Manchester United lead Fulham 1-0 at half time after a strike from Wayne Rooney five minutes before the interval.
United started the match the stronger with Rooney dictating much of the early tempo. Ryan Giggs had the game's first effort on target, after 11 minutes, when he headed a Rafael cross into the arms of Mark Schwarzer.
The away side began to enjoy a period of possession as the 20-minute mark approached, however, with Moussa Dembele firing wide from the edge of the area, before Clint Dempsey tested the palms of David de Gea.
Antonio Valencia so nearly opened the scoring after 30 minutes when he drove into the area, but his effort was collected by Schwarzer.
Patrice Evra was next to go close for the home side with an overhead kick inside the box, but it drifted just wide.
United began to gain control of the match once more as the half progressed, and took the lead five minutes before the break when Rooney converted an Ashley Young cross at the far post to send United into the lead.
