A penny for the thoughts of the Nigerian keyboard warriors. Alex Iwobi came off social media in the aftermath of abusive comments after the Super Eagles were beaten in the African Cup of Nations final earlier this month, but he scored a stoppage-time winner to seal Fulham’s first win at Manchester United in more than two decades. His compatriot Calvin Bassey had fired Marco Silva’s side into the lead for the third Old Trafford fixture in succession, but the visitors showed serious mettle to recover from conceding Harry Maguire’s 89th minute equaliser to earn a deserved win eight minutes later as Iwobi drilled home a precise pass from the rapid Adama Traore.

This wasn’t a backs-to-the-wall effort that required heroic defending. Silva’s side might easily have been out of sight by half-time if they had been able to finish a series of chances fashioned by a combination of incisive play in the final third and United’s lethargy and disorganisation. The Portuguese head coach selected Sasa Lukic to replace the suspended Joao Palhinha and the Serbian responded with his strongest showing in a white shirt.

Fulham’s forward line was enlivened by the introduction of Iwobi, who had come off the bench to threaten a comeback in last weekend’s defeat by Aston Villa, and the Nigerian typified the travelling side’s sense of ambition. He shot wide from just outside the area after Rodrigo Muniz had outjumped Harry Maguire and before failing to hit the target after racing through on Andre Onana after a wonderful ball from Harry Wilson had unlocked the home defence.

United, robbed of the red hot Rasmus Hojland, hardly featured as an attacking force bar a rasping drive from Diego Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho’s curler, which was headed off the line by Antonee Robinson. Marcus Rashford struggled to make an impression with Tosin Adarabioyo excelling onto his return to Manchester and the teenage winger Omari Forson’s first start lasted only 52 minutes. Andreas Pereira extended Onana with a curler before Muniz turned Victor Lindelof inside out and smacked the outside of the post having been found by Iwobi.

The home side did up the intensity before half time with Garnacho drifting from the left flank and seeing his strike splendidly saved by Leno, but Fulham began purposely after the interval. Antonee Robinson advanced into the United penalty area but his low cross couldn’t be converted by either Muniz or Pereira, who arrived late at the far post. Harrison Reed nearly embarassed Onana with a right-wing cross but the Whites went ahead from Pereira’s corner. Bassey’s first shot struck Timothy Castagne, but the defender drilled the follow up high into the net to score his first Fulham goal.

Bruno Fernandes, who broke Fulham hearts at Craven Cottage in November, shot straight at Leno and then whipped a corner onto the head of Harry Maguire, who nodded over when it seemed easier to score. The England international, fortunate to have only been booked after a horrible late lunge at Lukic, made amends with a minute to play, following up after Leno had failed to hold Fernandes’ effort. Maguire had started the move himself, holding the ball up like a centre forward before spreading the play wide, and showed a striker’s instinct to snaffle up the rebound in the six-yard.

It seemed as if Silva’s hopes of emulating Chris Coleman’s class of 2003 had been cruelly extinguished once again. The home fans and players scented a chance to steal all three points, but the Whites held firm. They went close to restoring the lead when Rodrigo Muniz headed Castagne’s cross wide before Traore tore away from Maguire, accelerating towards the penalty area before finding Iwobi, whose low finish nestled in the bottom corner with Onana rooted to the middle of the goal. On the 31st anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore, Fulham could celebrate a special victory that seemed a long time coming.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Lindelof (Antony 90+9), Maguire, Varane; Casemiro (McTominay 53), Mainoo (Diallo 80); Forson (Eriksen 53), Garnacho, Fernandes; Rashford. Subs (not used): Bayindir, Evans, Amrabat.

BOOKED: Maguire.

GOAL: Maguire (89).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Reed (Traore 77), Lukic; Wilson (Diop 81), Iwobi, Pereira (Cairney 68); Muniz. Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Ballo-Toure, Ream, De Cordova-Reid, Broja.

BOOKED: Adarabioyo, Pereira, Wilson, Leno.

GOALS: Bassey (65), Iwobi (90+7).

REFEREE: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

ATTENDANCE: 73,487.