It’s amazing what confidence can do in football. A few weeks ago, Manchester United were untouchable, laughing as they saw the reflection of Liverpool stumbling behind them against teams like Middesbrough. Now everything is very different. The calm, quiet confidence exuded by Sir Alex and his side has vanished. An edgy, nervous atmosphere is now hovering over Old Trafford. You only have to look at the petulance of the Red Devils (yes, finally the nickname was apt!) on Saturday to notice that all is not well in the camp of the champs. 
Scholes’ sending off was certainly the catalyst for Fulham, but his dejected plodding from the field was not followed by the attitude expected of champions, but of teenagers – snapping, arguing, and paranoia. Ronaldo was unsurprisingly a culprit, acting out his oft-cast part as pantomime villain superbly, stomping around the pitch close to tears, attempting to huff, puff and gesticulate United back into the contest. The Craven Cottage faithful lapped it up, praying on the fraying emotional state of the Portuguese winger with jeers and ironic cheers. In my opinion, of all those that were sent off in this heated encounter, Ronaldo was the one that most deserved the red. Lucky to escape any punishment for continual displays of dissent towards the referee, (including requesting the official to come to him!) he was eventually booked for a reckless lunge at Murphy – a card that quite easily could have been a different colour.
(Daily Mirror image)
Somehow he stayed on the pitch and lives to fight another day. Rooney, however, was not to be so lucky. His appearance was meant to be as a saviour, and he began by taking the game to Fulham with some fine attacking play. But whether it was the resolute Fulham defending – including an amazing match-winning double save by Mark Schwarzer, saving point-blank from Park before blocking Rooney’s rebound – or whether it was the inept performance of some of his teammates, he too succumbed to the red mist. First he hauled Kamara to the floor to prevent a counter, and later he aggressively hurled the ball back towards the point of a free kick, the combination earning him an early bath. Did he take this like a man and accept his punishment graciously? Well, if by graciously you mean shouting, storming off, and punching corner flag for good measure, then yes, yes he did…
Both he and Scholes will now join Vidic on the list of suspensions for the game against Aston Villa, who themselves were demolished 5-0 by Liverpool on Sunday as the Reds closed the gap down to a point (though United have a game in hand.)
All the furore surrounding the discipline of United actually detracts from what was a very good Fulham performance, and Roy Hodgson’s men look odds on to kick on and chase a *shudders at the name* Europa League place. Good effort from Johnson up front, Murphy played with experience and class, Dempsey was always a threat going forward, whilst Hangeland and Schwarzer were rocks at the back. And we can’t not mention that goal can we?! A wonderful improvised finish from Gera, it deserved to win any match...
United have some serious soul-searching to do now. A long hard look in the clichéd mirror is expected, as they have not merely deviated from the path, but sat themselves down, hugged their knees and gently started rocking. They look worried, and they should be. Their recent performances - particularly at the back, where Rio is a shadow of the fine defender we are used to - suggest they could easily let the title slip away. Liverpool obviously need United to drop points, but with matches against in-form Arsenal and Spurs (the latter of whom defeated title-pretenders Chelsea at the weekend,) and a Manchester derby still to come, the odds are not stacked against this happening. Fergie and the United faithful will look at the two-week international break and breathe a huge sigh of relief.
I can see Sir Alex plotting as I write this. Sat in a large, dark chair, smirking ominously in the gloom, a glass of whiskey in one hand, menacingly stroking Darren Fletcher with the other – the perfect Bond villain.
Expect large dollar-sign bags to be on Slovak and Ukrainian desks as a ‘generous anonymous donation for marking Stevie G a little more aggressively than usual. And if the English lose in the process, well, there’s more cash where that came from…
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