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Wayne Rooney overcame the indignity of being hauled off penalty-taking duties to keep Manchester United on course for their first FA Cup triumph since 2004.
Rooney, who missed his 10th United spot-kick in the third-round replay against West Ham, was the subject of some withering remarks about it from manager Sir Alex Ferguson in his programme notes.
Cruising: Javier Hernandez (right) is congratulated by Wayne Rooney (left) after scoring Manchester United's fourth
Game over: Hernandez scored Manchester United's third to put the result beyond doubt
Doubled: Rooney scored Manchester United's second of the evening after half-time
On the spot: Ryan Giggs opened the scoring for United from the spot
MATCH FACTS
Man United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Jones, Smalling, Anderson (Kagawa 71), Giggs (Valencia 71), Carrick (Scholes 61), Nani, Rooney, Hernandez
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Welbeck, Van Persie
Goals: Giggs 3, Rooney 50, Hernandez 53, 66
Fulham: Schwarzer, Riise, Hangeland, Baird (Karagounis 46), Hughes, Riether, Sidwell, Duff (Rodallega 61), Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Ruiz (Dejagah 70)
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Briggs, Petric
Goal: Hughes 77
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Not surprisingly when United won a penalty after 70 seconds, the responsibility was handed to Ryan Giggs, who duly beat Mark Schwarzer low to his right. But Rooney shrugged off the slight to turn in a typically frenetic shift, eventually rewarded when he struck a superb second goal early in the second half.
Javier Hernandez rounded off the win with two goals of his own as Fulham, featuring former United record signing Dimitar Berbatov, were beaten with embarrassing ease.
Ferguson, whose squad went to Qatar for some warm-weather training ahead of the tie, said: 'The FA Cup is an important trophy for us this season. We haven't won it for nine years, we really need to put in a big performance this year.
'Players like Rio Ferdinand have never won an FA Cup medal and we need to do something about that.'
Ferguson and Rooney have a complex relationship. The manager has never fully forgiven the player for questioning United's ambition a couple of seasons ago and the arrival of Robin Van Persie has meant the 27-year-old has been left out of the Premier League starting line-up on more than one occasion this season.
With Van Persie given a rest yesterday, Rooney had the chance to take centre stage, even if the manager made sure he did not take United's early penalty when Aaron Hughes handled.
'Ryan is one of our best penalty-takers,' said Ferguson. 'I think it was fair that, with Wayne missing the penalties he's had, it was the time to give him a break. He'll come back to it, no question about that.
Incriminating: Aaron Hughes gave away the penalty after handling the ball in the box
Battle: Alex Kacaniklic (right) and Rafael compete for possession
'One thing about Wayne, it doesn't faze him if he misses. He has a terrific temperament like that.'
In his programme notes, Ferguson had said 'you can certainly criticise Wayne' for his poor penalty record.
But there was little else to criticise him about yesterday.
At times, it seemed like a personal duel between Rooney and Schwarzer. Rooney hit the bar, was denied by the Australian at point-blank range and then fired wide from eight yards.
However, all that frustration turned to relief shortly after Berbatov had spurned Fulham's only genuine chance of bagging an equaliser.
Rooney collected a pass by Anderson, cut inside the defence and rifled a clean finish past Schwarzer. He followed his goal by crossing for Hernandez to score a third, and the Mexican later added a fourth with a shot that deflected off Hughes.
Hughes's 77th-minute header, from a Georgios Karagounis corner for Fulham, was merely a meaningless consolation.
Ferguson recognised the importance of being able to win comfortably without top scorer Van Persie.
'The four strikers we had in 1999 (Cole, Solskjaer, Sheringham, Yorke) were around the 20-goal mark, we're in business.'
Close: Rooney looks to the skies after seeing the ball go wide
Welcome back: Dimitar Berbatov (left) and Chris Smalling (right) battle for possession
Giggs, one of only three current United players who has won the FA Cup with the club, added: 'A club like ours should be getting to finals.
'We've got a proud record in the competition, but have not done so well in the past eight or nine years. There are players here desperate to win it, hopefully this is the year.'
While United stride ahead in three competitions, Fulham boss Martin Jol only has a relegation fight to look forward to.
His side resembled lambs to the slaughter and were lucky not to concede a second penalty when Damien Duff handled.
Berbatov had one sight of goal and his weak shot was blocked by Patrice Evra.
'It was lucky United only scored four goals because it was one of those days when we could have lost by six or seven,' admitted Jol.
And that was without facing Van Persie.
Powerless: Martin Jol watched his Fulham side succumb to a routine defeat
On the sidelines: Robin van Persie as a fan watches United with a green and gold scarf
LOL your saying your poxy one stupid as penalty made up for the numerous fouls and blatant shirt pullling ie by pretty much all the Man Utd Players which weren't given by Mr. Foy all of the fouls made by United players were fouls and Evra should have seen red in that game as well. Evra is one of the dirtiest players in the Premier League all he does is haul players down likewise Rafael cannot stand those two United players same with Rio. Spurs were million miles better than United anyways it should have trounced you 5-1 if it hadn't been for De Gea in the United goal. United have had so many dubious decisions go in their favour against Spurs it was about time Spurs got sthing on th side. I can mention several dubious decision go in United's favour ie the Pedro Mendes goal that was million miles over the United goal line which Mr. Clattenburg pro-United fan failed to see or his Assistants. I can mention the dubious penalty Mr. Webb awarded when Spurs were leading 0-2 and lost 5-2.
- sebbiewq21 , Bromley, 27/1/2013 06:05
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