Wayne Rooney says the manner of Manchester United's 5-0 win at Fulham was ideal going into the festive period.
United had the game won by the break, with a 3-0 half-time lead.
They added the final two goals through Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in the last three minutes.
"We have a lot of games coming up so it was important not to run as much as we would normally have to."
United remain just two points behind table-topping Manchester City.
They now have successive home games against sides in the drop zone, with Wigan on Boxing Day and rock-bottom Blackburn Rovers on New Year's Day.
Rooney said: "We knew if we could win this game then we would have two home games coming up and we have a great chance of winning them both.
"We need to keep going and keep pushing City. If they do slip up, hopefully we will be there to pounce." Rooney said: "It was comfortable. In the second half we took our foot off the gas but we were always in control and were always going to win the game.
