[Stinker...A.Ferguson ]
ALEX FERGUSON was left red faced as Fulham stunned his nine-man Manchester United.
Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney both got their marching orders as United imploaded at Craven Cottage.
Danny Murphy slotted home a spot-kick after Scholes was dismissed for handling in the areaZoltan Gera's strike sealed the victory for the Cottagers before Rooney saw red late on for throwing the ball at ref Phil Dowd.
United boss Ferguson questioned the decision but admitted his side were second best.
He said: "Did he throw the ball at the referee?
"The ball was thrown direct to where the free-kick was being taken - did it hit the referee? No.
"He threw it because he wanted to get the game going. What can you say about that?
"There wasn't a bad tackle in the game but John Pantsil was booked in the first half for nothing - it was just a tackle.
"Tackling isn't always perfect - I thought it was totally unfair.
"But there's no point talking about the referee - we didn't play well enough to win the game in the first half and that's why we lost it.
"In the second half I thought we did really well - they kept going and credit to them.
"But we're home to Aston Villa in our next game - and that will be crucial."
Ferguson paid tribute to Fulham's battling performance.
He added: "In the first half we never got started.
"They were lively and got stuck in and we respect that - they lost 4-0 to us a couple of weeks ago.
"But it's disappointing we didn't meet the challenge.
"If you lose games in March and April it can cost you.
"Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment but not a lot and I'm hoping we come back from the internationals back to our best."
Cottagers coach Roy Hodgson insists United are still favourites to retain the Premier League
He said: "United are such a good team with so many good players.
"I still think they are favourites for the championship this year but the last two defeats have given the teams chasing them that little bit more hope."
Hodgson could not hide his pride in their performance.
He added: "I thought we were very good in the first-half.
"We really played well - probably as well I've seen us play certainly against top class opposition.
"Obviously aided by the fact Scholes handled Zamora's header and that made life much harder for United from the outset - having to play with 10 men."I thought in the second half United came out very well. They took the game to us even though they had a man less.
"They pressurised us so much better in the second-half and we have got goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to thank.
"He made three good saves, one from a Cristiano Ronaldo header and a fantastic double save.
"It is nice to reach that magical total of 40 points as well and I am hoping we can reproduce something like the same football in the next eight games."
Dimitar Berbatov should have headed United in front from Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute cross.
And he was made to pay after Scholes was dismissed for a blatent handball.
Murphy stepped up and sent Edwin Van der Sar the wrong way.
The Cottagers dominated with the extra man advantage and Bobby Zamora could have doubled the lead but he was denied by Van der Sar.
The ex-West Ham striker had another shot blocked by Patrice Evra before Simon Davies and Dickson Etuhu fluffed chances.
Ferguson must have given his side the hair-dryer treatment at the break as Park Ji-Sung and Ronaldo went close.
Davies and Zamora showed Fulham were still a threat.
But United responded with Darren Fletcher's shot and a Ronaldo header which was saved on the line.
Rooney, a half-time sub, tested keeper Mark Schwarzer after he had stopped Park's effort.
Ferguson hauled off John O'Shea for Carlos Tevez and the Argie ace missed two golden opportunities.
As United pressed, they were hit with a hammer blow by supersub Zoltan Gera who smashed home a scissor-kick to make the win safe.
And Rooney recklessly was sent off for his second booking when aimed the ball at ref Dowd.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey (Gera 81), Murphy (Dacourt 67), Etuhu, Davies, Johnson, Zamora (Kamara 77). Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Stoor, Kallio. Booked: Pantsil, Dempsey. Goals: Murphy 18 pen, Gera 87.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea (Tevez 70), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Giggs, Berbatov (Rooney 46). Subs Not Used: Foster, Neville, Anderson, Carrick, Fabio Da Silva. Sent Off: Scholes (18), Rooney (89). Booked: Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Rooney.
Att: 25,652
