The biggest attendance in Premier League history rose to acclaim Ruud van Nistelrooy as Manchester United strode to the summit for the first time this season on the back of this afternoon's 3-0 success over Fulham. In front of 67,706 largely adoring fans, the prolific Dutchman netted his second hat-trick of another goal-saturated campaign, which included a penalty, a tap-in and a solo effort the like of which Old Trafford has rarely been privileged to witness.
Having already converted a first-half penalty, van Nistelrooy was faced with a mass of white shirts when he picked up possession midway through the second-half in a seemingly innocuous position close to the halfway line. However, he spotted a gap, brushed off Sylvain Legwinski and then beat another five Fulham defenders as he charged into the box. The £18.5million hit-man strode on, then opened up the angle to beat impressive Cottagers 'keeper Maik Taylor with a clinical finish.
It was van Nistelrooy's 31st strike of another prolific season and there was still another to follow as he tapped home a close-range effort from Ryan Giggs' cross in the final minute to complete a magnificent individual display, which also turned up the heat on Arsenal.
No doubt Alex Ferguson will be an interested television viewer tomorrow when the Highbury outfit entertain Everton bidding to erase the memory of their unexpected Champions League exit this week. Regardless of the result though, the master motivator knows the force is with his side as the season enters its final crucial phase, the championship chase swinging dramatically back in United's favour of his side, who trailed Arsene Wenger's men by eight points at the beginning of the month.
Filed by Shane Murray
