Three wins on the spin ultimately proved impossible for JFK and his side, as their recent revival stuttered & spluttered at both ends of a damp Craven Cottage on Sunday teatime.

Our last visit here had been a virtually football-free afternoon, when only Joey Barton's late penalty separating Allardyce's side from an equally unattractive team bossed by Lawrie Sanchez. 

Three points may have been collected, but the celebrations at the final whistle were slightly forced - and as much an expression of relief that the whole turgid non-event was over.

Barely 12 months later and much had changed on the field for both sides (as well as the two opposing managers). And this latest instalment of tales from the riverbank was a far more entertaining ninety minutes, despite the conditions.

JFK chose to rant post-match about refereeing inadequacies halting his side's resurgence, but in truth 
it was the return of some old familiar self-failings that cost us one point, let alone three.

However, a disjointed start by the visitors was ultimately punished by them going behind in the sort of farcical circumstances that characterised our pre-Kinnear haplessness. Culpable this time was Claudio Cacapa, who was playing after groin trouble left Steven Taylor resting at home on Tyneside.

The Brazilian proved to be the crucial weak link in the side in both halves, with the allegedly contentious shove on him before Fulham's second goal barely worthy of comment - never mind JFK's outburst.

The response from United was less than convincing and it took until four minutes before the break for a shot to be registered somewhere near the target, Duff getting into the box but failing to test home 'keeper Mark Schwarzer as his low drive clipped off the post.

So behind at the break yet again, another JFK team talk looked to have shaken his side from their slumbers, as a revitalised United reappeared and grasped the initiative.

Instant pressure on the home goal was made to count within 12 minutes and Newcastle kept attacking the Putney End as the away fans roared them on. Barton's grass-cutter was palmed away and with Gutierrez looking dangerous and Fulham holding a deep defensive line, there only looked one winner.

The introduction of Clint Dempsey proved to be pivotal though, as within two minutes Fulham had fashioned a counter-attack that ended in the penalty award and conversion.

Kinnear's slightly surprising choice of change was to bring on Owen for Gutierrez and push Martins into a wide role, but that failed to see his side recapture the forward momentum that had brought them their first equaliser, with Duff unable to make any headway down the flanks but inexplicably not replaced.

Owen was guilty of one glaring miss in front of the watching Capello, when he miscued his attempt at a side-footer from close range - although Shola's half-attempt at going for the same centre hardly helped.

Some late pressure failed to create any real chances despite four added minutes, leaving United to reflect on their third loss in as many London visits this season.

With our fourth capital fixture coming at nearby Chelsea in a fortnight, failing to get something from this game now places extra pressure on manager and players, with the tightness of the table seeing us tumble to third-bottom.

Wigan travel to Tyneside on Saturday looking to avoid what would be a fourth straight defeat at SJP, but having already won twice on their travels this season, our victory is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Perhaps our two home wins and attendant publicity had made some fans and players think that the corner had been turned and they rolled up to SW6 in expectancy of reaping rewards against a side with just one win in seven.

Ninety minutes later and reality may have just intruded after a relapse into some of our old wayward habits - 24 hours after the civic parade through the streets of the capital, this was quite literally a case of "after the Lord Mayor's Show"......

Defeat here is a stark reminder that this is the tightest league for some time and every last point has to be scrapped for and earned - regardless of the perceived shortcomings of the opposition.

Biffa