Manchester United claimed a vital win to relieve the pressure on Erik ten Hag as Bruno Fernandes struck in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win at Fulham.
After back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Manchester City and Newcastle, questions were increasingly being asked of the manager Erik Ten Hag’s ability to handle the team and eyebrows were raised before kick-off when Marcus Rashford was left out of the squad.
Man Utd explained that the forward – who was criticised by Ten Hag on Friday for going out to celebrate his birthday in the wake of the defeat to City – was injured.
In Rashford’s place, it was McTominay who found the net for what he thought was his fourth goal in as many Premier League games – only for the officials to decide Harry Maguire was marginally offside in the build-up after a lengthy review.
Man Utd rarely troubled Fulham’s goal again – until Joao Palhinha’s scuffed clearance found Fernandes on the edge of the area, with the captain squeezing a finish inside the near post and providing a much-needed boost to his embattled manager.
Fulham next face a trip to high-flying Aston Villa on November 12, they then have Monday Night Football at home to Wolves on November 27 – kick-off 8pm.
Man Utd face a crucial trip to Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night, they then host relegation-troubled Luton on Saturday noon.