Key events
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The Cunha goal was a bit like Batistuta’s in 1999, although the Fiorentina striker’s was clearly better: he had to create the chance himself with two perfect touches to begin, rather than having it laid on a plate by a teammate. Fun fact: I was at that Arsenal v Fiorentina game.
“A good performance, and a big result today, would be massive,” Thomas Frank tells Sky Sports before Tottenham face Manchester City. Good, big, massive.
“There’s more good than bad in the games – it’s how can we [Spurs] do a bit more?”
Reports thus far:
European footie news:
Transfer news:
Forest’s Neco Williams was shown a straight red card for a handball on the line against Palace. It was a decent save but the referee was left with no choice.
So Manchester United are now fourth, five points behind third-placed Villa. Who’d have thunk it?
Fulham drop to eighth, leapfrogged by Brentford after their win at Villa. Kevin Schade was sent off for the Bees on 42 minutes so that is an incredibly impressive win – and a reaction to last weekend’s somewhat limp home defeat by Nottingham Forest.
Forest, by the way, are now six points clear of West Ham in 18th.
The table.
Emillia Hawkins has the Manchester City v Chelsea in the WSL right here – City lead 5-1 inside the final 10 minutes:
The neutral may argue that Kevin’s special goal deserved to earn a point for Fulham. But they slackened off in defence to allow Sesko time and space to score the winner. It was sensational work down the right by Fernandes to create that goal, who continues to set the standard for United. Diallo was brilliant on the right wing, too, and Carrick’s side showed a lot of desire and a high work-rate to keep Fulham out at the very end.
The obligatory mention of “Fergie Time” from David Jones on Sky Sports just then. I wasn’t above a “Football, bloody hell” myself, so who am I to judge?
The powers-that-be at Sky Sports will switch to Tottenham v Manchester City coverage soon but whatever reaction appears, I’ll post here.
Premier League final scores
Manchester United 3-2 Fulham
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford
Manchester United are up to fourth. Heady days.
Spurs v Manchester City is coming up also. Dominic Booth has the details:
Forest 1-1 Palace is a final score. Villa trail Brentford 1-0 deep in stoppage time.
Full-time: Manchester United 3-2 Fulham
Football! Bloody hell. That was fun. Fulham thought they had a point after a goal of the season contender by Kevin. But Sesko won it for United off the bench. Reaction to follow.
101 min: It’s all highly frantic. Fulham are trying to fashion one more chance. United’s workrate is good though and they keep closing it down. Now a set-piece if floated in! Martinez clears! Castagne down the Fulham right now! United get it clear again. And still we play on …
100 min: Shaw watches a cross come over from the Fulham left and he is able to leave it to bounce out for a goal kick … is that the lot? Still a minute or so to play. Another chance for Fulham left?
90 min+8: Now Diallo works Bassey down the wing. The Fulham defender nicks the ball off his toes. Excellent defending. Fulham attack again. But United’s defending is good. Martinez puts in a couple of reducers in and around the penalty area. This is great stuff now.
90 min +7: Diallo, who has been excellent, leads the United press and nearly robs Berge on halfway. Fulham still have it though and should get one more chance … they construct a nice little move on the right but a low cross is cleared.
90 min + 6: Leny Yoro on. Is this done? Or is there more comedy/drama to come? Can United make it safe with a fourth?
Goal! 90 min +4: Man Utd 3-2 Fulham (Sesko)
Has Sesko won it??!! He collects a pass by the penalty spot and seems to have an age to pick his spot and bend a finish in the top corner! Is this over? It was stunning work by the irrepressible Bruno Fernandes to create it, spinning away from his marker on the right, and picking out Sesko with an accurate low cross. Great goal.
Goal! 90 min +1: Man Utd 2-2 Fulham (Kevin)
KEVIN! Oh my days what a goal! He exchanges passes on the edge with Sessegnon and belts a stunning curling shot that flies in the top corner!!! Utterly un-saveable. Stunning goal. Celebrations to match.
90 min +1: Fulham are stroking it about …
90 min: Nine added minutes, minimum. Monster, monster!
90 min: Sessegnon tries to slide in Kevin for Fulham as they hunt for a point. The ball is cut out. Are we going to see an unfeasibly large amount of stoppage time?
89 min: All hands on deck for United at the back now. A cross from the Fulham right is repelled.
88 min: Could we have comedy/drama to finish? We live in hope.
“Once upon a time offside was adjudged according to the position of players’ feet,” emails Geoff. “I’m not sure why that ever changed.”
“I suppose there could be a case for including any body part in contact with the pitch, but wouldn’t it make life much simpler? And if feet were obscured from the cameras, it’d be the ref’s decision.”
Goal! 85 min: Man Utd 2-1 Fulham (Jimenez)
Top bins from Jimenez. He and Leno have a bit of banter as the forward grabs the ball out of the net. Dalot is off for United, Mazraoui on. Fulham bring on Bassey for Cuenca.
Penalty to Fulham!
83 min: Jimenez is sent through one-on-one by Berge, a handsome diagonal defence-splitting pass from right to left. Maguire slides in and takes him down. That’s not going to be overturned by VAR, you wouldn’t think, and it’s a yellow card for Maguire to boot.
82 min: Fernandes launches a long pass downfield for Mbeumo after a Fulham corner, but Leno emerges from his area to punt it to safety.
80 min: Dalot chases a seemingly lost cause down the right and his efforts to keep the ball in play are appreciated by the fans. The mood is upbeat but is nearly punctured when Jimenez collects a cross at the far post and nearly turns it home. It’s flicked out for a corner instead.
78 min: Chukwueze off for Fulham, Tom Cairney on.
77 min: United are threatening almost constantly now and the fans are loving it. (At least the ones who didn’t get involved with the protest against the Glazers and Jim Ratcliffe earlier.) Fernandes releases the ever-willing Diallo down the right.
75 min: Sesko hits the post with his first touch!! Diallo bends a wicked cross over from the right and the Slovenian connects well with a downward header but it cannons back off the upright.
73 min: Diallo pulls a pass back to Cunha on the edge, who this time tries dinking a delicate effort aiming for the far top corner. It sails over the bar, and Cunha is immediately taken off by Carrick, with Benjamin Sesko coming on. Casemiro, the scorer of the first goal, is also taken off with Manuel Ugarte coming on.
72 min: Changes for Fulham: Ryan Sessegnon and Kevin are introduced for Emile Smith Rowe and Antonee Robinson. Robinson had a very decent day against the dangerous Diallo, I thought.
70 min: Thoughts on the latest VAR disgrace? Mail me.
Now we can see a handy computer graphic showing Chukwueze’s elbow was 2mm offside.
Fulham goal disallowed by VAR!
Apparently it was Chukwueze who was offside and it’s back to 2-0 to United.
68 min: Into the fourth minute of the VAR check now … The crowd are wailing their disapproval.
Goal! 65 min: Manchester United 2-1 Fulham (Cuenca)
The free-kick by Jimenez hits the wall, but Chukwueze’s deflected effort squirts into the path of Cuenca, who is able to tuck away his first goal for the club from point-blank range. But of course there is a lengthy VAR check to contend with now … Was Cuenca offside? Was there a handball and possible penalty before that?
65 min: A set-piece for Fulham just outside the box … Wilson and Jimenez over it …
63 min: Jimenez looks to play in Smith Rowe of Fulham from just outside the box. It’s a strongly-hit pass, and the former Arsenal man’s touch lets him down when he would have had a clear sight of goal had he brought it under control.
60 min: What does Silva do now? Fulham had caused problems to start the second half at 1-0 down, but United look the more dangerous side in attack and have doubled their lead. It’ll be very hard for the visitors from here.
60 min: Villa, in fact, have had that equaliser ruled out and they trail Brentford 0-1.
Goal! 56 min: Manchester United 2-0 Fulham (Cunha)
What a hit! Casemiro plays in Cunha with a brilliant no-look pass from outside the box. Cunha smashes a first-time shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle! Pick that one out. The finish is reminiscent of Gabriel Batistuta’s Champions League classic for Fiorentina against Arsenal back in the late 90s or early 00s.
55 min: Silva has sent his Fulham team out with renewed purpose, and they have looked very busy since half-time. But can United pick them off on the break? With Diallo and Mbeumo they definitely have the requisite pace.
Aston Villa 1-1 Brentford and Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace are the other latest scores. Both Brentford and Forest have had a man sent off.
52 min: Wilson drills an excellent curling free-kick at Lammens! He beats it out, but only just. From the rebound, Fulham win a corner.
50 min: Chukwueze crosses deep from the Fulham left. Eventually United are forced into a desperate bit of defending when the ball is worked back to a central area, Martinez clubbing the ball clear when a pass intended for Jimenez appears in the six-yard box. I fancy the hosts may need at least another goal to win this.
48 min: Dalot drives at the heart of the Fulham defence after collecting the ball near halfway. He slides a lovely diagonal pass to Mbeumo, whose effort is blocked by Leno, rushing out of his goal. Good signs for Carrick’s side early doors in the second half.
47 min: United knock the ball around a bit to begin. Diallo, again, asks Robinson to do a bit of defending on the hosts’ right.
Second half kick-off!
Go.
Jamie Jackson
Greater Manchester Police say 500 to 600 took part in the 1958 group protest, while the 1958 say 5,000. Someone’s abacus is out …
News!
WSL live!
Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
A game that started brightly before fading a little bit. There’s been plenty of quality football on show and the home fans would definitely take a 1-0 win and a third league win on the bounce. Time will tell.
45 min + 3: Diallo has a cracking effort on goal teed up by Fernandes! It’s beaten out for a corner. And that will be that.
45 min + 2: Smith Rowe and Chukwueze fight for territory down their left wing. Chukwueze has been bright, as has Diallo on that same flank for the hosts. Still, nothing of any note is really happening, and you’re left wondering what the point is. I’m sure a nice cup of tea at half-time will sort everyone out.
45 min: How much stoppage time will we have? I, for one, am looking forward to finding out. And there it is: it’s a minimum of three minutes! Get in.
42 min: There’s definitely a lull now, so much so, the telly people are replaying Casemiro’s goal. The intensity has dropped from both teams. United have a set-piece in a reasonable area but nothing comes of it. Which is to say Fulham defend it well.
