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United had lucky escape - Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United were not clinical enough © PA Photos

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Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United were fortunate to take all three points off Fulham after they established a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Wayne Rooney's first-half strike was the difference between the sides as United earned a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford.

But the win was shrouded in controversy as Fulham were denied a penalty in the 89th minute when Michael Carrick clipped substitute Danny Murphy.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol claimed referee Michael Oliver was not brave enough to make the decision, and even Ferguson admitted it looked like a penalty, but claimed his side had been denied a spot-kick when Stephen Kelly appeared to handle a cross by Patrice Evra in the first half.

"I think the referee has been a bit lenient when we had a claim for a penalty kick in the first half. It was a clear handball," Ferguson said. "It was a claim and Patrice Evra thought it was a stone-waller.

"He thought he handled the ball as it was going into the penalty box and denied an opportunity and maybe he [Oliver] was thinking about that. But certainly Michael Carrick caught Danny Murphy's heel as he's come back. We made enough chances to finish the game off but didn't do it and nearly paid the penalty."

With eight games remaining, Ferguson hopes United will be more clinical as they look to seal a 20th league title.

"We missed some decent opportunities but you have to give credit to Fulham," Ferguson said. "That was a really determined defensive performance. The problem is when you play teams who sit in your half the whole game they always have something left and they had more left than us in the final 15 minutes.

"A little bit of tiredness came into our game, we started to give the ball away and they had a lot of counter attacks through it and that was the disappointing thing for us, we never finished them off. It's a good position to be in (in the table) but it's not a decisive position."

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