Man Utd 1-2 Fulham: Alex Iwobi scores stoppage-time winner as hosts' top-four push hits the buffers

Alex Iwobi stunned Manchester United with a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Fulham dealt a blow to Erik ten Hag's side's top-four hopes with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

United had been in superb form in 2024, remaining unbeaten and winning their last five matches, while Rasmus Hojlund had scored seven goals in his last six games.

But the striker was ruled out through injury in midweek and United were toothless in his absence, with Omari Forson - handed a first senior start after being preferred to £86m signing Antony - struggling to fill the void.

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Fulham wasted numerous openings and the only surprise was that it took them until the 65th minute to open the scoring, with Calvin Bassey lashing the ball into the roof of the net after United failed to deal with a set-piece.

The hosts belatedly mustered a response and levelled when Harry Maguire tapped in from close range after Bernd Leno spilled a shot in his direction.

That goal swung the momentum in United's favour but Fulham hit their hosts with a sucker punch, Iwobi finishing a 97th-minute counter-attack to leave Ten Hag's team eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

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How Fulham stunned floundering United

Fulham’s last Premier League win at Old Trafford came under Chris Coleman 21 years ago, and United were surely confident of extending that run given their visitors had won just once in their last eight games and were missing the suspended Joao Palhinha.

But it was Hojlund’s absence that was decisive, with United on the backfoot for much of the first half as Forson and Marcus Rashford, in particular, struggled to pose a threat.

Fulham should have taken a lead into half-time, with Iwobi twice shooting wide when well placed, while Andre Onana denied the impressive Rodrigo Muniz and former United midfielder Andreas Pereira.

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Muniz then lashed a shot against the post as Fulham regularly cut through United’s non-existent midfield, although the hosts rallied before the break, with Diogo Dalot clipping the post and Alejandro Garnacho being denied by Leno and a fine Antonee Robinson clearance.

But United were second best following the restart and, shortly after losing Casemiro to a head injury, Bassey moved Fulham into a deserved lead when Victor Lindelof was unable to clear a corner.

The hosts belatedly began to cause Fulham problems, with goalkeeper Leno saving from Rashford and Maguire planting a free header over the bar - but the defender atoned when he punished Leno's weak save.

The award of nine minutes of added time spurred United on, with Bruno Fernandes testing Leno on numerous occasions as Fulham suddenly found themselves clinging onto a point.

That was until Adama Traore picked the ball up in his own half, sped past the hapless Maguire and carried the ball into the United area, before setting up Iwobi to step inside and direct a shot past the motionless Onana.

While the prospect of the Premier League being handed a fifth Champions League place potentially softens the blow of falling further behind Villa, the limp manner of United’s performance once again raises questions about their direction of travel under Ten Hag.

Merson: I can't explain how bad Man Utd were

Sky Sports' Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:

"Man Utd were shocking. I'm not exaggerating. Absolutely shocking.

"How they think they can get in the top four… what's the point in getting in the top four anyway? They're not going to win the Champions League so what's the point in being in it?

"I thought Fulham did very well. They grew into the game and it was comfortable. They absolutely dominated the first half. They thoroughly deserved to win. It wasn't a smash and grab. Far from it.

"I can't explain how bad Man Utd were. It was so, so bad. No one played well. Rashford, no. Garnacho, no. Fernandes, no. Even (Kobbie) Mainoo got subbed. No one today. Maybe Maguire for effort. He gets the goal and he should have scored another one.

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"But honestly, really, really poor. [Sir Jim Ratcliffe] will be watching that today thinking 'wow, I put a lot of money on this'. You put all that money in and watch that today… they are a [million] miles away.

"The players as well. They are a [billion] quid away. I don't know how they're going to catch up. He said he wants to overtake Man City. Woah, pull it in. Try and take over a few of the others first.

"They have all been 'Polyfilla' results in the last five or six weeks. They have just been covering over the cracks.

"They scored with the last kick of the game against Wolves. It was smash and grab at Aston Villa. They weren't better than Villa that day. West Ham, they beat 3-0 but that was never a 3-0 football match. They were covering over the cracks and they got found out again today.

"Only Sheffield United have got fewer points away from home this season than Fulham so it's not like they are serial away-day winners who know how to play away from home.

"It's at a stage now where you look at Man Utd and it's like it was with England about 10 years ago, when you used to say, 'I'm not sure they will win a competition in my lifetime.'

"They need to go and get (Dan) Ashworth. I'd rather pay £30m for him than a £30m player. They need to start from the bottom.

"But this is going to be very slow. It's not going to be overnight. If Man Utd went and won the league in the next five years, whoever is the manager should get knighted. Seriously.

"Get that team to win the league over 38 matches? Absolutely no chance."

Ten Hag: We let Fulham escape

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Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag said: "We showed big character by fighting back and then we had opportunities to win the game.

"We let them escape because one player takes the wrong position. Don’t let them escape from a throw-in in the corner.

"Fulham are a good team but we could have pressed better. After we found out how to manage that I think we got better in the game. We had very good chances.

"They had chances as well but, during the first half, I had the idea we got better and better. We had a slow start in the second half and we lost Casemiro, which cost us the goal.

"We had strong belief. We went for the win. That is the character from this team and that is great to see."

Analysis: United lost without Hojlund

Sky Sports' Joe Shread:

Any team would feel the impact of losing the Premier League’s most in-form striker - but that doesn’t excuse United for being outplayed at home by Fulham.

Without Hojlund, Rashford was asked to lead the attack and was virtually anonymous, ending the game with 0.05 expected goals (xG) from two shots.

Forson was equally ineffective and was replaced early in the second half - but the fact he was handed a first senior start despite Antony being available shows how far the £86m signing has fallen in Ten Hag’s estimations.

In fairness to the forwards, United’s midfield struggled to keep hold of the ball, let alone create chances - while they were regularly overpowered by Fulham’s counter-attacks.

United’s ineffectiveness in front of goal was summed up by the fact that, without Maguire’s two chances - his goal from close range and a free header he powered over the bar - they finished with an xG of just 0.63.

The momentum created by an unbeaten start to 2024 has been extinguished in one limp 90 minutes and Ten Hag - watched at Old Trafford by INEOS’s Sir Dave Brailsford - once again has questions to answer.

Silva: Fulham clearly the better team

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Fulham manager Marco Silva said: "It’s a great feeling. We were the better team, clearly, from the first minute until the last. We controlled the game in our way.

"After our goal the crowd started to push them and it was a little bit unlucky the way we conceded the goal. Normally, the player would be in an offside position.

"But you must always believe you can go for a second. It was really a Premier League game after the 1-1 - a little bit crazy.

"Our players showed the mentality to go again. Great moment from Adama and a really composed finish from Iwobi."

Opta stats: Man Utd concede latest losing goal

• Alex Iwobi’s winner for Fulham at 96:04 is the second latest winning goal ever scored against Manchester United in the Premier League, and the latest goal on record (since 2006-07) scored by the visiting team at Old Trafford in the competition.
• Manchester United have now lost eight home games in all competitions this season - it’s their most since 2020-21 (also 8), while they last lost more in a single campaign in 1973-74 (9).
• Andreas Pereira created five chances in this match, the most by a Fulham player away against Manchester United in the Premier League since Luís Boa Morte in August 2006 (also 5).

What's next?

Manchester United's next game is at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday; kick off 7.45pm.

Erik ten Hag's side return to Premier League action at Manchester City on March 3, live on Sky Sports' Super Sunday; kick-off 3.30pm.

Live Super Sunday

Fulham are next in action at home to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 3pm. Marco Silva's side then travel to Wolves on Saturday March 9.

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