Manchester, February 25, 2024: Manchester United suffered a shocking defeat at Old Trafford as Fulham secured a 2-1 victory with an injury-time goal from Alex Iwobi. The result dealt a significant blow to United’s hopes of Champions League qualification and served as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in reclaiming their former glory.
Fulham, who had only won once at Old Trafford since 1963 prior to this match, took the lead through Calvin Bassey’s strike after a corner-kick scramble. Despite Harry Maguire’s late equalizer seemingly salvaging a point for the hosts, Iwobi’s late heroics sealed the win for Fulham.
The defeat compounded United’s woes, with injuries sidelining key players like Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw. Manager Erik ten Hag’s decision to field 19-year-old Omari Forson over high-profile signing Antony raised eyebrows, highlighting the team’s struggles to find consistency and effectiveness in attack.
Despite occasional glimpses of resilience, particularly in their comeback win against Aston Villa, United’s performance against Fulham fell short of the standards expected from a club with ambitions of challenging for top honors. The loss underscored the gap between United and their rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
For Fulham, the victory marked a historic moment, ending their 11-game winless streak in Premier League away matches. Their dominance in midfield and clinical finishing showcased their potential to compete at the highest level.
As United grapple with their shortcomings, Fulham’s triumph serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and the need for consistency and determination to succeed at the highest level.
The defeat will undoubtedly prompt soul-searching at Old Trafford as United reassess their ambitions and objectives for the remainder of the season.
- Player of the Match: Tom Cairney (Fulham) with an average rating of 7.98
Manchester United Players: - Squad number 37: Mainoo – Average rating: 5.11
- Squad number 5: Maguire – Average rating: 5.11
- Squad number 17: Garnacho – Average rating: 5.10
- Squad number 10: Rashford – Average rating: 4.82
- Squad number 20: Diogo Dalot – Average rating: 4.66
- Squad number 62: Forson – Average rating: 4.63
- Squad number 19: Varane – Average rating: 4.56
- Squad number 18: Casemiro – Average rating: 4.55
- Squad number 24: Onana – Average rating: 4.49
- Squad number 39: McTominay – Average rating: 4.41
- Squad number 2: Lindelöf – Average rating: 4.35
- Squad number 8: Bruno Fernandes – Average rating: 4.12
- Squad number 14: Eriksen – Average rating: 3.76
- Squad number 16: Diallo – Average rating:
- Squad number 21: Antony-Average rating: 2.39
Match Stats:
Possession:
- Home (Manchester United): 57%
- Away (Fulham): 43%
Shots:
- Home (Manchester United): 21
- Away (Fulham): 17
Shots on Target:
- Home (Manchester United): 9
- Away (Fulham): 5
Corners:
- Home (Manchester United): 10
- Away (Fulham): 9
Fouls:
- Home (Manchester United): 6
- Away (Fulham): 11
