Fulham 0-3 Manchester United
Manchester United is a Premier League force again, at last, and temporary coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves a whole lot of credit.
The Manchester United fans sang the name of their caretaker manager as they breezed to victory under blustery conditions at Craven Cottage on the bank of the River Thames. This was another tick on his application for the job as he made it eight wins in nine league games. And with Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man, Mike Phelan, by his side, OGS has put himself in pole position to be the next permanent manager.
There was a Gallic flavour to this win with first-half goals from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial which blew their hosts away before Pogba added a second-half penalty.
The Premier League 2019 betting odds on a top-four finish for United have tumbled in recent weeks, and that was unthinkable back in December. Manchester United’s win lifts them into the top four, and they will probably stay there as Chelsea visit Manchester City tomorrow.
But for Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham, the task of staying in the top flight is looking harder by the week.
Highlights of the game
The hosts made a bright start after coming under pressure in the first minute. Fulham broke and had a glorious chance to go ahead when Luciano Vietto got on the end of an Andre Schurrle cross, but he hit his volley wide.
Ever-present Aleksandar Mitrovic has been Fulham’s biggest goal threat and made a nuisance of himself, beating Chris Smalling. His header landed at the feet of Schurrle who blasted over the bar. But the defensive frailty that could well ruin Fulham’s season was on show again in the 14th minute.
Maxime Le Marchand lost the ball to Ander Herrera and he found Anthony Martial, who in turn slid the ball through to Paul Pogba down the left. As keeper Sergio Rico set himself for a cross, the Frenchman hammered the ball high into the net to beat the keeper at his near post.
And it was 2-0 on 23 minutes with an equally brilliant goal. United broke quickly again, and Martial outpaced the Fulham defence with superb skill when Phil Jones found the young striker. He then fired a beauty beyond Rico and into the net. The Cottagers recently came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Brighton, but these Red Devils under OGS are an entirely different prospect.
Pogba continued to run the show in the second half, and when Ranieri took Schurrle off before the hour mark the frustrated home fans chanted, ‘you don’t know what you’re doing!’ at the beleaguered Fulham boss. He had subbed his best player who has recently made it known he wants away.
And it got worse for the hosts when Le Marchand felled Juan Mata in the penalty area. Up stepped Pogba with his shuffling, stuttering run up and fired the ball into the right corner. Fulham looked beaten and they were.
Mitrovic did finally bring David de Gea into action with a well-directed header, but the United keeper saved it comfortably. Substitute Alexis Sanchez should have made it four when he went clean through on goal, but his shot was too close to Rico. Then Fulham’s day was summed up when Ryan Babel missed a sitter and was immediately subbed.
Key Statistics
The only blip in Manchester United’s Premier League 2019 results was a home draw with Burnley; otherwise, it’s been wins all the way for the Red Devils. And they have won six consecutive away games for the first time since 2009.
This victory makes it 20 out of 28 for United in the Premier League against Fulham, losing just three and drawing five.
Pogba’s early strike was his seventh goal in eight league games. What must Jose Mourinho be thinking?
If Fulham are to put in a real survival bid, then they must win their home games. They came into this clash with two wins from the last three at the Cottage, but they haven’t had back-to-back victories in the Premier League since 2013.
What’s next?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest test so far is looming as French giants PSG head to Old Trafford for a Round of 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday. Take a look at the odds here at SBOBET on what promises to be a cracking game. And then it’s the big northwest derby, Manchester United against Liverpool…what a belter!
Two difficult away games against vastly improved teams face Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham: a trip to West Ham is followed by an away clash with Southampton. The Cottagers have been poor on the road so I don’t see much light at the end of their tunnel.
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