Bruno Fernandes produced a moment of real quality in stoppage time to lead Manchester United to a 1-0 win over Fulham.
It was an underwhelming performance for the Reds at Craven Cottage, but Erik ten Hag’s side managed to score in the 91st minute to secure three crucial points.
Fernandes intercepted Joao Palhinha’s clearance before attempting to pick out Scott McTominay, who was extremely unlucky to have a goal disallowed for offside in the first half. Then the ball bounced back to Fernandes, who chopped onto his right foot before striking the ball into the back of the net.
It was a huge win for United but let’s take a closer look at three of our observations from the game.
Fans get their message across
United fans unfurled a banner in the away end taking aim at the team’s recent performances. Ten Hag’s side travelled to Craven Cottage on Saturday lunchtime under mounting pressure. In an attempt to see United play with more intensity and determination, fans held up a signing reading: “Play like you mean it!!”
“Play like you mean it!” pic.twitter.com/Nu4T8uWdnZ
— Stretty News (@StrettyNews) November 4, 2023
Bruno Fernandes silences critics for a few days at least
You need your biggest players to deliver in the biggest matches when you’re struggling and Fernandes has delivered when the team needed him most. It was a huge way to win the game, away from home, scoring with 91 minutes on the clock. The Portuguese Magnificio has not been playing well this season and Roy Keane got on his case last week.
BRUNO FERNANDES TO THE RESCUE FOR MAN UTD 💪 pic.twitter.com/m7QRxRY65I
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 4, 2023
Stat: Fernandes has been involved in 122 goals in 200 matches for Manchester United in all competitions (67 goals, 55 assists), 33 more than any other player at the club since his debut in February 2020 (Marcus Rashford, 89).
Subjective offside?!
United thought they had opened the scoring against Fulham in the first half, only for McTominay’s ‘goal’ to be disallowed after a lengthy VAR check. The goal came after Alejandro Garnacho put the ball back across goal following a free-kick. Harry Maguire was deemed offside after making his run prematurely, though the centre-back didn’t interfere with play and referees nowadays struggle with common sense. We must note that Maguire failed to make contact with the ball. Ten Hag was furious on the touchline and VAR called it a ‘subjective offside’ via TNT Sports. What on earth is a subjective offside? It sounds like they make up the rules as they go on.
After a four-minute VAR review, Scott McTominay’s strike for Man Utd is ruled out for offside 🧐 pic.twitter.com/N9v2jEcvqe
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 4, 2023
Special mention: Harry Maguire was a rock at the back today and deserves credit.
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Right: this is dynamite and proves the anti-United agenda that we think exists and fans of ordinary Clubs laugh at as for. Google it yourselves.
“Subjective”: based on, or influenced by, personal feelings,tastes, or opinions.
Get it?
Sweet Fanny Adams to do with the actual rules of the game, but the ‘feelings’ or ‘tastes’ of the VAR operatives is that they don’t like Manchester United, so the goal is chalked off.
I rest my case – tell me I’m wrong. Go on: TELL ME
I really think they need to introduce a protocol for decisions where there is a technical offside, but where the margins are so fine it becomes appropriate for the officials to ask ‘Has this marginal offside actually resulted in a material advantage?’ Obviously, this would be a subjective decision – but there has to be room for common sense in the decision making process, surely. Executing VAR to the absolute millimetre is ruling out too many goals and the time taken to determine these super tight decisions is killing games.