After the midweek win over West Ham, Fulham gave further evidence of a welcome return to form with a sterling display Saturday. Though it wasn't quite enough to grab a point from an entertaining game, it was very much a team performance that suggests better times to come.

Even before the weekend results it was clear to most that Manchester United will cruise to the title this season. In the fourth-round FA Cup tie they looked different class - the Whites simply not at the races in the 4-1 loss - but eight days on, Sir Alex knew he'd been in a game, and was generous in his praise of Martin Jol's men.

Therefore I shall be liberal in my praise and positivity this week, having been accused of too much pessimism. Of course, the conjecture that will fuel this week's debate is, did Fulham actually do better without Dimitar Berbatov in the team? That’s a tough one to answer. Certainly in the build-up we saw plenty of posts from both north and south camps here outlining the strengths and weaknesses in Dimi's DNA.

My opinion is that the tempo does get raised without the constant channelling of the ball Berba’s way – the energy and intensity shown by player-of-the-season Sascha Riether and Giorgos Karagounis should be an example to all. But of course Berbatov hasn’t notched all those goals in the Premier League without having a unique talent.

Fulham perhaps came up just 10 percent short in the key areas, defence and attack, and that made the difference. United certainly did not deserve to lose, having struck the frame three times, but Fulham were mighty close to blanking the league’s top scorers (and that after all the flak we’ve levelled at the defence this season!) and sneaking a point.

The Corinthian spirit went out of football with gas lamps. In the modern era the players are so much fitter because the contest is one of attrition. It’s good cop/ bad cop working over a suspect until he cracks. The questions keep coming, and in the final analysis United asked more than Fulham did.

As we all know games are settled on which side makes the least mistakes. One error of judgement from Philippe Senderos, who had a fine game against a side bristling with attackers, and the game was up. Wayne Rooney’s 79th-minute strike came just at a phase in the game when I felt Fulham looked the most comfortable to take a point.

Fulham didn’t pose enough questions of their own to the Reds defence. While United will romp to the title, it will be interesting to monitor their progress in the Champions League. David De Gea still looks suspect to me, and Rio Ferdinand might have got more of a working-over had we a genuine centre forward on the park.

Still, as I promised no negativity, Fulham worked tirelessly, put in a few shots on goal, looked tidy and organised. I can’t stop myself however from backing up what’s already been posted on the forum here.

I still don’t get Ashkan Dejagah. I can see the hustle to his game. I’m yet to see the craft, vision and intelligence. He makes too many wrong decisions for me on the ball. I found some posters at FoF praising his contribution – they were watching a different game to me. The same criticisms of Bryan Ruiz too have dogged him since his debut. I admire the fact he never hides, and clearly has the ability to make things happen, but too often he turns into traffic and is easily hustled off the ball. How different this report might have been however had his early volley bounced in off the post.

Heartened by this display, and with the new faces to spice things up, Fulham can now blossom alongside the daffodils and give us a more entertaining run in to end the season. Our GD and points tally should see us comfortably over the line. Saturday showed the side does not fall apart without Brede Hangeland or Steve Sidwell (or indeed Berbatov) on the pitch. We’ve both Simon Davies and Mahamadou Diarra to call upon hopefully at some point, plus the loanees will be keen to show us what they are made of.

Yes, I drifted away Saturday night after a home loss. The lights went out temporarily, but not on Fulham's season. And this was not the shellacking the Whites suffered a year ago, with a far more settled side. The mood around the Cottage has lifted, whereas a fortnight ago I was fretting the Whites might just possibly ‘do a Wolves’ and come apart at the seams.

The longer days are coming, we’ve some winnable games in prospect against mid-table sides, and, lest we forget, Fulham FC is reportedly ‘debt-free’ - though I need someone who works in banking to explain to me how that’s come about, especially when the club were so ultra-cautious in the transfer window. Well done Martin for getting such a solid performance from the side. Let’s keep the momentum going at Norwich.

COYW! Twitter@fulhamphil

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