Outlook remains bleak for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson offered a bleak outlook on Manchester United’s injury crisis after their defensive frailties resulted in a 3–0 thrashing by Fulham.

Ferguson admitted there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” as United slumped to their fifth defeat of the campaign, squandering the chance to join Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League table.

They endured only four losses throughout the whole of last season when they marched to a third successive title.

Seven defenders, including Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, have been lost to the treatment room and Ferguson admitted his side will fade from contention if their injury woes fail to improve.

“The way the league is at the moment I hope this is not too damaging. I hope it doesn’t cost us the league,” he said.

Vidic’s failure to recover from a calf strain saw United field a feeble three–man defence consisting of midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher and rookie Ritchie De Laet.

And Fulham, playing with confidence and belief, capitalised with goals from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff to complete their second successive rout of United.

Ferguson, however, refused to blame his players as the crippling injury rate finally caught up with them at Craven Cottage.

Zamora inspired the victory, scoring the second, setting up the third and proving irresistible all afternoon to continue his rich vein of form.