The Cottagers kept United at bay during a goalless first half at Old Trafford on Sundau but Rooney slotted home from Nani's pass less than 30 seconds after the break before racking up his 32nd goal of the season with six minutes remaining. Dimitar Berbatov made sure of the points by heading in Park Ji-sung's excellent cross as the Red Devils went back to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win. Ferguson never thought anyone would come close to matching Ronaldo's goalscoring exploits of last season but, after watching Rooney move on to 32, he is starting to wonder. Ferguson told Sky Sports News: "I said a while ago it's impossible for a player to get 42 but he is on 32 and there is a challenge there for him. "He is capable of scoring in the next eight league games and five possible European games, so he has 13 possible games and you never know, I wouldn't put it beyond him. I was just glad he got to the 30 mark, but we are enjoying his goalscoring." But Ferguson admitted the visitors had made life difficult for his side. "I think Fulham with their possession made us work hard and chase around a bit. It was hard to get the ball off them. They have experienced players who are comfortable on the ball. "We had to try and increase the pace of the game and hurry them up a bit, but the most important thing about that start (Rooney's first goal) was it put their team on the back foot and gave us momentum." Ferguson was also pleased by the margin of his side's victory given the tight nature of the title race. "You have to think about goal difference. We are only four goals ahead of Chelsea, I wish it was 14 to be honest, but at least it is in our advantage." Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, was pleased with his side's performance but honest enough to admit they got what they deserved. "I thought the first half, from our point of view, was really quite good," he said. "I thought we passed the ball well. "But all of our good work was let down within a minute of the second half when we conceded a goal. "From that moment the game was always going to be difficult." Fulham were forced into a change on the hour mark when Brede Hangeland was taken off with sore ribs caused by a challenge earlier in the game. "It was touch and go in the first half when Hangeland suffered a knock," said Hodgson. "That forced us into a change and made what was always going to be a difficult task of getting a result even more difficult." He added: "I am a bit disappointed that we conceded three goals when the boys had played so well in the first half. "One has to hold their hands up though. We were beaten by a better team. "I can't really ask any more from the team than they gave today."
