five shots on target.Possible starting XIs:
Man United: De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Diarra, Murphy, Dembele, Duff, Johnson, Pogrebnyak.
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