The Premier League is an unforgiving beast. Marco Silva knows this better than most have been written off by English punditocracy after being binned by Everton. The Portuguese head coach, largely responsible for Fulham’s revival since his refreshing front foot philosophy succeeded the deluded Scott Parker, had to take on the task of restoring belief to a team relegation to the Championship and, two years later, has the Whites punching above their weight having secured a second successive season in the top flight for the first time in a decade.
Fulham’s prospects for replicating their mid-table finish on their return to the top tier last time where dealt a severe blow both by the departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic for Saudi Arabia, after Silva and Willian had resisted lucrative approaches, and the club’s failure to replace a proven goalscorer. They more than matched a rudderless Manchester United side, who looked devoid of drive after Scott McTominay’s early scuffy finish from a set play was ruled out following another ridiculous VAR delay, but paid for failing to take their chances and spurning three opportunities to clear the danger before Bruno Fernandes struck a low drive beyond Bernd Leno in the first minute of stoppage time.
The Cottagers have still failed to beat United for fifteen years – having been on the wrong end of three titanic tussles last term. Fulham gave this one a good go and grew in confidence after the visitors were denied a dream start when McTominay’s finish at the far post was chalked off because Harry Maguire – clearly in an offside position – was adjudged to be interfering with play. United were surprised and, perhaps Fulham’s defenders and Leno were too, after the crucial Manchester City second goal two months ago had been allowed to stand.
Fulham made the running in the first half but struggled to land a killer blow. Joao Palhinha did what Joao Palhinha does, winning the ball effortlessly, spreading the play and striding through midfield, whilst Harry Wilson appeared revitalised by opening the scoring at Ipswich. The home side huffed and puffed but didn’t manage a shot on target in the first half – with a host of blocked shots, with Andreas Pereira and Willian forcing desperate blocks from Diego Dalot – whilst Rodrigo Muniz strained every sinew to get change out of Maguire before suffering what seemed a serious injury.
Anthony, who had turned the FA Cup between the sides that is now more routinely remembered for Mitrovic’s meltdown, was utterly anonymous and Tim Ream kept Rasmus Højland under wraps with relative ease. In the second half, Silva’s side posed more questions for André Onana. The United goalkeeper made a superb save to keep out a Wilson curler and then batted away a drive from Palhinha after his defence had gone to sleep, but the introduction of young winger Facundo Pellestri for Anthony perked Eric ten Haag’s outfit up.
Last year, Alejandro Garnacho’s late winner broke Fulham’s hearts. This time, it was Fernandes, who had done very little except berate the officials and team-mates for the proceeding ninety minutes, who sent the travelling supporters wild when his drive from just outside the area beat Leno’s despairing dive via a deflection. Pellestri had played his part, harrying Antonee Robinson and Palhinha, to get the ball back for the visitors high up the pitch – but Fulham’s defeat ultimately felt self-inflicted.
Silva’s side fight until the end, but they have mustered nine goals in eleven league matches. A high-class replacement for Mitrovic would make the Whites far more formidable. On a day when the Craven Cottage faithful politely made their point about the club’s price-gouging, the case for splashing some of Shahid Khan’s billions in January appeared unimpeachable.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Bassey, Ream; Palhinha, Iwobi (Jimenez 89); Wilson (Cairney 90), Willian (Lukic 76), Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 81); Muniz (Vinicius 76). Subs (not used): Rodak, Ballo-Toure, de Fougerolles, Reed.
BOOKED: A. Robinson, Palhinha, Iwobi, Wilson, Pereira.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Dalot, Maguire, Evans; McTominay, Eriksen (Mount 79); Anthony (Pellestri 63), Garnacho (Varane 90+3), Fernandes; Hojlund (Martial 79). Subs (not used): Bayindir, Regulion, Amrabat, Mainoo, Mejbri.
BOOKED: Dalot, Ganarcho.
GOAL: Fernandes (90+1).
REFEREE: Jon Brooks (South Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 24,415
The case to buy a top class striker was a given before Mitro left. You need 2 at this level. We only ever had Mitro. The other 3 just aren’t good enough at this level. We knew that before Mitro left. Once Mitro left it was critical….and yet here we are. A team all playing for the manager lacking someone to put the ball in the net. Incompetence to have got into this situation. Of course we’re going to have address it in January which raises the question why allow the first half of the season without fixing it??? Crazy.
Christmas has come even earlier than usual. A draw would have been a fair result in what was a pretty dire game. As for their disallowed goal, how can that be deemed offside when City’s goal stood? With or without VAR the current offside rule is always going to mean that decisions are made as a matter of opinion, whether it be the assistant referee’s or the VAR officials’. If we reverted to the original ruling where any player, regardless of whether he is interfering with play, is offside then the goal is disallowed VAR would be dealing with fact not opinion. As Bill Shankley said : If a player is not interfering with play he shouldn’t be on the pitch.
Dave,
Whilst I agree with virtually all you say, I think Muniz showed today that he has massive potential and considering he’s only 22, will get better.
Yes, we massively need a new striker in January and Vinicius and Jimenez are not up to it.
Agree with Phil. Muniz is putting his case to be the best of the 3. Physical, tries to hold the ball up, aggressive. Let’s hope his injury isn’t serious….but it looks like he knows something by his reaction. Poor kid.
We lost the match when the gaffer took off our two best players, Wilson and Iwobi, both were a constant threat to United’s defence and had to have their midfielders backtracking all the time. As soon as they were brought out, probably to run out the clock, the dynamics changed and we could not get the ball away from our box for the last minutes. Then the inevitable happened, a sore loss.