16 August 2024
Man Utd 1 Fulham 0
Man Utd went into the new season full of hope and devoid of first-team players. Injuries were already plaguing them before the first ball of the campaign was even kicked. Fulham were the visitors and the Red Devils’ manager had already been making his excuses before a single fan had even ventured into the ground, stating how they were ‘not ready for this game’.
Gone is the fear-factor of visiting Old Trafford and Fulham started on the front foot. Adama Traore was causing problems down the right wing yet he just could not find the quality in his delivery into the box. The hosts then came on their first attack of the game as Amad weaved his way into the box before going to ground.
Despite the referee not being interested in his claims for a penalty, as Fulham counter-attacked, the youngster was still rolling around in the visitors’ penalty area seemingly channelling his inner ‘Raygun’. Tete seemed short of options in the middle of the park, so tried to bend one in the top corner but Onana made a good fingertip save to put it over the crossbar.
Mainoo made a good start to the game and fed the ball into the path of Casemiro. He only had eyes for goal but his shot went sailing high over the target. The Brazilian is not really known for his 30-yard ‘worldies’ and this showed why. Soon after he was involved again as a poor pass out from Leno presented the ball to the feet of the defensive midfielder, just outside the Fulham box.
He cushioned a pass into the path of Bruno Fernandes but his shot was well blocked by The Cottagers’ keeper. The Red Devils’ skipper was playing in a centre forward role due to the injuries they were trying to deal with. However, with this line-up Erik ten Hag was making a bigger statement to Marcus Rashford and Joshua Kirkzee what he thought of their ability to lead the line.
The hosts were starting to play some crisp, passing football in the final third. Casemiro was involved again as he threaded a superb pass into the box to present Bruno Fernandes with another chance. As he looked to slot it past Leno, the Fulham keeper made a superb save with his trailing leg to deny ten Hag’s side the lead. It was starting to seem like another one of those days for the Dutchman’s side.
Towards the end of the half, Amad swung a corner into the far post to pick out Casemiro. His downward header was never troubling Leno as it went wide of the target. United were huffing and puffing but they had seemed to have met the little pig who built his house out of titanium. The sides went into the break all square, although the hosts had dominated for the majority of the game.
Into the second half and Rashford looked to cut in from the left and run at the defence. They got a bit fortunate when his poor touch saw the ball run into the path of Mount. Once again Leno was quick off his line to make an all-important block. At this stage you just felt it was a matter of time before ten Hag’s side broke the deadlock.
Man Utd continued to press and Casemiro played the ball into the path of Mainoo outside the box. His first time shot was dragged just wide of the post with the Fulham keeper at full stretch. At this level it is those fine margins that can cost you games and the longer this match continued goalless, the visitors were growing in confidence.
After an hour of the game Fulham had a rare attack. As the hosts failed to clear their lines, Muniz tried an elaborate overhead kick but his effort took a big deflection. As the ball looped up towards goal, Onana was forced to tip it over the bar to keep the scores level. If the Cameroon keeper thought last season was a blip, he was looking to be kept just as busy this campaign.
The Cottagers had a big chance on the break as they had a three-on-one. As the ball was played into Pereira at the back post, he played a teasing cross come shot which seemed to have Onana beaten. Martinez slid in to clear at the expense of a corner. As all the Man Utd defenders chest bumped one another it made you think of Roy Keane in the stands saying, ‘he’s just doing his job, what are you doing that for?’
Just as the game seemed be heading for a draw, Casemiro’s cross was diverted towards the far post by debutant Zirkzee. Leno could not prevent the ball nestling into the far corner and it seemed the Red Devils had sealed victory late on. Old Trafford erupted as they finally got the goal they had been craving. They could forgive the performance as long as their team secured all three points.
Man Utd could have made this a much more comfortable scoreline as Rashford ran clean-through on goal in the dying moments of the game. He unselfishly squared it as Leno came rushing out but Garnacho scuffed his shot wide of the goal. This was quite the metaphor for the performance and this Man Utd side under Erik ten Hag. Able to lull you into false hope but all too often leaving you feeling empty inside.
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