Manchester United jumped back into the top four after making it six away wins on the spin at Fulham on Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage, as Paul Pogba stole the show.
Despite the 0-3 scoreline, the game lacked intensity from both sides. However, for United, they'll be happy at securing another win without having to get out of second gear, and the afforded privilege of resting a few key players ahead of a tough run-in.
For Fulham though, relegation will be more of a formality than a fight if the Cottagers don't find several levels above this performance.
We're delighted to announce #MUFC have won again! #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 9, 2019
The game was less than two minutes old when Fulham carved out the first gilt-edged chance of the game from a quick counter-attack. Andre Schurrle led the charge out wide and expertly picked out Luciano Vietto unmarked at the far post, but the forward scuffed a big chance to put some early pressure on the visitors. Things quickly went downhill from their for Claudio Ranieri's side.
Pogba
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in charge on Dec 22nd, Paul Pogba has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player.
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 9, 2019
7 goals, 5 assists#FULMUN #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/u2t6fsU5AY
Fulham
Picking up the ball just inside the opposition half, the Frenchman went on a brilliant solo run, beating two defenders before curling the ball past Rico to put Manchester United 2-0 up.
Into the second half, Martial continued to create problems for Fulham and was bundled to the ground in the area by Maxime La Marchand on 65 minutes. Pogba stepped up to take the penalty and added some icing to the cake with his second and United's third.
Here's our breakdown of this one.
FULHAM
Key Talking Point
Claudio Ranieri had put his faith in a 3-4-3 formation in his early weeks at Fulham but continued defensive troubles have seen them switch back to a back four. The Cottagers started in a
We are trying
— Anthony Oxborough (@anthonyoxboroug) February 9, 2019
Cheers Greg we didn’t realise
— Calvin Johnson (@Calvinj48848129) February 9, 2019
Player Ratings:
Starting XI: Sergio Rico (5), Odoi (3), Le Marchand (3), Ream (6), Bryan (4), Chambers (5), Seri (5), Schurrle (7)*, Vietto (6), Babel (4), Mitrovic (5)
Substitutes: Christie (5), Cairney (6), Sessegnon (6)
STAR MAN - It's really difficult to pick out a good performance from this Fulham team. It was more like a training exercise than a competitive match at times for United. Poor quality but worse still, poor effort.
Ranieris smirk when Babel missed says it all, he is not the man to take us forward.
— Wayne Page (@WPage14) February 9, 2019
Credit Andre Schurrle for a sparkling first 10 minutes in which he created Fulham's best chance of the game. The German did little else of note before he was removed in the second half but that one moment of quality was more than any of his teammates managed.
WORST PERFORMER - Defence is a big problem for Fulham that much is already obvious but it was still of a woeful effort by those standards. United didn't really play with great fluidity and struggled to create much of note but still troubled the Cottagers.
I think this season is the most unhappy I have been as a Fulham fan. Rare spells of hope and quickly diminished with woeful performances and horrific team selection. Just put us in the championship now and be done with it
— Charlie (@whatsthesitrep) February 9, 2019
Fingers have to be pointed at full-back Denis Odoi, two of the goals come down his side and he's nowhere near any of them. Le Marchand also makes a mess of things but he at least has the excuse of covering for Odoi.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Key Talking Point
It may have been poor opposition and a far from vintage display from Manchester United, but the Solskjaer effect continues to take hold with key players loving life under the Norweigan.
Pogba and Martial were the two beneficiaries of that positivity today and made the difference for their side.
Name a more iconic duo. We'll wait. #MUFC #FULMUN pic.twitter.com/OIR5Iv3sWk
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 9, 2019
A lot was made about the absence of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford
Player Ratings:
Starting XI: De Gea (6), Shaw (6), Jones (7), Smalling (7), Dalot (6), Pogba (9), Matic (6), Herrera (7), Martial (9)*, Lukaku (6), Mata (6)
Substitutes: Sanchez (6), McTominay (6), Bailly (6)
STAR MAN - Pogba may steal the headlines but this performance was all about Anthony Martial. An often overlooked star for United but he proved they made the right decision in tying the Frenchman down to a new long-term contract.
A goal, an assist and an all-around top drawer performance. He's had to play second fiddle to the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Rashford but the forward always takes his chances and has an excellent goals-to-games ratio.
WORST PERFORMER - It was comfortable for United in the end but Fulham did create plenty of promising positions for themselves. The home side actually had 15 shots but struggled to produce the quality in front of goal.
After one game...
— (@PPxunited) February 9, 2019
The centre-halves stood strong but the full-backs made it a little too easy for the Cottagers. Diogo Dalot hasn't had a lot of game time this season so he was maybe a bit rusty but he'll have to step up his game for the run ahead.
Looking Ahead
Goodness me 😂😂😭😭 https://t.co/jJrZB6bD6i
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) February 9, 2019
Fulham now consecutive away fixtures with a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham followed by a crucial tie at fellow strugglers Southampton.
Manchester United's unbeaten run will really be put to the test in their upcoming fixtures, they face PSG in the Champions League next before a trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Source : 90min