Fulham v Manchester United | Premier League | Match Highlights

Lisandro Martínez’s deflected strike in the second half proved to be the decisive moment as Manchester United scraped past Fulham with a narrow 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage, earning just their second Premier League away win since September. The match was far from a classic, with both sides failing to impress for large spells, but United’s resilience and a slice of fortune ensured they left west London with all three points. Fulham, who have earned widespread acclaim this season for their disciplined play and tactical cohesion, were left frustrated as they failed to capitalize on their home advantage. Meanwhile, United’s performance, though far from convincing, was enough to extend their unbeaten league run at Craven Cottage, a streak that stretches back to December 2009.

The game itself offered little in terms of attacking quality, especially from the visitors, who struggled to create meaningful chances in the first half. Fulham looked the more threatening side early on, enjoying periods of sustained possession and pressing United back into their defensive third. However, despite their positive start, Fulham’s efforts yielded little in terms of clear-cut opportunities, with most of their attacking moves fizzling out before troubling André Onana in the United goal. By the end of the first half, Fulham’s attempts amounted to a meager 0.2 expected goals (xG), a testament to United’s disciplined defending and Fulham’s inability to turn their pressure into something tangible.

For their part, United appeared content to absorb pressure and play cautiously, with their attacking output in the opening 45 minutes bordering on nonexistent. It wasn’t until just before halftime that the visitors registered their first shot of the game, a tame effort from Matthijs de Ligt that was comfortably dealt with by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. This marked United’s lowest first-half shot tally in a league game since their encounter with Liverpool in April last year, when they failed to register a single attempt. The lack of creativity and intent from the visitors was evident, and by the time the halftime whistle blew, it seemed as though United were playing for a draw.

The second half brought a slight improvement from United as they began to see more of the ball and showed glimpses of attacking intent. Bruno Fernandes, as ever, was at the heart of their creative efforts, and his clever free-kick in the 56th minute almost caught Leno off guard, though the ball hit the side netting. This moment injected some life into United’s play, and by the hour mark, they had enjoyed a 65.4% share of possession in the second half, a significant increase from their 50% share in the first period. However, for all their possession, United struggled to translate it into meaningful action in the final third, with neither side managing a single touch in the opposition’s penalty area until well past the 70th minute. The lack of incisiveness and end product from both teams underscored the scrappy nature of the contest.

Given the lack of quality on display, it was perhaps fitting that the winning goal came in a fortuitous manner. In the 73rd minute, Lisandro Martínez found himself in an advanced position and struck the ball from 25 yards out. His effort took a significant deflection off Sasa Lukic’s shin, looping over the helpless Leno and into the back of the net. The Argentinian’s celebration was one of relief and jubilation, as his third Premier League goal involvement under Ruben Amorim proved to be the game’s decisive moment. Only Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo have contributed more goal involvements for United since Amorim’s arrival, highlighting Martínez’s growing influence beyond his defensive duties.

Fulham, to their credit, did not give up and came agonizingly close to snatching an equalizer late in the game. In the dying moments, a dangerous header from Joachim Andersen seemed destined for the back of the net, but United’s young midfielder Toby Collyer was perfectly positioned to nod the ball off the line, preserving United’s slender lead. The importance of Collyer’s intervention cannot be overstated, as it effectively secured two points for United in what was otherwise a nervy and unconvincing performance. Moments later, Amad Diallo thought he had doubled United’s lead with a clinical finish, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. While the disallowed goal might have provided a more comfortable ending for the visitors, it ultimately made no difference to the outcome.

For United, this victory, though far from their best performance, was a significant result in the context of their faltering away form. Manager Ruben Amorim will no doubt take heart from his team’s defensive solidity and their ability to grind out a result in challenging circumstances. However, he will also be acutely aware of the shortcomings that persist in his side’s attacking play. The lack of creativity, fluidity, and clinical finishing remains a concern, and United cannot afford to rely on moments of luck or individual brilliance to secure points consistently. With a tough run of fixtures on the horizon, Amorim will need to address these issues quickly if United are to build momentum and climb the Premier League table.

Fulham, meanwhile, will feel hard done by, as their performance deserved at least a point. Marco Silva’s side has earned praise this season for their disciplined and organized approach, but this game highlighted their limitations in breaking down resolute defenses. Despite enjoying the better of the first half, their lack of cutting edge in the final third ultimately cost them. Silva will likely take positives from the performance, particularly the way his team controlled large portions of the game, but he will also recognize the need for greater ruthlessness in front of goal. Fulham’s solid league position ensures they remain comfortably clear of the relegation battle, but they will need to rediscover their scoring touch to maintain their upward trajectory.

As the final whistle blew, the contrasting emotions of the two teams were evident. United’s players celebrated a hard-earned victory, while Fulham’s dejected expressions reflected their frustration at a missed opportunity. For both teams, this match served as a reminder of the fine margins that often separate success and failure in football. While United can take solace in the fact that they managed to secure three points despite a largely underwhelming performance, Fulham will need to regroup and focus on converting their dominance into tangible results in future matches.

In the broader context of the season, this result keeps United’s faint hopes of a top-four finish alive, albeit with much work still to be done. For Fulham, the defeat is a minor setback in what has been an otherwise commendable campaign. Both teams will now turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures, with United hoping to build on this win and Fulham aiming to bounce back quickly. As the Premier League season unfolds, matches like these, decided by the narrowest of margins, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the fortunes of teams at both ends of the table.