LONDON — Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday as Bruno Fernandes struck in the 91st minute to seal a precious win for under-fire United boss Erik ten Hag.
WATCH FULHAM v MANCHESTER UNITED FULL REPLAY
The performance was not great from United but like they have against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Burnley so far this season, they found a way to secure a sixth one-goal win of the campaign.
United thought they had taken the lead early on as Scott McTominay scored but VAR asked referee John Brooks to look at the pitch-side monitor and the goal was ruled out by Harry Maguire interfering from an offside position.
Fulham looked better for much of the second half as Andre Onana made two great saves in quick succession. Then there were chances late on for United and Fernandes struck to send the away fans wild.
With the win Manchester United move on to 18 points for the season, as they’ve now won three of their last four Premier League games. Fulham remain on 12 points.
Scared and sluggish United deliver result but not the performance
Erik ten Hag got the result he wanted but it was not a convincing performance. At all. United had some zip about them early on but that disappeared when Scott McTominay’s goal was ruled out by a combination of VAR and the referee checking the monitor in the 8th minute. Erik ten Hag will have wanted to see a reaction, some character and somebody, anybody, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and trying to make something happen. In the end, Bruno Fernandes did. But United played scared for most of this game. They played to not lose. No disrespect to Fulham, but that is not how it should be. As their fans in the away section chanted “attack, attack, attack” United did the opposite for most of this game, until they finally went for it in the final 10 minutes. Garnacho and Fernandes were the only attackers to really try and probe Fulham’s defense (Pellistri also did well when he came on) and United finished the game with 0.73xG, which was lower than Fulham’s 1.00xG. Erik ten Hag will point to a clean sheet and an improved defensively display but Fulham still forced Andre Onana to make two superb saves and looked the more likely to win it in the second half before Bruno Fernandes saved United, once again.
Fulham vs Manchester United player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can see Bruno Fernandes saved United once again. Defensively United were solid, with Onana standing out again. Fulham’s midfield trio were also very good.
What’s next?
Fulham head to in-form Aston Villa on Sunday, Nov. 12. Manchester United head to play FC Copenhagen in a huge UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday, then host Luton Town on Saturday, Nov
How to watch Fulham vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 8:30am ET (Saturday, Nov. 4)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBCSports.com
Fulham vs Manchester United live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright at Craven Cottage
FULL TIME: Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
Relief in the United ranks after that late winner. Did they deserve it? Probably not. Still, Erik ten Hag doesn’t care.
GOALLL! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United (Fernandes 91st minute)
Bruno Fernandes has surely won it for United. Fulham make a mess of several clearances and the ball drops to Fernandes on the edge of the box. He turns his man and then sneaks home a shot into the bottom corner as Leno gets a hand to it but can’t keep it out. The away fans go wild. Relief is the main emotion for Erik ten Hag and United.
CLOSE! Fernandes and Martial go close
Bruno Fernandes has a low free kick from distance which is pushed wide by Leno, then Martial sends an acrobatic effort just wide. Manchester United have finally woken up late on.
Can the subs make a difference?
Mason Mount and Anthony Martial on for Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen. Erik ten Hag is going for it. Facundo Pelllistri has made a bit of a difference since coming on.
CLOSE! Onana saves superbly, twice
It is all Fulham now. Andre Onana does superbly to deny a shot from Wilson, then moments later Joao Palhinha is clean through but Onana stands tall to save his thunderous strike. Palhinha should score. Muniz then heads just over.
It is opening up
After yet another poor attack by Manchester United breaks down, Fulham break and have a 5 on 4 situation but Willian can’t make the most of it. Moments later Willian fires just wide after Andreas Pereira led a counter.
Back underway for the second half
Bruno Fernandes has gone down looking for a free kick, which it never was. Fulham have started the half slowly again, as Garnacho runs in down the left and his shot towards the far corner is tipped over be Leno.
HALF TIME: Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
🚨Manchester United have been sluggish. Fulham have hung in there. It’s very tight. Also, the offside decision was correct, but took too long.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 4, 2023
Watch live + analysis, videos, stream & more here ➡️ https://t.co/wIqjpzhwnF
Half time thoughts from Craven Cottage on #FFC v #MUFC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bFtmCkVEN2
Not a first half that will live long in the memory that one. United had the ball in the net early through Scott McTominay but after a lengthy (nearly six minutes!) VAR check, the referee went to the monitor and ruled it out for offside on Harry Maguire. It was the correct call but my word, they took their time. Fulham huffed and puffed and got back into the game with United lacking any real fluidity or spark in attack. Work to do for Erik ten Hag at half time because this was not the kind of display he was looking for.
Some sloppy play from both teams
Is it the sun on a lovely fall day here at Fulham which is making so many players from both teams so relaxed? There have been so many poor passes and Alex Iwobi picks up the latest loose ball, outpaces Christian Eriksen and runs 50 yards before smashing over the bar.
Fulham have improved since the VAR call
The hosts have woken up and USMNT left back Antonee Robinson goes charging down the left flank and clips in a decent ball which United clear. The game is starting to open up now as Willian whips in a delicious cross but it is brilliantly cleared by Dalot with Wilson about to tap home. At the other end, United are getting a few chances thanks to some slack passes from Fulham but Bruno Fernandes curls harmlessly into the hands of Bernd Leno.
NO GOAL! Referee chalks off McTominay goal
Now then. Real confusion here in the stadium. McTominay taps home but after a lengthy VAR check for offside on the initial ball in from the free kick, the referee is asked to go to the monitor and he disallows the goal. Looks like Maguire, who was offside, interfered before the ball was crossed in by Garnacho for McTominay to slot home. Erik ten Hag, as you can imagine, is not a happy bunny.
After a slight knock on the head, Harry Maguire has gone down
The United center back played the ball out himself and received treatment. He is now back on but doesn’t look comfortable.
Hello from the Cottage!
It is a lovely day down here by the River Thames and United’s fans are making a racket in the away end. Can Fulham cause a big upset? Will it even be considered an upset given the form United are in? There is a lot of tension in the air here.
👋 Welcome to Craven Cottage!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 4, 2023
Huge game for Manchester United today. Great atmosphere as Fulham fans smell an upset (can it even be called that!?) in the air.
Watch live + analysis, reaction, videos here ➡️ https://t.co/wIqjpzhwnF
My thoughts ahead of #FFC v #MUFC ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LHIXOP7GCY
Fulham lineup
Our #FULMUN line-up! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xbNinCkyXi
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 4, 2023
Manchester United lineup
⏰ Time for team news! 🗞️#MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 4, 2023
Focus on Fulham, team news
The Cottagers have overachieved ever since they returned to the Premier League and two players are a big part of that: Joao Palhinha and Bernd Leno. The holding midfielder and goalkeeper give Fulham such a strong defensive core and the former smashed home a beauty of a strike to grab a point at Brighton last time out. Yes, scoring goals is a concern for Fulham but they’ve been very good defensively this season as they’ve conceded 16 goals (five of those came at Man City) and kept four clean sheets from 10 games so far. In injury news, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson should come back into the lineup after being rested for the midweek League Cup win at Ipswich Town, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Kenny Tete and Adama Traore are working their way back to fitness with Issa Diop also recovering from an ankle issue.
Focus on Manchester United, team news
Where do we start with Manchester United? Erik ten Hag’s side have no identity whatsoever and it seems like the players have no instructions when they head out onto the pitch. How can that happen? United are struggling to keep hold of the ball and look extremely predictable when they do have it and new signings Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat have all had extremely tough starts to the season. Defensive injuries have hit United hard with Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia all out, while Jadon Sancho remains away from the first team and Amad Diallo is a long-term absentee. Ten Hag has confirmed that Varane is fit and available but Victor Lindelof could miss out through illness. Another big blow is that Casemiro is out for several weeks due to a hamstring issue.
How many goals does Marcus Rashford have this season?
A lack of goals has been a big problem for Manchester United and Rashford’s struggles underline their alarming slump. Rashford has scored just one goal in 14 games in all competitions this season, and that one goal came in their Premier League defeat away at Arsenal on Sept. 3. He has gone over two months without scoring for United and the England international has looked extremely jaded and isolated out on the left flank.
