Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson agreed with the Fulham manager that one of United's goals was clearly offside "You have to be honest and say it was offside,"

"But it is good to get one of those decisions in our favour because we have had some absolute corkers go against us recently."

In the end, Fulham were undone by two blistering Cristiano Ronaldo efforts, which supplemented Park Ji-sung's first Premiership strike - courtesy of a massive deflection off Carlos Bocanegra - and Saha's ninth goal in 12 matches, which came after Antti Niemi had denied Van Nistelrooy.

Ronaldo's contribution was especially welcome after a difficult season which has seen him struggle for form and only yesterday banned for a game by UEFA for his ill-advised 'one-fingered' gesture to Benfica fans in December.

"I am delighted for Cristiano," said Ferguson. "He should be scoring goals. He has two great feet, is quick and brave and there is no reason why he should not be getting 15 to 20 a season."

United's win came at a price, with captain Gary Neville sustaining a hamstring injury which could make him a doubt for next weekend's trip to Portsmouth.

By that time, Ferguson will know whether Liverpool have followed his own side's example by beating Chelsea to maintain the Blues' lead at 12 points.

The teams sitting either side of second-placed United do battle at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, pitching Ferguson in the unusual position of hoping Liverpool do well.

"I will be wearing a red and white scarf tomorrow, which doesn't happen often," he smiled. "Sensible opinion suggests the title is Chelsea's as long as they do not throw it away. "But a Liverpool win would at least make it more interesting, which is something everyone wants.

"We have lost a similar lead to Chelsea's in the past and the great thing about football is these things can happen. That is why I am such an eternal optimist."

Furious Fulham manager Chris Coleman has told the match officials not to bother apologising for the blunder which robbed Fulham of the chance to steal a point from their thrilling Premiership encounter with Manchester United.

Coleman was sent to the stand after voicing his protests much too fiercely when neither referee Martin Atkinson nor his assistant failed to spot Ruud van Nistelrooy standing a yard offside in the build-up to Louis Saha's crucial goal in United's 4-2 win.

The Cottagers chief admitted his comments were unrepeatable, but felt they were fully justified given the abysmal error, which even Sir Alex Ferguson agreed had been made.

And, while Coleman usually welcomes the admission of any referee that they have made a mistake, on this occasion it would be a waste of time.

"We all make mistakes and I have had referees admit them before," said Coleman.

"But when you get something wrong that badly I am not sure I could accept it. It was just unbelievable, not even close.

"If I make a mistake I get criticised, so why shouldn't the officials.

"I said something to the assistant which probably wasn't very nice but it was such a poor decision. He was in a perfect position to see it and I just do not understand why he got it wrong.

"One of my players queried it and he just said 'I may have made a mistake'. Well, that was nice."

Coleman's frustration was understandable given his side twice found themselves two goals down yet, after Brian McBride and Heidar Helguson had both converted close-range headers, could easily have grabbed a draw with an impressive second half show.