Unusually open the contest for the championship may be, but Manchester United could soon be in a position to begin closing the door once more. Their victory yesterday, a repeat of the success against Fulham in their first game of the season, confirmed the revival which has now brought five successive wins and will see them enter the New Year only three points off the lead.

Yet United are still no higher than fifth and, as Fulham demonstrated, still not quite so sure of themselves defensively that further attacks of hiccups can be discounted.

Alex Ferguson's continued caution, therefore, was understandable. "We've still got an uphill task," he insisted. "The way the league is, we cannot afford to make mistakes . . . all the players know that."

Nevertheless, United are making fewer unforced errors. In the first half they were saved by the bar and Fabien Barthez, but with Roy Keane and Nicky Butt giving the centre-backs such resilient protection Fulham found it harder to break through than they had done in August.

David Beckham's influence was significant only after half-time, but with Ryan Giggs used alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Paul Scholes stayed deep, United always had the pace and finishing power to catch Fulham on the break. Their second and third goals were masterpieces of economic efficiency.

Not for the first time Fulham's lack of incisiveness near goal wasted much that was skilful and imaginative in approach. Too often the threat of Louis Saha's speed was offset by a tendency to overpass.

All the same, Fulham did come within a crossbar's width of repeating their start to life in the Premiership, when Saha had given them the lead at Old Trafford after only four minutes. But just as the romance of that moment had not survived the reality of the result, so Fulham's early surge of optimism yesterday was brought up short by the pragmatism of their opponents.

Saha's shot, fiercely struck on the half-volley after Sylvain Legwinski had nodded down from a corner, was worth a goal but rebounded from the bar. Scarcely had Craven Cottage recovered its breath than United were in front in rather less dramatic fashion.

A long ball forward from Scholes was pursued by van Nistelrooy, and the advancing Edwin van der Sar collided with his fellow-Dutchman. The ball ran loose and Giggs rolled it into the empty net.

Saha's failure to score was forgivable, less so the shot that Barry Hayles thwacked against the bar just past the quarter-hour for he had been clear with only Barthez to beat. Only Barthez? The Frenchman twisted in mid air to push away Steed Malbranque's attempt to score from the rebound and a minute later dealt with a free-kick from the same player in a similar fashion.

When Legwinski legged it through the middle of the United defence to draw another astute save from Barthez, Fulham appeared likely to have drawn level by half-time. True, they did score in stoppage-time, but only to stay in the contest after falling further behind less than a minute earlier.

United had found themselves forced to defend for long periods after taking the early lead, although van der Sar had to move swiftly to thwart van Nistelrooy and Butt feet-first, and he blocked a sharp downward header from Laurent Blanc in between times. But when Manchester United scored a second it was a goal of the sweetest simplicity.

Fulham's careless loss of possession on the left appeared of little consequence. But once van Nistelrooy had set Giggs in motion on the wing and started to run through the middle, a goal was virtually guaranteed. Giggs's low centre was met with an assured touch of a Dutch instep and United were two ahead.

No sooner had the game restarted than Legwinski had found space between Blanc and Gary Neville to head Malbranque's free-kick past Barthez. And no sooner had the second half begun than van Nistelrooy was nodding a prodigious free-kick from Barthez square to Giggs, who drove in his second.

The introduction of Steve Marlet, just back from injury, to Fulham's attack gave them a sharper edge and ensured Manchester United of an anxious finish. In the 89th minute Rufus Brevett played a sharp one-two with John Collins before dashing through the United defence to leave Marlet with a tap-in.

The moment gave Fulham brief hope and reassured those above United that the champions are still vulnerable. But not so vulnerable as they looked three weeks ago.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma, Malbranque, Legwinski (Davis 76), Collins, Boa Morte, Saha, Hayles (Marlet 66). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Ouaddou, Stolcers. Goals: Legwinski 45, Marlet 89.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Blanc, Silvestre, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy. Subs Not Used: Carroll, Yorke, Wallwork, Solskjaer, Irwin. Booked: Butt, Beckham. Goals: Giggs 5, van Nistelrooy 45, Giggs 47.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).