LONDON, Dec 14: A late equaliser from Pape Bouba Diop gave Fulham a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Monday and prevented Alex Ferguson's team from moving back into the thick of the Premier League title race.

United looked set for a fifth straight league win courtesy of a first-half Alan Smith goal when Bouba Diop sent a fierce strike curving past a diving Roy Carroll and just inside the post in the 87th minute.

United remain in fourth place on 31 points, four behind champions Arsenal and nine behind leaders Chelsea, after the two London clubs drew 2-2 on Sunday. Everton are in second place, five points ahead of United, after winning the 200th Merseyside derby 1-0 on Saturday. Fulham move above Birmingham into 14th.

The match came to life when a Roy Keane drive found one Fulham post around the half hour mark and two minutes later Wayne Rooney went through on goal before hitting the other upright.

The United fans did not have to wait long for the breakthrough and it came when Cristiano Ronaldo escaped down the right and found Alan Smith in the penalty area after 33 minutes.

The England striker's first shot was blocked but he scurried back to retrieve the ball with a determined tackle on Sylvain Legwinski, before turning to shoot under Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

United had the better of the remainder of the half and, with Fulham's usual driving force Steed Malbranque having a poor game. But Fulham came out firing after the break and former United striker Andy Cole brushed off the attentions of Rio Ferdinand to fire a shot against the woodwork. -Reuters