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Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat towards Fulham at Outdated Trafford on Saturday afternoon, a disappointing encounter for Eric ten Hag's facet.
Man United seemed uncomfortable from the kick-off, with the guests pressuring them within the ultimate third earlier than they even momentarily gained the ball. With Luke Shaw and Lisandro MartÃnez out attributable to medium-term accidents, the United protection has fallen aside by way of group depth.
It was former United midfielder Andres Pereira who had the primary shot of the sport and a long-range likelihood was comfortably caught by Andre Onana.
Even on assault, United seemed assured, with Fulham enjoying an aggressive urgent sport that compelled the house facet to ship the ball again to the keeper. This shaky begin was emphasised when Onana handed the ball to Warren, who made a mistake and let the ball exit for a Fulham throw-in.
Going into the fifteenth minute, it was clear that United have been nonetheless struggling to determine consolation on the ball. Diogo Dalot's cross following a nook was unable to seek out the pinnacle of his United teammate, which means the house group was unable to register a single shot throughout the first 20 minutes of the sport.
Within the twenty first minute, Fulham launched an out-swinging nook, with striker Rodrigo Muniz directing a header goalwards, which Onana barely saved. The guests have been actually pulling down the door and launching strike after strike in an try and silence the Outdated Trafford crowd.
Within the twenty sixth minute, United had their first clear scoring likelihood from a nook when the ball fell to Alejandro Garnacho. The winger's shot went largely unrecognized by the Fulham keeper and defence, leaving Antoine Robinson to attain a header to maintain the rating stage.
Nonetheless, it will not be lengthy earlier than Fulham went on the assault once more, profitable a nook with Muniz getting a header in a harmful shot which Casemiro handled.
Within the thirtieth minute, Dalot confirmed his intent to place United forward as his long-range shot beat the keeper, however went large of the far put up. Moments later, United have been again on the assault as Garnacho entered the field passing to Coby Manu, whose shot was blocked. A lot better than United because the half ended.
A minute later, nearly out of nowhere, Muniz fired a shocking shot at Onana that hit the picket construction. The United keeper was fortunate the put up got here to his rescue as he narrowly escaped an embarrassing lapse in judgement.
5 minutes from the break, Garnacho confirmed a second of particular person brilliance when he lower into the field and fired a strong shot on the far put up that took the keeper at full energy.
It remained goalless even after two minutes of stoppage time. Though United had loads of probabilities to attain, additionally they proved weak on the again on a number of events. Clearly, United might want to step up in assault whereas remaining alert on the again to maintain out a harmful Fulham group.
Lower than a minute into the second half, the guests have been already searching for an early aim when Tosin Adarabioyo's header went large, giving him a nook. United have been clearly struggling to cease Fulham from nook kicks.
Moments later, Casemiro and Harrison Reed collided whereas difficult a unfastened ball. As each fell worryingly to the bottom, there was a sigh of aid throughout the Theater of Desires as Casemiro was helped to his ft by medical workers.
Casemiro's night time ended early after struggling a head damage as he was substituted for Scott McTominay. Omari Forsson was changed by the extra skilled Christian Eriksen.
Within the 56th minute, Fulham counter-attacked, inflicting United issues as their attackers outnumbered the house group's defenders. When the ball went throughout the goalmouth, former United man Pereira was unable to make contact underneath stress from Lindelof, permitting United to embarrassingly concede a aim.
Whereas United continued to dominate till the sixtieth minute, the group lacked any actual conviction, passing the ball sloppily with out opening up any attacking lanes. Clearly, United are uncertain tips on how to break down Fulham's defence.
In one other fast counter, the guests nearly surprised United, with Onana clearing the ball out of hazard. United weren’t so fortunate throughout the next nook, as centre-back Clavin Bassey slammed the ball into the roof of the web to offer the underdogs the lead. Onana would turn out to be annoyed after failing to cope with a ball that was thrown nearly straight at him.
20 minutes from time, Fernandes caught Fulham off guard with a quick-fire shot from the sting of the field. Nonetheless, the goalkeeper was not fooled and made a cushty save. Whereas United gained two corners inside moments of one another, they have been unable to get any additional pictures off in an try and get again into the sport.
Within the 78th minute, Fulham regained possession, with Harry Wilson sending a shot that didn’t hit the left put up to double Fulham's lead. Nonetheless, it was end-to-end motion as Garnacho bought a shot on the different finish of the sphere to win United a nook.
Eriksen's nook nearly resulted in an equalizer as Harry Maguire's header went over the crossbar from shut vary. After 80 minutes, Manu's match ended as he was changed by Amad Diallo.
Two minutes from time, Fernandes despatched one other shot which was blocked by the Fulham keeper. It was Maguire, of all of the gamers, who was completely positioned to seize the rebound, scoring from shut vary to doubtlessly save United from a humiliating house defeat.
United seemed decided to seek out the winner from there, with McTominay delivering a ball into the penalty space which hit the far put up. With 9 minutes of stoppage time, United would have loads of time to get the profitable aim. Nonetheless, that left loads of time for the guests to spoil the occasion.
Fernandes took one other long-range shot which took a save and gave United a nook. Eriksen's nook was discovered by fellow substitute Diallo, whose shot was deflected into the second nook. This time, the header was simply handled.
With 97 minutes on the clock, Alex Iwobi rapidly bought on the tip of the Fulham counter, slotting the ball previous Onana to revive the guests' lead on the dying.
Lindelof was injured in one other defensive concern for Ten Hag as he was changed by Antony.
Followers stormed out of Outdated Trafford earlier than the ultimate whistle in an indication of disappointment after a disappointing finish to United's glorious type.
Beginning XI: Onana, Lindelof, Maguire, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Casemiro, Varane, Dalot, Manu, Forsson
Members: McTominay, Eriksen, Diallo, Antony