Fulham 0, Manchester United 1
Bruno Fernandes scored an injury time winner as Manchester United beat Fulham at Craven Cottage at the end of a traumatic week.
The result meant that United ended a hugely disappointing week on a high after surviving a poor game in London.
United manager Erik Ten Hag praised the performance of Harry Maguire after confirming the big defender only had a hand injury.
He said: “He played a massive game. He showed leadership and was very good in and out of possession.
Ten Hag confirmed that Rashford was ruled out after training on Friday and praised the team spirit of the team who faced Fulham.
He added: “Every game we have to win, it was a solid performance and I am pleased with it and the spirit of the team against Fulham.
“We picked up second balls and progressed the ball, but it’s clear we have to create more.
“The players fight for each other – we have to win every game and we have to do it together.”
Marcus Rashford was ruled out with an injury in a week where he reportedly went on a birthday night out following a heavy Manchester derby defeat, and he joined Casemiro, who was injured, on the sidelines.
The win was not without more than one controversy as Harry Maguire was allowed to play on despite a painful looking clash of heads with Rodrigo Muniz with less than a minute played.
Maguire was allowed to play on and ironically had one of his better games in a red shirt but was later adjudged to have been offside when Scott McTominay thought he had opened the scoring for the Reds from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
Chances were few in a game lacking quality – Joao Palhinha could have scored for the home side but United improved after the under-par Antony was replaced by Facundo Pellistri.
And in a game where Fulham probably deserved to shade it but were missing a player capable of finishing off the chances they made – and Pellistri forced the ball to Fernandes who did the rest with a curling finish.