Manchester United headed down to London off the back of consecutive 3-0 home defeats to tough opposition with their loss to Manchester City last Sunday and Newcastle midweek in the cup. An away trip to Fulham was probably one of the best venues to host United’s next game after the week of media scrutiny that had been around the club. With an away game, the fan pressure wasn’t as notable (although United fans were a credit to the club), while the home atmosphere at Fulham isn’t what you’d class as massively hostile to a team like United.

Despite the venue working in their favour, the pre-match talk of fighting for the team and the fans making their thoughts crystal clear with their ‘play like you mean it’ banner prominent as the players emerged, United made hard work of this one. With an unfortunate VAR decision ruling out an early opener, it took until the first few seconds of stoppage time in the second half for United to break the deadlock and claim the win. In a game that was mostly balanced between two teams with similar scoring issues, it’s 3 points that United need, and will look to build on in their Champions League fixture midweek.

With several key talking points coming from the game, many United fans won’t see this game as a classic to look back on, but there’s some key areas we need to dissect.

As always, if you have any thoughts on Manchester United this season or in this specific game, get in touch with us by leaving a comment, following us on Twitter/X (@NextGoalWinBlog) or Instagram (@NextGoalWin).

Teams

When the line ups were announced, there was a few notable absentees from the XI and from the squad for Manchester United. Marcus Rashford had been in the headlines earlier in the week for his birthday celebrations after the City defeat, which Erik ten Hag addressed in his pre-match conference, stating that although he wasn’t happy with Rashford’s actions he had dealt with the issue in-house and there is no further issue. Despite this, Rashford wasn’t included in the squad despite travelling down to London, as a late injury had meant he wasn’t deemed fit enough to be involved in the game and instead settled for signing autographs from just behind the dugout, and Alejandro Garnacho was given the nod in the XI.

Meanwhile, Raphael Varane still couldn’t make his way into the XI, and although this has gone under the radar with the Frenchman also missing the Manchester derby and midweek cup game, Ten Hag claimed this had previously been a tactical choice. With rumours of a Saudi offer set to come in January for the defender, we may be seeing this pushed through if he cannot get game time for Manchester United, especially when United are relying on the expected 5th choice Jonny Evans.

Other absentees for United remained the usual suspects as Shaw, Martinez, Casemiro, Malacia were joined by Lindelöf on the treatment table, however the good news came as Wan-Bissaka was back in the XI, and there was a return to the first team setup for youngster Kobbie Mainoo who although he didn’t feature, will be one to watch when back to full fitness.

Manchester United’s line-up choice still raises many questions from tactical choices to selection dilemmas which Ten Hag seems to often surprise with. We will dig into the starting XI choice later in this post, but there are certainly some players who are struggling to take their chance or be given the minutes this season, and Ten Hag is having to stand by his choices.

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson, Iwobi (Jimenez 89′), Palhinha, Wilson (Cairney 90′), Pereira (Reid 81′), Willian (Vinicius 76′), Muniz (Lukic 76′)

Subs: Rodak, Ballo, De Fougerolles, Reed

Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Evans, Dalot, McTominay, Eriksen (Mount 79′), Fernandes, Garnacho (Varane 90′), Antony (Pellistri 63′), Hojlund (Martial 79′)

Subs: Bayindir, Reguilon, Amrabat, Mainoo, Mejbri

Fulham 0-1 Manchester United

After the traditional remembrance silence, United went into this with the fans thoughts clear to read from a big sign presented stating the players need to ‘play like you mean it’. There was no ignoring this clear message from the fans to players, and despite the online noise and speculation, the travelling support were crucial in that as they were heard throughout willing United to victory, while also showing the footballing world that support remains for the manager, the players and the project, even if it’s been a tough week.

In the first half, United felt in control, and although United didn’t come out firing as many would have hoped/expected, Fulham didn’t seem to realise United had been in meltdown this week, as they sat off and allowed Ten Hag’s side to control the ball. Often slowing the play down with Onana to slower than walking pace, things were not as frantic as many would have been tuned in hoping for, but United did just about enough to feel in control. The main talking point in the first half, came from the slightly controversial offside call for Maguire’s involvement in play as Garnacho sent a cross back across the 6 yard box for McTominay to tap in, ruling the goal out due to Maguire being offside and attempting to play the ball (although never touching the ball itself). The decision could have gone either way, and the referee was sent to the monitor to make the final call on Maguire’s involvement, something we haven’t ever seen for an offside call. United couldn’t fully shrug this decision off and went into half-time level at 0-0. The other talking point from the first half came in the opening 5 minutes with Maguire taking a blow to the face, leaving the player appearing a little off, something the medics checked and the referee later stopped the game to double check with. I honestly think he probably shouldn’t have continued, but without the full details (or any medical qualifications), I am glad he saw out the game due to his impressive display throughout.

Coming into the second half, Antony was quickly pulled shortly into the midway point, as he was struggling to make any impact on the game. Fulham took control for large periods of the game in the second half with several key chances calling Onana into action which he dealt with very well. As the clock ticked on, United looked destined to face their first draw in over 20 games, until Pellistri truly arrived into the game and his drive and determination led to a rather sloppy back and forth pinball in the Fulham box, only for Bruno Fernandes to send two defenders the wrong way with a dummy, and then tucked away his shot from just outside the area. Although Leno got a hand to it, it settled into the Fulham goal and the away crowd behind the goal went wild as the players and fans expressed a huge showing of relief, joy and unity. Ten Hag was visibly pleased to get the result at such a late point as surely he had been planning yet another disappointing post-match debrief and media duty critique. While the previous 90 minutes were average at best for most involved, the final few moments brought enough excitement and joy that United should hopefully head into the Champions League full of confidence (we’ve said that before).

As the final whistle blew, United fans were clearly relieved with the result, although the performance will be analysed like we have done here in the coming days. With a great show of unity from the travelling fans, players and staff alike after that dramatic finish, optimism will be high and the headlines will be on other teams for the next few days, giving Ten Hag some freedom to focus purely on the crucial away tie with Copenhagen midweek. It was good to see Scott McTominay acknowledge the fan banner and admit the players knew this was there and took it to heart in their performance. Because Manchester United are the club that they are, they will always face dissection, however being the first game on, with a good win and 3 points, it has been the perfect outcome to calm the noise from outside the club (for now).

Talking Points

The tradition of Manchester United leaving games until the last minute is something the club will always come back to on games like this, and we have seen it under Ten Hag, with this fixture last season providing a similar moment when Garnacho really stepped onto the scene. With Bruno Fernandes bagging the winner just into added time at the end of the second half, the relief seen across the players, staff and fans was clear, and although the previous 90 minutes were a slog, this could have been the best result in terms of dramatic moments to silence the sceptics. Of course winning 4/5-0 would have been great, but a traditional United late winner really brings fans and players together as one, and shows unity which had been questioned so often.

I do have concerns that this will go down as another ultimately undeserved win, which I don’t think United really showed enough to confidently claim. This has been a worrying theme for me, even more than the big defeats, as the wins over Wolves, Burnley, Sheffield United, Brentford, Copenhagen and now Fulham, only 2 of the clubs’ 8 wins were actually due to a dominant performance (and that’s counting the win over Nottingham Forest also). I am not so naïve to think we can do the same as City and win 6-1 in games like these, but it would be great to just watch United batter a team at some point soon, but I guess 3 points will do for now.

I think that coming away from this game even with the 3 points, the questions around squad selection and Ten Hag actually knowing his best XI still remains unsure. The front line firstly seems lacking as Antony just cannot quite cut it unfortunately. It’s not just his lack of goals or assists but his playing style is nowhere near what United wanted or actually need. The flair he wants to play with cannot be possible when you’re struggling to score against a pretty average Fulham side. He is still the most predictable winger in the Premier League in my opinion, and I know I could easily defend against him despite not playing a full game of football since school. His desire to cut in on his left foot means any link up with Hojlund isn’t really possible, while his obsession with taking on players, only to go back and try again means he becomes frustrating for fans, and a laughing stock for the opposition. I know the player is trying, and instances like his attempted recovery slide tackle when losing possession shows he cares about his performance and how he looks to fans, but actually his decision making is poor and even that move came off as laziness that he didn’t feel like tracking back and staying with the opponent. I also want to give a strong mention to Pellistri, who despite not making the most of his run in the XI earlier in the season, is a gem of a player who I would argue can be as good as Garnacho. With a potential front 3 who are 19-20-21 (Garnacho-Hojlund-Pellistri) United could create something special with those players in particular.

It was good to see Garnacho shine in the absence of Rashford and I think if the Rashford injury turns out to be something more, we may see Garnacho put a case for his starting spot long-term with the shift he put in today. Although we said Antony is pretty much out in most fans mindset, Rasmus Hojlund deserves to be left alone in any criticism of United’s front line. Despite failing to score in the league yet, he is so young in his career, and has been put into a burning wreckage of a club/squad where very little of the players and tactics are there to suit him in his playing style. With lacking crosses/passes for him to get on the end of, he has had so few chances created for him, that the likes of Haaland get consistently. I understand there will be a time for criticism, and I think United should look in January for a more experienced striker as backup or a challenge for him, but he’s being put into a situation that can’t be good for any young players development, let alone a player who relies on chances being created around him.

Defensively Manchester United have got through a tough period, just about. They aren’t fully out of the woods yet with injury, but they’ve pieced together a fairly decent back line in this fixture to see off a measly Fulham attacking threat. The question over Varane is something we mentioned earlier, and how Ten Hag has preferred Jonny Evans in the last week or so which may signify a further issue we aren’t being told, but that’s purely speculation. Jonny is turning out to be United’s signing of the summer after a shock return in preseason, he has helped United to another clean sheet and a decent shift from the 35 year old. Alongside Maguire, who despite looking questionable in terms of his health after a blow to the head which kept medics and even the referee unsure of his physical state with a potential concussion worry, he put in another strong display which has completely U-turned his football career, as he looks like a reliable first team player which he arguably has been throughout, but with media channels/social media picking other targets for criticism, Maguire is coming out of this tough period smelling of roses. Despite Reguilon sitting on the bench, United went with Dalot on the left and the returning Wan-Bissaka on the right which I think would have always been Ten Hag’s option to see them through Shaw and Malacia’s injuries, however with Wan-Bissaka back, he put in several trademark sprawling challenges, but his match fitness was clearly lacking at points as he was caught out of position, and left the centre backs covering as Willian on their left was Fulham’s focus for most of the first half.

It’s in the midfield where most of my questions remain for Ten Hag. Even though Fulham aren’t a huge challenge traditionally for United and they would expect to dominate possession, the midfield felt very attacking, with Eriksen being used as the deepest midfielder, which essentially is like playing with a front 6. It was noted on many occasions that when United played high with the ball, they looked hugely exposed when Fulham forced a turnover and the midfield was leaving the defence of an almost concussed Maguire and 35 year old Jonny Evans, with the full-backs also being often out of position. While Casemiro was unavailable, and Amrabat hasn’t impressed hugely in his last few games, it feels wrong to play Eriksen-McTominay-Fernandes when most of these want to be either a no.8 or no.10 progressive midfielder. Moving this season away from Fred-McTominay/Casemiro, actually United fans would look back and recognise the balance that this midfield choice gave, and against a tougher opposition more prominent in front of goal, United could have been embarrassed (yet again). We could talk here also about the use of Mason Mount again, who doesn’t seem to be destined for the right-wing as I had hoped, but did put in a decent cameo. I can’t see the player being satisfied with simple cameo roles against mid-table opponents in his United career, but also I’m sure the player would admit he hasn’t really done enough to push Fernandes, Eriksen or even McTominay out of the first XI at the moment.

Finally, we must also just briefly touch on the first half disallowed goal as VAR once again ruled against Manchester United this season. In a cruel decision against the in-form goal threat of McTominay, United had their early opener ruled out, which could have been controversial on another day (without the more prominent issues in the Newcastle-Arsenal game). Being ruled out for offside on Maguire when he never touched the crossed ball, and Garnacho was behind to ping the ball back across the 6 yard box, the VAR referred the on-field referee to the monitor to make his own decision on Maguire’s involvement. In my opinion, I think it felt harsh initially because of the desire I had for United to take an early lead, but according to the laws it probably was just enough from Maguire to influence the play in his offside position, but also I can’t see that happening in every single game where this occurs (questioning the consistency of decisions yet again). I don’t want to continue the VAR chat each week as it’s just boring, but when you’re struggling it always feels like VAR goes against you on the tight calls. United have had plenty this season against them, and just 1 or 2 in favour, and in a game that could have ultimately cost Ten Hag his job, these fine margins may well make the difference long-term.