Having scored only three times on their travels all season in the premier League - at a rate of 0.27 goals in each of their 11 games - Fulham are probably the least qualified team to end the longest sequence of clean sheets in British history, writes Yann Tear.

But that will be the task next Wednesday when they travel to Old Trafford to face champions Manchester United.

And as subtexts go, what could be more apt than Edwin Van der Sar being beaten for the first time after 13 clean sheets and 1,212 minutes by his old team.

Not that anyone remains at Craven Cottage from his time at Fulham - which, with all due respect to the Whites - looks like something of an anomaly in a career that has included spells with Ajax, Juventus and now manchester United as well as the Dutch national team.

Van der Sar, 38, kept a clean sheet on his last Whites appearance - the 6-0 win at home to Norwich on the final day of the 2004/5 season.

He has set a British record and will create a new world record if he can go another 64 minutes without conceding against the Whites - eclipsing the run of 1,275 minutes established by Atletico Madrid keeper Abel Resino in 1990/91.

The odds are also not great for Fulham considering United have won 10 in a row at home since a draw with Newcastle on the opening weekend of the season.

Van der sar made 153 appearances for Fulham in four seasons, making his debut in August 2001 when Fulham played their first Premier League game.

It was against United at Old Trafford, of course, and he conceded three in a 3-2 defeat.