LISANDRO MARTINEZ’s deflected winner offered some respite to under pressure Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as the Red Devils won 1-0 at Fulham on Sunday.
A dreary encounter looked set to end goalless until Martinez’s shot 12 minutes from time hit Sasa Lukic and looped over Bernd Leno.
Just a fourth Premier League win in 12 games for Amorim lifts United up to 12th in the table.
Amorim suggested that United’s best performances during his opening two months had come away from home due to nerves of performing in front of an expectant home crowd at Old Trafford.
But this display was in keeping with many others from the English giants this season, under two different managers, against sides with a fraction of their budget.
There was little to get United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe excited as he watched on in west London, but victory does dispell any remaining notion that United could be dragged into a relegation battle.
Fulham made the brighter start but were also guilty of a lack of penetration in a pedestrian 90 minutes.
Andre Onana returned in goal for the visitors despite his error for Brighton’s third goal in the Seagulls 3-1 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
The Cameroonian was forced into two early saves from the lively Alex Iwobi.
It took just before the hour mark for United to seriously threaten when Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick slid under the Fulham wall but just the wrong side of the post.
Rasmus Hojlund’s return had been one of five changes made by Amorim from a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Rangers on Thursday.
But the Dane’s goal drought extended to 11 games as he barely posed a threat before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
Adama Traore flashed a shot just over for Fulham in a rare dangerous moment for either side.
And it was little surprise that it was a moment of fortune rather than inspiration that broke the deadlock.
Martinez took aim from long range but in his desperation to block, Lukic’s deflection saw the ball fly over Leno and dip into the top corner.
Fulham should still have snatched a point as United’s frailty from set-pieces was exposed.
Joachim Andersen was afforded a free header from a corner but Toby Collyer got back to head off the line.
The visitors could also have extended their advantage deep into stoppage time when Amad Diallo’s strike was ruled out for offside by a VAR review.
But, just as in the meeting between the sides on the opening night of the season, one goal was enough for all three points for United.
Defeat dampens Fulham’s European ambitions as they remain in 10th, seven points off the top six.
