MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Harry Maguire of Manchester United looks dejected after Alex Iwobi of Fulham scores his teams second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham FC at Old Trafford on February 24, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s top four hopes in the Premier League took a big dent after losing 2-1 to Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Premier League
Result: Manchester Utd 1-2 Fulham
Date: 24 February 2024
Venue: Old Trafford
United were without the in-form Rasmus Hojlund through injury, as Erik ten Hag gave a full league debut to Omari Forson while Victor Lindelof came in for the injured Luke Shaw.
It was the away side who looked lively in the early stages, with Alex Iwobi passing up two good chances in the final while the home side struggled to carve out any clear-cut openings.
After a quiet start, the Red Devils were inches away from finding the opening goal as Diogo Dalot unleashed a strike from distance that struck the upright.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in the final ten minutes of the half, as United’s Andre Onana did well to keep out Andreas Pereira’s long-range strike while Alejandro Garnacho saw his effort turned away by Bernd Leno at the other end.
Ten Hag made a double change ten minutes into the second half, as Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen replaced the injured Casemiro and Forson as they aimed to improve going forward.
However, it was the visitors who got the break through in the 65th minute when Calvin Bassey rifled the ball into the roof of the net after United failed to clear their lines from a corner.
Frustration began to grow for the home side, who struggled to carve out any openings in the box as Fulham defended deep in their own half.
United gave themselves some with two minutes left on the clock as Leno parried Bruno Fernandes’ shot into the path of Harry Maguire, who volleyed home from close range.
The home side’s joy was short-lived as Fulham bagged the winning in the seventh minute of time added on, as a swift counter attack ended ended with Adama Traore picking out Iwobi who fired into the bottom corner.
