Manchester United grinded out a crucial victory against Fulham, securing three points courtesy of Lisandro Martinez’s deflected goal, the Red Devils’ sole shot on target throughout the match. The game highlighted a mixed bag of performances, with Harry Maguire standing out as a defensive stalwart, while Alejandro Garnacho struggled to make an impact, fueling speculation about a potential exit amidst links to Napoli and Chelsea.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon, making one key save early on but otherwise facing minimal threats, marking a positive if uneventful performance. Diogo Dalot encountered difficulties against Fulham’s primary attacking threat, Alex Iwobi, in the first half, subsequently switching flanks after the break to offer support to Garnacho without significantly contributing to the attack. Matthijs de Ligt delivered another robust defensive performance, providing crucial support to Dalot and preventing potential breakthroughs down United’s right flank.
Harry Maguire emerged as a standout performer, showcasing exceptional defensive prowess and leadership, solidifying his recent resurgence as one of United’s most reliable players. His crucial header at the back post denied Fulham a certain goal, exemplifying his impact on the game. Lisandro Martinez, despite benefiting from a fortunate deflection for his winning goal, demonstrated his attacking intent and defensive acumen, including a vital last-ditch tackle to thwart a potential Fulham scoring opportunity.
Noussair Mazraoui provided a balanced performance, contributing defensively while also seeking opportunities to advance forward. Manuel Ugarte displayed flashes of skill and dynamism in midfield, effectively marking Emile Smith Rowe, but his performance was marred by a booking and a subsequent injury-enforced substitution. Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, endured a subdued performance, struggling to exert his usual influence on the game and rarely seeing the ball in the first half.
Amad Diallo provided a spark of creativity and energy in attack, consistently pressing high and working tirelessly, even finding the back of the net in stoppage time only to see his effort ruled out for offside. Alejandro Garnacho, in contrast, experienced a frustrating afternoon, struggling to make effective decisions on the ball and often running into dead ends. His final ball lacked precision, further diminishing his impact on the game.
Rasmus Hojlund’s performance underlined ongoing concerns about his hold-up play and integration into United’s system. His erratic decision-making and struggles to link up effectively with his teammates led to an early substitution, highlighting his ongoing adaptation to the demands of Premier League football. The substitutions introduced by United’s manager, Amorim, yielded mixed results.
Leny Yoro, brought on for De Ligt, provided a more assured performance compared to his initial shaky start at the club. Joshua Zirkzee, replacing Hojlund, similarly faced challenges in holding up the ball effectively, although his presence did appear to improve United’s attacking fluidity. Toby Collyer delivered a solid display in midfield, showcasing positional awareness and making crucial clearances, including a goal-line clearance to prevent a Fulham equalizer.
Kobbie Mainoo injected energy into the midfield after replacing Garnacho, combining effectively with Amad in the build-up to the disallowed goal. Finally, Tyrell Malacia, deployed in an unfamiliar right wing-back role, fulfilled his defensive duties effectively, helping United secure a clean sheet and preserve their hard-fought victory. Overall, Manchester United’s performance against Fulham demonstrated resilience and defensive solidity but also highlighted ongoing challenges in attack and the need for greater consistency from certain players. The narrow victory underscores the importance of individual contributions, with standout performances from Maguire and Martinez proving decisive in securing three crucial points.
