To Manchester United, the spoils on their return to the FA Cup. To Fulham, however, the plaudits and clear confirmation of their Premiership potential.

For despite having outplayed the runaway Premiership leaders in the FA Cup third round at Craven Cottage, First Division Fulham were undone by United's amazing ability to keep going to the final whistle.

It seemed as though Fulham's ability to take on United at their own game would prove enough for what will surely become a regular league fixture - a replay at Old Trafford.

But then on came Teddy Sheringham, the king of comebacks, with just 15 minutes left after a month out injured. Who else was on hand to score the 88th-minute winner than the England international?

It was certainly proof that United's desire to win the competition from which they so controversially pulled out last season was as strong as ever.

But defeat was still particularly hard to bear for a Fulham side who had the game's best two players in striker Louis Saha and midfielder Lee Clark.

Even after falling behind to an early strike by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they refused to buckle and responded with a free-kick by Fabrice Fernandes after 23 minutes to crown a thrilling first-half display.

Few Premiership sides have the belief, let alone the courage and ability, to take on United. But that is exactly what Fulham did.

With what was a weakened side, the Division One pacesetters tired late on as United finally came into their own. But they had more than matched the visitors in their commitment to style, pass and move, and attacking intent.

And on the evidence of this display, they would comfortably hold their own in the Premier League, with even a top six finish possible with a few more recruits.

While promotion must first be achieved, they have three key ingredients for success: an astute coach in Jean Tigana, a wealthy owner in Mohamed Al Fayed and a striker of future international class in Saha.

United, however, have that extra gear and class which other teams lack.

It was not their players' fault that it was 18 months ago that they last contested an FA Cup tie and faded passions with the competition they won four times in the 1990s were quickly rekindled at Craven Cottage.

With United having won the Treble in 1999, it was actually almost three years since they last lost an FA Cup tie - against Barnsley in a fifth round replay in February 1998.

It was that season that a Monaco side managed by Tigana knocked United out of the Champions League, and the Frenchman has now become the catalyst for the revolution taking place at Fulham.

He has guided them to a lead in the First Division that is almost as commanding as United's in the Premiership with an emphasis on playing the 'beautiful game' which shone through in this Cup tie.

Fulham were without Chris Coleman, Barry Hayles, John Collins and Sean Davis and it showed defensively early on as United seized the lead.

With just seven minutes gone, David Beckham pressured Clark and the ball fell to Solskjaer, who clinically despatched a first-time shot into the far corner from outside the penalty area.

Fulham were temporarily knocked out of their stride as Solskjaer was given space to take aim again only for Rufus Brevett to clear off the line, but they showed remarkable composure in refusing to panic.

Indeed, while many Premiership teams would have crumbled, Fulham played their way out of trouble.

Fernandes and Clark shone in midfield, while Luis Boa Morte was a livewire up front, but the real inspiration came from Saha.

The 22-year-old comes off the same Clarefontaine production line as Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry and, with 21 goals already this season and a change of pace to die for, he looks poised to follow in their illustrious footsteps.

After embarking on yet another determined run, he was brought crashing down and, once Roy Keane had petulantly kicked the ball away, the free-kick was moved to the edge of the area.

Fernandes duly curled a superb dead-ball effort into the top corner and Craven Cottage came alive again.

Quite what United's defence were collectively playing at was anyone's guess, with Kit Symons heading wide at the far post when unmarked at a corner, but they just about held on until the interval.

Saha continued to threaten United's defence after the break, but United finally started to impose themselves on the game again as Beckham moved infield to make his presence felt.

Phil Neville later joined him there as Ferguson desperately tried to counter the influence of former Newcastle midfielder Clark.

Fulham keeper Maik Taylor still needed to parry substitute Ronnie Wallwork's drive as well as grasping the loose ball as boots flailed around him, while United's threat increased.

Then came the introduction of Sheringham with 15 minutes left and, as United's possession grew while Fulham ran out of steam, he made his one real chance count with only two minutes left.

The striker has had a superb season, with this being his 16th goal of the campaign, and he showed no signs of rust as he side-footed a cross home with a first-time shot.

United are back in the FA Cup and they seemed determined to stay there.

Teams:

Fulham: Taylor, Brevett, Symons, Melville, Finnan, Clark, Sahnoun, Goldbaek, Fernandes, Saha, Boa Morte (Stolcers 71).

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Neilson, Trollope, Lewis.

Booked: Boa Morte.

Goals: Fernandes 24.

Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, Silvestre, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Brown, Beckham (Chadwick 83), Butt (Wallwork 28), Keane, Giggs, Yorke (Sheringham 75), Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Irwin, Rachubka.

Booked: Brown, Keane, Phil Neville.

Goals: Solskjaer 8, Sheringham 89.

Att: 19,178

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).