Fulham have everybody in their own half as United knock it about aimlessly, waiting for the clock to hit 93 minutes. The result has been a formality since the first half, and both sides I’m sure are ready for the full-time whistle.
90'
The fourth official indicates an additional three minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
86'
Fulham look depleted as a long switch from right to left is hit way over the head of Kamara and out for a throw-in. Perhaps they were never expected to beat Manchester United, but there’s been a worrying lack of fight from the visitors.
84'
S. McTominay enters the game and replaces M. Rashford.
Rashford has earned himself an early rest as McTominay is on to replace him.
82'
M. Rashford has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by A. Young.
Young contributes yet again as he can add an assist to the goal he scored earlier, after his pass got Rashford into a pocket of space.
RICO BEATEN AGAIN AS RASHFORD MAKES IT FOUR! Rashford gets into the left-wing position and walks towards the penalty box before stopping shortly outside and belting an absolute thunderbolt which beats the goalkeeper at the near post! It’s a sublime goal out of absolutely nothing!
79'
Dalot beats Bryan and walks into the penalty area, but his cross fizzed into the six-yard box is slightly too pacey for the head of Lukaku to meet it as even Rico pulls away from the delivery! Fulham escape unscathed!
75'
Manchester United are under little pressure as they pass the ball around in their own half, looking to see out the match comfortably.
73'
Fred enters the game and replaces J. Lingard.
I. Cissé enters the game and replaces A. Schürrle.
Fulham’s third change of the evening sees Schurrle replaced by Cisse.
Lingard is brought off as the job is more or less done, with Fred his replacement.
72'
J. Seri gets yellow.
Seri is now shown a yellow card for a mistimed challenge in midfield.
Minute
Description
70'
Incredible! Finally given a chance to get back into the match, and they go a man down almost immediately after making it 3-1. Anguissa has been playing on the edge all match, and the referee has definitely been keeping an eye on him. Their frustrations have told – and now they have an even bigger task with 20 minutes left!
68'
F. Anguissa gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
ANGUISSA IS SENT OFF! Following a challenge with Rashford, Anguissa is shown a second yellow, sending him off! It was a hard challenge, but it seemed fair at first. Rashford was not pleased with the challenge and the two get into a bit of pushing and jostling at the end. Ranieri is very unhappy on the touchline, but it makes no difference. Fulham are down to 10 men!
67'
Penalty goal scored by A. Kamara for Fulham!
GOAL! The substitute, brought on just over 20 minutes ago wins the penalty and converts it with a cool finish to the right-hand side! 3-1!
64'
Dalot gets free on the right and puts forward a wonderful, low cross which Lingard attempts to attack from in-between two defenders. It’s a superb effort, but Mawson and Ream manage to squeeze him out at the last.
62'
Mawson plays a superb headed pass forward for Sessegnon to latch onto, but the winger is unable to hold his line as he drifts offside just before the delivery. Another spell for Fulham breaks down to nothing.
60'
Statistics don’t always paint an accurate picture of a match – but they certainly do in this case. Fulham have managed only one shot at goal in comparison to Manchester United’s seven, and the visitors are also seeing much less of the ball, with the hosts dominating play for roughly 67% of the time. With a half hour remaining, it doesn’t look like the Cottagers are going to pull off the spectacular at the Theatre of Dreams.
58'
M. Rojo enters the game and replaces C. Smalling.
SCHURRLE’S CHANCE IS WASTED! After Sessegnon has a shot deflected from just outside the penalty area, the ball comes to the edge of the box for Schurrle who attempts a sweeping, curling effort towards goal. It balloons horribly however and goes way over the bar.
An apparent injury for Smalling necessitates a change as Rojo replaces him in defence.
54'
Fulham finally get forward after a Mata free-kick, but Sessegnon’s eagerness to win the ball back from Dalot leads him to make a silly challenge which gives Manchester United a chance to clear their lines from a set-piece deep in their own end.
52'
Lingard looks to slip Mata into the penalty area following a lovely build-up featuring a Rashford dummy, but the pass is hit with slightly too much pace, and it doesn’t hold up in the damp grass. Rico can collect for a goal-kick.
50'
Young’s ball forward for Mata is hit with accuracy as it reaches the midfielder in space. This time however, the centring pass to Lukaku doesn’t work and the defence boot it downfield with a rushed clearance.
48'
Rashford cuts inside and has a strike at goal which Rico can only palm into danger. Lukaku tees up a second effort which is deflected wide for a corner. It doesn’t look like Manchester United are done scoring!
46'
L. Vietto enters the game and replaces T. Cairney.
A. Kamara enters the game and replaces A. Mitrović.
Mitrovic is replaced by Kamara before the start of the second half.
It's two changes for Ranieri as Cairney will also play no further part – Vietto is the man to come on in his place.
Manchester United get the second half underway from the kick-off!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 FULHAM.
45' +1
Diogo Dalot gets yellow.
The fourth official indicates an additional two minutes at the end of the half for stoppages.
Dalot brings down Bryan who was bearing down on the penalty area. He’ll receive a yellow for the challenge.
44'
It’s now a matter of saving some pride for Fulham who have been absolutely outplayed in every facet of the match. Ranieri looks very unhappy on the touchline as his side certainly have their work cut out for them in the second half. Perhaps a single goal will buoy the mood and make for an enthralling finish – but it doesn’t look likely.
42'
R. Lukaku has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by Mata.
Mata’s second contribution of the match is a smart assist which allowed Lukaku an easy finish. He’s been fantastic all match!
LUKAKU MAKES IT THREE! It’s a simple tap-in finish after a short-corner routine. Mata passes to Lingard and continues his run, receiving the ball back as he approaches the byline and immediately centring it for Lukaku who slots it home with his left foot!
39'
WHAT A HIT – WHAT A SAVE! Rashford throws caution to the wind as he hits a free-kick to the left-hand corner of the goal with lovely dip and curve. The goalkeeper does a good job of seeing it all the way, but can only flap an arm to make the diving save as his defence come immediately to clear up the loose ball.
37'
Mata wins a free-kick after being pushed off the ball by Seri following a lovely backheel pass from Lingard. It’s in a central position, but perhaps slightly too far out to go for goal directly.
35'
Young looks to have a go at goal in similar fashion to the move which saw him open the scoring. He skips by Schurrle easily, leaving the winger on the floor as he enters the area, but Mawson comes across to put his boot in and clear it for a corner.
33'
It seems to be one of those days as Bryan gets forward and looks to put a cross into the area for Mitrovic, but his opportunity is blocked by the outstretched leg of Dalot. The ricochet, unfortunately, comes off the Fulham left-back who can’t locate it – as it rolls out slowly for a De Gea goal-kick.
31'
F. Anguissa gets yellow.
Anguissa steps in and takes Lingard down from behind in a cynical challenge which earns him a yellow card.
30'
Ranieri’s half-time team talk will need to be stirring if his side are to conjure up the three goals necessary to win the match. They’ve looked very poor on the attack today, with Cairney often completely isolated, as there never seems to be any forward runs made ahead of him.
28'
Mata has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by M. Rashford.
Rashford’s on a hat-trick of assists as United’s second also comes via a pass from the young England international forward.
MATA MAKES IT 2-0! Such a simply worked goal as Lukaku ends up on the left-wing with the ball and fires a perfectly weighted pass forward for Rashford who barrels into the penalty area. He looks up and finds Mata completely alone on the penalty spot, and he pulls it back for the Spain international to finish with a low left-footed effort! Well deserved!
26'
Cairney has little options ahead of him while he runs away from United midfielders in the centre of the park. He hits a long, hopeful ball ahead for Sessegnon to latch onto, but Jones comes across to clean up the danger.
24'
Mata has been very busy just behind Lukaku, constantly popping up to give the man in possession an option to pass. He’s facilitated moves for both Dalot and Young, as well as taking quality set-pieces.
22'
Mata’s corner is floated to a spot just outside the six-yard box for Anguissa to clear. A Manchester United player manages to hit a half-volley over the heads of the defenders, but it’s easy for Rico to stride towards and make a save.
21'
Cairney gets to the edge of the penalty area and sprays a pass with his left to Mitrovic on the left. His shot is a poor one after cutting inside however, as the wet grass slows down the pace of the ball allowing De Gea to collect easily.
19'
Young’s corner is beaten away by a Fulham head at the first time of asking. The ball only goes as far as Dalot in midfield who puts another good cross into the area for Smalling, whose header directed wide was deflected, winning another corner for the hosts.
17'
Fulham are having difficulty distributing through the middle, with United’s defence very eager to put pressure on the man in possession. With Herrera and Matic in midfield cleaning up all the danger, they’ll have to figure out another way to score. Perhaps Sessegnon can provide the spark up against the attacking Dalot.
13'
A. Young has scored a goal for Manchester United! Assist by M. Rashford.
Rashford’s smart distribution put Young in a place to beat his man. The England forward will get an assist for it!
WHAT A FINISH FROM YOUNG! 1-0 with a goal of the highest quality from Young who feints to win some space before cutting inside the penalty area from the left-hand side, beating Odoi in the process and bending a well-struck shot into the far corner, leaving Rico completely mystified!
10'
Smalling gets into the right-back position to spray it forward for Dalot to cross into the centre of the Fulham penalty area. The delivery is good, but none of his team-mates can get on the end of it. They retain possession and once again push it to the right, but this time the cross hits the hands of Rico who eventually makes a catch after bobbling slightly.
8'
Young, Herrera and Mata combine in a passing triangle for a good minute, trying to work an opening from which to cross on the left. Fed up, Herrera finally fires one in from deep, but it goes too far for Lukaku and into Rico’s gloves once again. It’s all very basic in the opening stages with a real lack of creativity.
7'
Young gets the ball into Lukaku early on the edge of the area and the striker does well to spread play to the left for Rashford with his first touch. The young forward is immediately surrounded by defenders, and despite trying to wriggle free, the attack breaks down and ends up in the arms of the goalkeeper.
5'
Matic fouls Cairney in midfield. It’s been quite the physical start which should come as no surprise considering the statures of both Lukaku and Mitrovic who lead the line for the two sides. Set-pieces and good deliveries will be crucial to goals, as the strikers are very adept aerially.
3'
It’s damp and rainy at the Theatre of Dreams which should lend itself to hold-up play, and detract slightly from intricate passing moves. It could be a bit of a route-one match, with an odd goal enough to win the three points.
1'
Fulham get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford!
A 2-2 draw with Arsenal midweek saw the Red Devils slip down to eighth place, behind both Everton and Bournemouth despite the trio all having the same points total. Winless in their last four domestic matches, Jose Mourinho’s side have been thoroughly unconvincing as we approach the halfway stage of the season, with their -1 goal differential the worst of any side above 10th position.
As Champions League qualification slips further away, Manchester United must start defeating all before them in order to claw back the now eight points that separate United from Chelsea in fourth. Today is as good a time as any to begin the climb, as they host a Fulham team rooted to the bottom of the table.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Marcos Rojo, Scott McTominay, Sergio Romero, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Fred, Marouane Fellaini.
MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): David De Gea; Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot; Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic; Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford; Romelu Lukaku.
FULHAM SUBS: Cyrus Christie, Marcus Bettinelli, Aboubakar Kamara, Neeskens Kebano, Stefan Johansen, Luciano Vietto, Ibrahima Cisse.
FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Rico; Denis Odoi, Tim Ream, Alfie Mawson, Joe Bryan; Jean Michael Seri, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa; Andre Schurrle, Tom Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon; Aleksandar Mitrovic.
It isn’t all doom and gloom for the Cottagers, as only a point separates the bottom of the table with salvation in 17th –occupied by Huddersfield Town. A run of positive results could definitely see an underperforming Fulham stave off relegation, but they’ll have to fix a leaky defence which has already shipped a league-worst 36 goals, a rate of more than two per match.
Claudio Ranieri certainly woke Fulham up in his first match in charge, beating Southampton 3-2. Since then, a somewhat expected 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and a 1-1 draw with Leicester City - the team Ranieri famously guided to Premier League glory - has Fulham 20th with nine points, but closer to the cluster of sides above them.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let's have a look at the team news.
Manchester United seem to be on cruise control as they head into the interval with a 3-0 lead. It’s been quite easy for Mourinho’s side who took the lead after 13 minutes through a beautiful Young curler from an acute angle. Mata’s cutback finish 15 minutes later doubled the lead and provided Fulham with a seemingly insurmountable task. Matters were made even worse for the Cottagers, who conceded a simple third goal three minutes from the half following a poorly defended short corner. Dalot and Young have been very positive on the flanks, but Mata has been the real influence, linking play and constantly providing an outlet.
Cairney has tried his best to create attacking opportunities, but he is constantly swarmed by Manchester United defenders. Sessegnon and Schurrle have not been sharp in opening space for a pass, as they are providing no help either – which explains Mitrovic’s total lack of involvement. It’s going to be a lesson in patience in the second half, as Ranieri’s side must not let their frustrations get the better of them.
That concludes our Premier League commentary of the fixture between Manchester United and Fulham! We hope you enjoyed it!
Manchester United will hope to take their winning run into a key run of fixtures, as they travel to face Valencia in midweek Champions League action, before facing Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday. Fulham have a full week to recover before hosting West Ham in the Premier League on the 15th.
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