MX23RW : Wednesday, December 25 05:13:56| >> :120:9148:9148:
[monks data]
Attendance: 25,001
Fulham logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 9, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Pogba (14', 65' pen.), Martial (23')

Paul Pogba stars as Manchester United coast past Fulham

Paul Pogba scores twice as Manchester United coast to a 3-0 victory over struggling Fulham in Saturday's Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United have moved into fourth place in the Premier League table with a 3-0 victory over Fulham in Saturday's clash at Craven Cottage.

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial put United into a two-goal lead within 23 minutes, before a spot kick from the impressive Pogba completed a comfortable afternoon for the visitors.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now won 10 of his 11 games in caretaker charge of United, while Fulham remain in 19th position and seven points adrift of safety.

Fulham should have been ahead within the first 60 seconds of the game, but after some good work from Andre Schurrle down the right flank Luciano Vietto somehow failed to hit the target at the back post after meeting the German's cross.

Manchester United players celebrate the opening goal against Fulham on February 9, 2019© Reuters

Schurrle then saw a shot deflected over the crossbar from near the penalty spot, but those missed opportunities allowed United to settle and the visitors went ahead just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Pogba ran on to a pass from Martial inside the penalty area and appeared set to pull the ball back for a teammate, but the Frenchman instead drilled the ball inside the near post with Sergio Rico having committed himself to trying to claim a cross.

United only grew in confidence as the first half progressed, but their second was down to the individual brilliance of Martial who ran from the halfway line and saw off the attention of two Fulham players before finding the far corner from 15 yards out.

Fulham managed to regain their edge in the middle of the park in order to prevent United from further extending their lead, but Phil Jones almost added a magnificent third for the visitors with his left-footed strike from 25 yards being tipped over by Rico.

Anthony Martial celebrates with Manchester United teammate Phil Jones after scoring during his side's Premier League clash with Fulham on February 9, 2019© Reuters

Calum Chambers saw a volley from distance saved by David de Gea just before the half-time whistle, but Fulham went into the break needing to overcome a two-goal deficit for the second home game in succession.

Claudio Ranieri opted to change to a back three shortly after the restart, but the withdrawal of Schurrle was widely booed by the home supporters and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.

The Cottagers barely posed a threat at one end, but United were going through the motions at the other and Ander Herrera should have added a third with a 15-yard volley only for the ball to be directed straight at Rico.

However, United extended their advantage two minutes later as Pogba sent a penalty into the bottom corner after Juan Mata had been upended by Maxime Le Marchand inside the area.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Fulham on February 9, 2019© Reuters

The game was effectively over as a contest, but Fulham came close to pulling a goal back when Aleksandar Mitrovic saw a header kept out by De Gea down to his left.

United responded with Alexis Sanchez capitalising on a mistake in the Fulham backline before being denied by Rico, while fellow substitute Scott McTominay sent a glancing header marginally over the crossbar.

Ryan Babel then failed to score from little more than a yard out at the back post, and that missed opportunity summed up Fulham's day and season with Ranieri struggling to find a solution to his side's issues at both ends of the pitch.

The closing stages of the match were completed with minimal action inside either penalty area, and United will now focus their attention on trying to earn a result against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Rico; Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan (R.Sessegnon 81'); Schurrle (Christie 53'), Chambers, Seri, Vietto; Babel (Cairney 77'), Mitrovic

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Dea; Dalot, Smalling, Jones, Shaw; Herrera (Bailly 85'), Matic; Mata, Pogba (McTominay 74'), Martial (Sanchez 70'); Lukaku

ID:349810: cacheID:349810:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8197:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in charge of Manchester United on January 25, 2019
Read Next:
United players 'convinced Solskjaer will stay'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!