United Beyond Manchester

Without a true number nine, Manchester United looked like a shell of their recent selves and fell 2-1 at home to Fulham. After a run of great results, Manchester United reverted back to the form of the first half of the season in this one and logged a very poor performance. We take a look at the match action below.

First Half Analysis

Fulham were the aggressor from the start, creating more chances and getting more shots away early. The only shot on target in the first fifteen minutes came from Fulham through former Red Andreas Pereira, but was comfortable for Onana. Manchester United got lucky in the 17th minute when Alex Iwobi tore through the middle but failed to get his shot on target.

United’s start was extremely poor, and they looked unsure of how they needed to attack without Hojlund in the side. The ball was given away far too often early on, and the movement was choppy.

The Reds’ first real chance came in the 26th minute when Alejandro Garnacho’s shot beat the keeper but was cleared by Antonee Robinson. Harry Maguire had a half-chance on a follow-up but put it over the bar.

Garnacho’s chance was followed by a brilliant attempt from Dalot in the 30th minute that hit the outside post. Dalot stepped inside and attempted a strike from distance, and it nearly paid off.

United’s post was hit just two minutes later when Rodrigo Muniz received the ball in the box, turned, and had a vicious hit that smashed the outside of the post.

Fulham created another chance in the 38th minute after Casemiro was caught on the ball trying an ill-advised backheel. The opportunity fell to Andreas Pereira, but his curling effort was saved brilliantly by Andre Onana.

Just two minutes after Pereira’s chance, Alejandro Garnacho had his own curler saved in a similar fashion.

Despite a very end-to-end finish to the first half, the match remained 0-0 heading into halftime.

Second Half Analysis

The second half started the way the first did, with Fulham in the ascendency. Multiple chances fell to the away side, but each of them came and went without a goal.

A clash of heads early in the second half led to a forced substitution of Casemiro. Scott McTominay entered the fray in his place, while Ten Hag also replaced the debutant Omari Forson with Christian Eriksen.

Fulham finally made their dominance count in the 65th minute with a smashed hit from inside the box from Calvin Bassey. The away side earned a corner that Bassey first hit into his teammate. When the ball fell back to him, he made no mistake and struck it powerfully over the head of Onana.

Manchester United had a great opportunity to level off a corner in the 80th minute, but Harry Maguire’s header flashed over the top. It was a chance that Maguire has scored time and again, and his expression revealed his disappointment.

Harry Maguire made up for his missed header in the 89th minute by being the right place at the right time after a parried save by Bernd Leno. Bruno Fernandes cut in from the wing and put a shot on frame. A subtle move across Leno’s vision by Scott McTominay may have just affected Leno enough to spill the ball to the feet of Harry Maguire, who passed the ball into the net.

Despite Manchester United looking the more likely side to go on and win, Fulham retook the lead after pitiful transition defending from United in the depths of stoppage time. Adama Traore picked up the ball and drove straight through the middle of the field with no one attempting to stop him. Harry Maguire had a chance to bring down Traore near midfield but instead allowed Traore to treat him like a cone. The Fulham speedster picked out Alex Iwobi, who wrongfooted Onana and provided Fulham a shocking late victory.

Player of the Match

I was prepared to hand the Player of the Match to Harry Maguire just for equalizing, but his inability to be aware of the transition at the end of the match cost United a point. No one played well. The front three did not look like they knew what to do without Hojlund, and the midfield was overrun. The defending, especially in transition, was poor and failed to really support the attack. Andre Onana had a solid first half but was shaky in the second. I don’t have a Player of the Match, but let me know in the comments if someone stood out to you.

Looking Ahead

On Wednesday, Manchester United travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. United are looking to continue strong in this competition after a disappointing loss to Manchester City in last season’s final.

Speaking of Manchester City, United will travel to the Etihad next Sunday for a massive game in the Premier League. United will need to rebound in this critical match to stay alive in the race for top 4 (or 5).