Fulham v Manchester United: 5 Things We Learned

Injuries? What injuries?

Crisis? You must be kidding.

Manchester United beat Fulham 5-0 at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, and, well, they shut us all up, didn't they?

After United's disastrous exit from the Champions League earlier this month, Sir Alex Ferguson's team was supposed to be in a crisis. After injuries and bad luck left them without nearly an entire squad's worth of players, the survivors were supposed to struggle.

So, yeah, that 5-0 road win is looking mighty fine right now. Thanks to it, United kept up the pressure on crosstown-rivals Manchester City at the top of the table. And they gave themselves momentum heading into the crowded holiday-fixture list.

If they can maintain Wednesday's level, United will enjoy a festive holiday season.

United Take It All in Stride

If United do win the title in May, we'll look back on this period as a turning point. And to describe it, we'll use big words like perseverance and versatility.

United, who started the game without both first-choice center-backs and a first-choice center-midfielder, suffered yet another injury setback when defender Phil Jones went off injured in the first half. Jones was initially hurt by Clint Dempsey's errant elbow in an early aerial challenge, but he stayed on the pitch until the 20th minute.

Ferguson's solution: Throw on another attacker. Winger Ashley Young—who eventually had to leave with his own injury—entered the game, and Antonio Valencia moved from the midfield to right back.

That gave United four—count 'em four—wingers on the pitch at the same time in Young, Valencia, Nani and Ryan Giggs. But it didn't matter. Giggs pulled the strings in central midfield, and Valencia played a commendable stand-in right back.

Meanwhile, Nani ran wild up and down whichever flank he found himself on. He started on the left, where he created the first goal in only the fifth minute. After Jones' injury, he moved to the right and kept on burning Fulham defenders.

All together, United's players proved their versatility and perseverance. In the face of yet another injury, United got by because of the willingness—and ability—of their players to play different positions and to play them well.

That could prove immensely valuable in the title run—provided United don't lose yet more players.

Ferguson Got His Tactics Right

Nani down the left. Nani down the right. Valencia down the flank.

More often than not, those runs ended in scoring chances for Manchester United.

The visitors attacked Fulham from the edges for the full 90 minutes, and the strategy proved effective. Starting with the opening goal the fifth minute, United found loads of time and space on the flanks and exploited it.

Danny Welbeck scored the first after nice work by Nani down the left. From there, United just kept attacking the edges.

Fulham had no answer, and that was a testament to United's superior tactics.

United Are Dangerous on the Road

With Wednesday's win, Manchester United continued their outstanding record away from Old Trafford.

In nine road matches, they've won seven times and drawn twice. They haven't lost yet.

That's a haul of 23 points from a possible 27—an amount any team would envy at their own place. But United have done it on the road, and that's a big part of why they're sitting second in the table.

If that's not enough to sway you, consider this: United have already won two more matches on the road this season than they did all of last term.

There's Magic in Them Boots!

While United deal with the long-term absences of central defender Nemanja Vidic and central midfielder Darren Fletcher, Wayne Rooney must raise his game.

He did it Wednesday night, and not just with his wonder goal in the 88th minute.

Wazza marauded around the Fulham defense all night, whether he was holding up play or linking it. As usual, he was one of United's most creative and most important players.

He's the one player they really can't afford to lose.

Berbatov Lives!

Dimitar Berbatov returned from his own injury layoff, and he looked like he'd just arisen from some dark, dusty coffin somewhere in Transylvania.

But he scored a nifty goal, nonetheless.

Sure, the match was over; it was 4-0 in second-half stoppage time when Berbie scored. Still, that back-heel was pure, cheeky class.

With Chicharito recovering from an injury, Berbatov might have a chance to force his way back into United's first team.