Lisandro Martinez’s wickedly deflected shot and Toby Collyer’s 89th-minute header off the line took Manchester United to a rare Premier League win under Ruben Amorim, with the 1-0 victory at Fulham edging them up to 12th in the table.
The game was heading towards a dull stalemate, with United getting bodies behind the ball and unadventurous with it. They did not have a shot until the 42nd minute. The 13 in the entire game from both teams was the lowest total for a Premier League match this season.
But, with 12 minutes to play, Martinez’s strike from the edge of the box looped up off Sasa Lukic and dropped in under the bar, brushing Bernd Leno’s fingertips on the way through. It was United’s first effort on target. There was an element of controversy about the goalscorer, too, with Martinez having escaped punishment for a two-footed challenge on Adama Traore earlier in that half.
United’s win was equally as reliant on 21-year-old Collyer dropping back to head away Joachim Andersen’s attempt from a corner as the clock ticked down. The young substitute was mobbed by his team-mates who rushed to celebrate with him.
Rodrigo Muniz blasted over from six yards in stoppage time for another let-off for United – although Amad Diallo was then also denied, with his celebrations curtailed by a VAR offside call.
Amorim had stated before the game the result was more important than the performance, and he would have been relieved to celebrate Premier League win number four from 12 attempts, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe watching on at Craven Cottage. As for the performance, there was still a lot left to be desired.
‘Attack, attack, attack’ chanted the travelling fans as United dawdled on the ball at the back in the opening 45, seemingly happy to take time out of the game. Their confidence looked fragile – understandable considering they had lost six of their last nine in the league. But these three points will lift the mood for now.
As for Fulham, they will feel hard done by – but their first-half impetus through Alex Iwobi and Raul Jimenez had dried up by the time United broke the deadlock and, despite scoring twice in each of their last five league games, they could not force a late response. Marco Silva’s side stay 10th.
Analysis: A winning feeling – but United’s problems still plain to see
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
Amorim had stressed the importance of the result over the performance before Man Utd’s victory at Fulham and his hope will be the momentum of picking up three points on the road can give his side a boost.
They certainly looked like they needed one during the majority of this match. United’s caution was plain to see as they defended in numbers and looked for the safe option in possession. It was notable before the game that Fulham had been listed as favourites – and the visitors played up to their underdog tag.
This result won’t mask the problems Amorim has to solve. He himself noted the lack of thrust in the final third and the question marks over both Hojlund and his replacement Zirkzee remain. Alejandro Garnacho, a player they could well sell before the deadline, looked the most likely to provide a spark amid an otherwise uninspiring attack. Fulham, despite a poor attacking set-piece record themselves, almost exposed that well-documented United weakness late on.
Yet, with a Europa League trip to Bucharest on Thursday followed by home games against Crystal Palace and then Leicester in the FA Cup, perhaps there is a chance for United to build some positive rhythm to improve their short-term outlook. The bigger picture remains a major work in progress.
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Source : Sky Sports
