The bad news is that Man United may be coming Fulham's way twice more in the next four weeks.

The Whites have now lost eight times in a row to the champions and on the basis of Wednesday night's stroll for the league leaders at Old Trafford, Fulham will hard-pushed to see the sense in turning up for either the return league meeting on March 21 or the potential FA Cup quarter-final early next month.

Of course most sides are being swept aside by United these days - 14 successive clean sheets testify to that - but there was poverty in Fulham's play that was not entirely down to United's excellence.

It would be no surprise if the players sub-consciously saved themselves for more rewarding tasks ahead.

Roy Hodgson didn't admit as much, but did hint at ways his team might have made life more difficult for United.

"I'm pleased we didn't capitulate and kept things going, but I don't think we pressured them nearly enough in the first half," said the Fulham boss.

"Second half, I thought we made a better fist of it, but the bottom line is, against a Man United in that form and showing that quality, we weren't able to get close enough to get anything from them.

"They had too much in the locker for us."

Too many misplaced passes from Hodgson's men helped United dictate proceedings throughout a particularly onesided first half and with Fulham missing the pace of an injured Andrew Johnson up front, there was no outlet for a pedestrian midfield to cause the home side any anxieties.

Injury to Dickson Etuhu prompted Hodgson to deploy Chris Baird in a five-man midfield rather than the recentlyarrived Olivier Dacourt.

And Toni Kallio deputised for an unfit Paul Konchesky, which further undermined any ambitions Fulham had of a pulling off a spectacular result.

Add to that an almost criminal neglect of Paul Scholes at corners - he has been smacking in volleys from flag kicks for a decade for heaven's sake - and you have a recipe for disappointment.

Scholes had already been allowed to collect one corner unhindered from the right when he was again given space to latch on to a Michael Carrick flag kick for the opening goal - Mark Schwarzer uncharacteristically spilling the dipping shot over the line.

Hesitant defending accounted for the second goal after half an hour - John O'Shea muscling the ball away from Brede Hangeland for Dimitar Berbatov to prod in at the far post as Aaron Hughes dithered. Wayne Rooney completed an easy evening for United, ramming home a Park Ji Sung cross into the roof of the net just two minutes after coming on as sub.

It was possibly one of the least surprising stats of the season that Fulham failed to disrupt Edwin Van der Sar's long unbroken spell in goal. Only three in 13 Premier League away games for the Whites tells its own story.

And yet Bobby Zamora nearly worked a miracle as a lone striker.

A glancing first half header and a second half jab inside the area with an outstretched foot both went narrowly wide and caused a sharp intake of breath from home fans.

But such moments were illusions and in reality it might have taken days of continuous football to breach the United rearguard.

Two more games might simply not be enough time to achieve that relatively minor landmark.

Then again, an FA Cup meeting with United is far from guaranteed, according to the normally mild-mannered Hodgson. He is as just about furious as he can be about the crazy decision to force his team to play Swansea just 48 hours after Sunday's game against West Brom.

"Our chances of getting through have been severely hampered by the fact we have a very important league game and then being asked to play again with one day's beak," he said.

"I think that's a fantastic advantage for our opponents. It's not easy at any level of football to play two matches in two days. I think it's asking too much."

Match Summary MAN UTD (2) 3 FULHAM (0) 0 Line-up: Schwarzer; Pantsil (Dacourt 67), Hughes, Hangeland, Kallio; Dempsey, Baird, Murphy (Milsom 80), Gera (Brown 86), Davies; Zamora (Nevland 75). Subs not used: Zuberbühler, Nevland, Gray, Smalling. Attendance: 75,437 GOALS: Scholes (12), Berbatov (30), Rooney (63).

MoM: Paul Scholes 

Next Up WEST BROM

Craven Cottage Sunday 1.30pm Premier League Manager: Tony Mowbray Position last season: 1st Champ'ship Form Guide: A goal from Roman Bednar divided the sides at the Hawthorns and that is one of six wins for Albion this season, which has not been enough to keep them off the foot of the table. On the road, their only win so far came at Middlesbro' (1-0). There have been nine defeats and just two draws - at Bolton (0-0) and Hull (2-2). Only Fulham have scored fewer times than Albion (six goals) in their premier League away games. Players to look out for: West Brom have taken Arsenal youngster Jay Simpson on loan and he has looked the part at times. Midfielder James Morrison has also caught the eye.

Most recent meetings: West Brom 1-0 Fulham (4 Oct 2008); Fulham 6-1 West Brom (11 Feb 2006); West Brom 0-0 Fulham (3 Dec 2005) - Prem Lge. Head-to-head record: FFC Wins: 23 WBA Wins: 35 Draws: 15

Match Facts: Fulham have won the three previous home meetings with Albion in the Premier League and ran riot the last time the Midlanders visited in 2006. Two goals each from Heidar Helguson and Collins John, as well as a Tomasz Radzinski strike and an own goal, gave them a 6-1 victory. The Whites have not lost any of the last 10 league clashes between the sides at the Cottage since Albion won 2-1 in a First Division fixture in 1967. However, there have been two League Cup wins and one FA Cup win in that time.

Forecast: This will be only the second home match of 2009 for the Whites following three away ties in the FA Cup and postponement of the Blackburn match. They should relish the occasion and bag a home win.

In Midweek SWANSEA

Craven Cottage Tuesday 8pm FA Cup 5th round replay Manager: Roberto Martinez Position last season: 1st League One Form Guide: The Swans lost 2-0 at Watford in midweek - their first reverse in 17 games. The result keeps them just outside the play-off zone going into this weekend's home match against Doncaster. They have won four and lost five on the road, drawing seven.

Players to look out for: The impressive Jason Scotland scored a classy goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw between the teams at the Liberty Stadium.

Most recent meetings: Swansea C 1-1 Fulham (14 Feb 2008) - FA Cup; Fulham 2-1 Swansea C (11 Feb 1997); Swansea C 1-2 Fulham (14 Sep 1996) - League Two; Fulham 7-0 Swansea C (11 Nov 1997) - FA Cup. Head-to-head record: SC Wins: 19 FFC Wins: 29 Draws: 9

Match Facts: The dubious pleasure of a home tie against Man U awaits the winners - who meet at the Cottage for the first time in 12 years. The Swans lost 7-0 in their only previous FA Cup visit to Fulham in 1995.

Forecast: Cup tradition dictates that underdogs have to strike before a replay to cause an upset. The Whites should uphold that view with a win in their first home game in the competition.

Gazette forecast success rate: 15 correct out of 29 (52%).