Just days after Fulham won in Switzerland to qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League, the Cottagers produced a great performance against an understrength United to cement their spot in the Premiership's top-half.

Incredibly Schwarzer had a relatively comfortable afternoon against the Red Devils, with goals coming from Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff.

After the game Schwarzer revealed his happiness at the result to BBC: "You get alot of joy out of these sorts of results. You don't normally expect it, but today I think we defended really well as a team.

"We started from the front and contained them alot of times to just distance shots and thankfully they weren't on target too much today, so my job was relatively easy."

It has been an incredible turnaround in fortunes for Fulham in the last two years since Roy Hodgson's arrival while the acquisition of Schwarzer has undoubtedly helped too.

They narrowly avoided relegation in 2008 before shooting up the table last season to qualify for Europe, before cementing their spot in the last 32 this week. And Saturday's win over United suggested this was a team going places.

Schwarzer added: "We can't get too carried away. We played a team that was heavily understrength today and we've got two really, really difficult games coming up on Boxing Day and the 28th - Tottenham at home and Chelsea away.

"We've got to take each game as it comes. It's been a fantastic first half to the season so far and that's all it is."

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Vince Grella worked hard in midfield and provided the assist for a Benni McCarthy shot which hit the post as Blackburn lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham.

Fellow Socceroo Richard Garcia had a difficult time out in London as Hull City were easily beaten 3-0 by Arsenal. Garcia started and played 61 minutes for the Tigers.

In the Championship, Socceroos stopper Adam Federici made a late-minute fingertip save as Reading claimed a 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

Elsewhere in England's second tier, Nick Carle was left on the pine again as Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Barnsley, while Shane Lowry played his final game for Plymouth at left-back before his loan from Aston Villa expires as Argyle lost 1-0 at home to Coventry.

After the game, Plymouth boss Paul Mariner was non-committal about extending Lowry's deal, saying: "Yes, it is his last game and we just want to have a look because we've got a lot of issues with the Asian Cup and the African Nations Cup. We're looking at all our options. But it would be nice to get him back."

In League One, Aussie midfielder Gareth Edds scored a goal for Tranmere as they won 2-0 over Bristol Rovers. Edds produced a well-placed shot on 56 minutes to help Rovers record another important win.

Elsewhere in England's third tier, Patrick Kisnorbo produced a commanding performance in defence, while Neil Kilkenny also put in a full shift as Leeds beat Southampton 1-0.

In League Two, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff played a full game as Shrewsbury lost 4-0 at Rochdale, while elsewhere many matches were postponed due to snow throughout England.