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Lisandro Martinez's deflected goal provided a much-needed reprieve for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, as the Red Devils secured a slim 1-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday.
In what was largely a lackluster match, Martinez's long-range effort in the 78th minute took a decisive deflection off Sasa Lukic, looping over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and into the net. The win marked just United's fourth Premier League victory in 12 games under Amorim and lifted the team to 12th place on the table.
Amorim acknowledged that playing at Old Trafford has created additional pressure on his side, but their performances away from home have not significantly improved either. Sunday's display mirrored many of United's recent struggles, with a lack of creativity and cohesion evident despite their significantly larger budget compared to opponents like Fulham.
Co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who watched from the stands in west London, may not have been inspired by the performance. However, the win eased any lingering fears of United slipping toward the relegation zone.
"We need to improve a lot with the ball," Amorim admitted post-match. "It wasn't a great game, but the clean sheet and three points are crucial for building confidence."
Fulham started the brighter of the two sides but failed to capitalize on their early momentum. Andre Onana, returning to the United goal after a costly error against Brighton, made two vital early saves to deny Alex Iwobi.
United's first real opportunity came just before the hour mark, when Bruno Fernandes' inventive free-kick slid beneath Fulham's wall but narrowly missed the target. Rasmus Højlund, one of five changes to the lineup after the midweek Europa League victory over Rangers, continued his goal drought, now extending to 11 games, before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
It was fitting that a moment of fortune, rather than brilliance, decided the match. Martinez's speculative shot took a heavy deflection off Lukic, leaving Leno helpless as the ball dipped into the top corner.
Fulham nearly salvaged a point late on, exposing United's ongoing vulnerability at set-pieces. Joachim Andersen's free header from a corner was cleared off the line by Toby Collyer, preserving the visitors' clean sheet.
Amad Diallo thought he had doubled United's lead in stoppage time, but his strike was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Notably, Marcus Rashford was once again omitted from the squad. Amorim reiterated his uncompromising stance on player commitment, stating, "If you don't give your maximum every day, you won't play. I'd rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than someone not giving their all."
Reflecting on his challenging start at United, Amorim, who celebrated his 40th birthday this weekend, joked, "It feels like I'm 50 after two months here!"
The loss leaves Fulham in 10th place, seven points adrift of the top six, dampening their aspirations for European football.
For United, the victory may not have been convincing, but it was a vital step in the right direction as they continue to navigate a turbulent season.
