Premier League: Manchester United 3 Fulham 2

Manchester United took their first Premier League points of the season with a 3-2 win over Fulham, but were made to work hard by Martin Jol’s men.

Damien Duff gave the visitors a shock lead from a clever set-piece with just three minutes on the clock, but Robin van Persie’s brilliant equaliser got United back on level terms seven minutes later.

The hosts appeared to be cruising at half-time after Shinji Kagawa and Rafael increased their lead but an own goal from Nemanja Vidic following confusion in the goalmouth provided a nervy ending.

United, who opted to leave Wayne Rooney on the bench in favour of new boy Van Persie, were on the back foot almost immediately, when some clever work from Mladen Petric on the left-hand side tempted the returning Rafael into a needless foul just outside the box.

Bryan Ruiz stepped up to take the free-kick and his clever, low delivery caught the hosts’ backline napping and allowed Duff to capitalise as he side-footed into the bottom corner.

The Old Trafford crowd was stunned into silence, but United hit back soon after.

A patient build-up from Ferguson’s men allowed Patrice Evra into space on the left and, though the full-back’s cross was not ideal, debutant Van Persie’s first-time shot past Mark Schwarzer was exquisite.

That strike settled the hosts into their usual rhythm of relentless attack, but the chances were not forthcoming as Fulham began to tighten up and grow into the game.

United were struggling to break down a stubborn Fulham defence, but Tom Cleverley’s thunderous drive on 35 minutes proved too hot to handle for Schwarzer and provided Kagawa with the easiest of tap-ins on his home debut.

Just six minutes later, a fine passing move released Ashley Young on the left and the former Aston Villa man dinked intelligently to the far post for the approaching Rafael to nod home and put his side 3-1 up.

The game was fought much more evenly after the break, with United taking their foot off the accelerator.

The decreasing tempo appeared to suit the London outfit, and their increasing grip on the game was underlined as they grabbed an unlikely goal with 65 minutes on the clock.

A hopeful ball into the box from the left-hand side tempted David De Gea into a needless attempt at a punch, and the Spaniard found himself sandwiched between Nemanja Vidic and Petric, with the ball coming off the former’s heel and bouncing into the goal.

Fulham were clearly buoyed by the goal and almost got themselves back on level terms after a run from Moussa Dembele saw the Belgian find space in the box to force De Gea into an excellent reaction save.

But that revival appeared short-lived, with the introduction of Rooney and Danny Welbeck from the bench in place of Young and Kagawa giving the hosts further impetus.

Rooney’s stay was shortlived, however, with the striker stretchered off with a nasty cut to his thigh late in the game, much to the concern of a subdued Old Trafford crowd.

Fulham very nearly stole a point at the death, but De Gea made up for his earlier error by producing a couple of excellent saves to deny Dembele.