United flew out of the traps and almost took the lead in the 10th minute but Dimitar Berbatov's acrobatic volley was tipped over the bar by home goalkeeper David Stockdale, who was once again deputising for the injured Mark Schwarzer. But a minute later it was 1-0 as United worked a short corner into Berbatov, who teed up Paul Scholes 30 yards from goal and the midfield maestro sent a swerving low drive beyond the helpless Stockdale. Simon Davies volleyed over the bar as the Cottagers looked for an immediate response, but they should have drawn level on the half-hour mark. Dickson Etuhu was on the end of a fine passing move but his first effort was kept out by Edwin van der Sar before the big Dutchman somehow tipped the midfielder's second strike over the bar. The home side were level, however, in the 57th minute when Damien Duff slid a pass through to Bobby Zamora and the striker's pull-back found Davies to sweep home from 10 yards. In a frantic end to the game, United re-established their lead with six minutes to go when Nani's corner hit the knee of the unfortunate Hangeland and flew past Stockdale. The visitors should then have wrapped up the points when Damien Duff was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area, but Stockdale did brilliantly to keep out Nani's spot kick. And United were made to pay for that miss when, with a minute to go, Hangeland made up for his own goal by sending a thumping header past van der Sar from a corner.
