Fulham have lost their last two league games via shutout, and in order to end that poor run on Monday they will have to do so against a Manchester United team still fighting for first place in the Premiership.
Manchester United hosts the Cottagers (3pm, ESPN2) in a match that will pit Clint Dempsey against the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs. Dempsey will be aiming to get on the scoresheet for the 13th time in league play this season, while Manchester United will try to avoid a result that would put a dent in their run at the Premiership title.
If you will be watching today's match please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Looks like it’s on ESPN3
0-0, 17th minute
Dembele flashes wide left for Fulham
Fulham had a good, long spell of possession, but it’s put out of bounds.
Dempsey shoots it on target, but it’s saved.
Good run and shot from Clint there, he looks extremely comfortable taking on United’s back line.
Dempsey fouled, draws the free kick 45 yards out.
Clint taken down after a nice dummy near the center circle.
Hangeland with a disruptive tackle, and Rooney misses out on the break.
Dempsey forces another save! Great curling shot from outside the box.
Another good move by Dempsey and Fulham ends with a good strike from Dempsey that forces a good save from De Gea.
Another foul on ManU about 40 yards out
Twice!
Hughs clears it out of the box for Fulham. Well done
Since Rooney drops back a lot this season, who thinks Dempsey would have more than his 18 goals this season if he played the Rooney-like role for United.
I like that ManU plays so open, it allows fulham to roam and play freely too. Fun to watch.
Bad call gives United a free kick in a dangerous area. Typical United bias.
ManU with some possession.
ManU with a good chance in the box with numbers, but it’s a bit of ping-pong in the end, into Schwartzer’s hands.
Heard to speculate, but I believe he would have at least 7 or 8 more if he played in that role.
Hard*
Horrible bicycle kick from Evra almost trickles in.
Schwartzer an easy save from Rafael.
Gigs, late tackle, yellow card.
Did Steve really just say “we don’t need the olympics?” haha wow, it’s the most renowned sporting event in the history of our world and you’re going to say that soccer doesn’t need to be in it? I completely disagree with that statement.
Welbeck with a mediocre shot as he had someone wide open on a ManU breakaway. 36′
Hehe. Euros only need futbol I guess.
I think the truth is… FIFA would just as soon have Olympic Soccer go away.
Each team is having good possession, it just seems to be that final pass.
ManU – GOAL!
Well, that was fun.
Rooney gets a gift off of a botched clearance.
Almost halftime.
A big reason why I’d take Dempsey over Pogrebnyak — Dempsey runs in his own half, makes clearances, tackles and interceptions. Pogrebnyak jogs around makes half-hearted effort at defending.
Half
Like most other Americans, I love Dempsey, but he has been walking around a lot himself in this match. Other than a couple of moments he doesn’t look great playing deeper. He also should have closed Young down on the goal, too. Though obviously the botched clearance was a gift he had nothing to do with.
Nope. Wrong.
I liked Rooney better with no hair. Shave the pig!
“Manchester pretty serene in possession”
~Ian Darke
Wrong about what? That he’s been walking a lot? That he had no responsibility to close down Young?
Oh, never mind. Rah Rah Rah, Dempsey Dempsey Dempsey!!!
Well you obviously have to choose your defensive battles as an attacking player, problem is Pogrebnyak hasn’t chosen any. Seems clear that Dempsey, Hangeland, Schwarzer and maybe Dembele keeping Fulham in this.
About time they brought in Danny Murphy.
Come on Fulham! Come on Fulham!
Bryan Ruiz is terrible.
They needed Murphy’s leadership much, much earlier.
That looked like a dive by Murphy, but on replay it was clearly a penalty. Not many refs are going to give a penalty in the 90th minute on a borderline call to a team that hasn’t done anything all game.
Omfg the cheating for United is outrageous. Blatant penalty not called. It does not get anymore blatant than that.
Just F#@#&ing ridiculous.
Just created by himself Fulham’s equalizing chance, and the ref was afraid to blow the PK so late at Old Trafford
Classic Joke that goes ManU’s way
Borderline? There was nothing borderline about that.
And United benefit from preferential referee treatment once again.
Pathetic. Ref was too scared to make the right call.
If that’s a Fulham player bringing down Rooney in the box…it’s a penalty 100 out of 100.
And that…is why the Premier League sucks.
I’ll take MLS, the quality of play is there. The league / networks just need to invest in television production.
Wish he had a gag reflex! DON’T SWALLOW THE WHISTLE!
Not even surprised. It’s the same thing over and over with United, they don’t need to earn their wins, the refs give them the vital calls
Why even bother playing soccer at Old Trafford? Seriously why bother you’re just going to get f’d by the referees on every meaningful call.
I won’t lie, United got damn lucky with that PK call. Definitely should have scored more to avoid this controversy altogether…
Out of fairness to the ref: If I was a young referee trying to work my way up through the FA ranks, there’s no way in hell I’d give that penalty against Man U either.
But if it was for Man U? Hell yes I would.
I can definitely understand why a non-fan of United would be pissed as hell at this, but I do find it humorous that their years upon years of success and wins are put into doubt anytime a questionable call goes their way. It happens in every league, and the high profile teams get more attention. I mean, for God’s sake, how many PKs should Chelsea have had against Barcelona on that infamous semifinal? It’s unfortunately part of the game…
It’s hard to muster outrage given how often this happens when United points are at stake.
I think we can all agree that if United win the title, it is because of this one call. Am I right?
Better rack up the points too.. If they win the title this year by 2 points or less the world will know they didn’t deserve it
You’re right, that’s exactly how it works. I am 100 percent sure if they win by 2 or less points everyone will be talking about this PK as the reason they won the title. It seems pretty clear to me…
no, it’s because man city choked it away to stoke.
Are you sure? Because clearly United has won 12 going on 13 titles because the refs give them every call in every game. It’s fact…
Nah. It’ll be because City chose the worst possible time to lose their form. Not that being able to eke out one-goal victories with the help of calls like this doesn’t help though.
In truth, City are still arguably in the driver’s seat, they just have a tougher run-in. They should beat United at Etihad. They should beat Newcastle, even away. They should win their other home games. The Arsenal game (and point difference) is where the title should be won or lost.
You’re being sarcastic but what you’re saying is true. Unless there’s a high profile controversial call that goes in City’s favor people will certainly look back on this day. It was a huge call and surprise surprise a young referee was afraid to make it against United in Old Trafford.
While I’m sure this win and the call will be a vital aspect of a title run, I’m quite confident most people will be talking about how an injured, world class midfielder-less, young United team that had to bring Paul Scholes from the grave beat an incredibly stacked, wealthy, lucky and miraculously healthy City team that was storming to the title. That’s what they’ll be talking about. Season’s not over yet of course…
So being three points down to the most dominant club in the premier league era with a tougher remaining schedule is considered being in the driver’s seat?
I’m an Arsenal fan. Watching it live, it looked like Murphy backed into Carrick, then fell immediately. On replay, it was clearly a penalty, but referees don’t have replay.
I like the way you think. City probably aren’t saying to themselves, “Hell yeah, we got United right where we want them!” (Rubs hands together)
It certainly will have contributed.
When things like this happen, you just get the feeling that supporting a smaller club is almost futile. You don’t get the decisions away at the bigger clubs when you play well enough to earn a chance to snatch a result. And then when you don’t get the decisions, your manager can rant a little, but no one cares because it’s not Fergie or Wenger or whatever. It’s disheartening.
As a Fulham supporter, that non-call sucked. sucked, sucked, sucked. I could give two #$*& about City or United’s title chase. Spoiled brats the lot.
But did it suck?
I agree, it is very hard for the smaller clubs. Even Jol himself admitted that while it was a penalty, it would have been very brave of the ref to give it, and it particularly sounded like he didn’t blame him. Tis a shame when human error can play such a big part in any sport, but it happens in every game…
Yes. as far as I’m concerned. differing opinions are welcome
United’s chances pretty much depend on City dropping more points or United getting some kind of result at Etihad. I would say odds would be on a City victory at Etihad. In that case, United would have to hope that City either drops points or loses at least 4 points in goal differential by end of season. It’s in City’s hands if they step up.
Oops, I mean they would need to make up at least 5 points in goal differential in the other 7 games if City win at Etihad.
How many refs does Manure United have on their payroll? What a shame!
Is because they should have never hired Mancinni.
EPL refs have been instrumental in determining final league standings for a few years. They know who is supposed to finish in the top four and insure that happens. United is not the only side that gets unwarranted results, but a +10 points on calls is about their average.
I totally agree with you Marco. Refs are great influences on every match in just about any sports. They know which team should make it in the finals and their job is to make sure that happens.