Two Manchester United stars make Garth Crooks’ Premier League team of the week following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham.
The Reds got back to winning ways with a crucial win at Craven Cottage, although the performance was below par yet again.
It was a game lacking in real quality until stoppage-time when Bruno Fernandes scored the winner after 91 minutes of play. Meanwhile at the back, Harry Maguire put in a man of the match display after being rewarded with his sixth consecutive start.
Maguire and Fernandes are the two United players to make Crooks’ team of the week, as per BBC Sport, and he hailed the pair for their performance in an important win.
Crooks hailed Maguire for his commitment and sharp competitive edge, writing: “The one skill you need above all else to survive at Old Trafford is the ability to cope with the pressure. It doesn’t matter who you are, you are always in the news for good reasons or bad.
“Harry Maguire has had his fair share of both during his time at the club, but his ability to handle the level of criticism which has come his way during the past couple of seasons, and not crumble under the weight of it, is to his eternal credit.
“Against a difficult and purposeful Fulham side, Maguire was brilliantly effective. No frills or skills, but you’re not going to get that from the former United captain. What you are going to get is commitment and a sharp competitive edge, and that’s precisely what Erik ten Hag’s side need at the moment.”
When it came to Fernandes, the match winner, Crooks said the Portugal midfielder is too good to ignore.
“Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore him – Bruno Fernandes is too good a player.
“The Portugal international pulled Manchester United out of the fire with a touch of class when it mattered at Craven Cottage. It would have taken a special save to have stopped Fernandes from scoring the winning goal but Bernd Leno couldn’t live up to the billing, which was unfortunate because at this point Fulham were worthy of a point.
“Fernandes didn’t just provide the winning goal, he saved Erik ten Hag from having another week full of speculation about his job and his ability to manage United. A true captain’s performance if ever I saw one.”
BBC team of the week: Johnstone; Niakhate, Van Dijk, Maguire; Joelinton, Fernandes, Silva, Doku; Archer, Jackson, Gordon.
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