United 10 points clear, but race not over - Rooney

Striker on target again as Man U downs Fulham 1-0 in tense clash

Wayne Rooney insists the Premier League title race is far from over despite Manchester United moving 10 points clear at the head of the table.

Rooney's 79th minute goal - his fourth in three games - was enough to secure victory at Fulham and consolidate the position of the league leader.

But the striker insists there is no room for complacency as the team enters the final third of the campaign.

"We're in a good position, but we're not going to get carried away. We've got to keep going, take each game as it comes, and see where we are with three or four to go," said Rooney.

United manager Alex Ferguson also played down his side's position.

"It's a good result. It was a smashing game. We're in a good position, we're pleased," he said.

But Fulham manager Martin Jol was less circumspect about United's prospects.

"I think they will win it," he said.

United retained its composure after the game was delayed for 10 minutes immediately before the halftime break when the Craven Cottage floodlights failed.

Rooney said: "It's just one of them things. We just made sure we kept our focus and kept going and pushing for that win. We know we can create chances and take them.

"It's always difficult coming here and they made it difficult for us. We hit the post and crossbar three times. We had to keep going and believe we could get the goal and we did."

Rooney is in a rich vein of form having struck 10 goals in 10 games although his manager believes there is more to come from the 27-year-old.

"Wayne Rooney is still young. The thing for him is to keep clear of injuries, he's had two or three this season and he needs games and when that happens he has a big role to play," said the manager.

And declaring himself pleased with the performance he said: "I think it was a really determined performance and it wasn't easy because Fulham played their part.

"1-0 doesn't do the game justice. We hit the woodwork three times, they have had chances too, and all in all it was a fantastic game. It was amazing it finished 1-0."

(China Daily 02/04/2013 page23)