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Bruno Fernandes fired home an injury-time winner to secure a much-needed victory for Manchester United at Fulham.<\/p>\n
United came into the Craven Cottage clash under a cloud after the midweek Carabao Cup defeat at home to Newcastle.<\/p>\n
They were quiet for long periods of the game but a moment of brilliance from skipper Fernandes, who came in for criticism from former United players after the Newcastle loss, gave manager Erik ten Hag a welcome three points.<\/p>\n
Fernandes evaded attempts to close him down on the edge of the penalty area before placing his shot beyond Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.<\/p>\n
United thought they had taken a 1-0 lead after eight minutes but VAR ruled out Scott McTominay\u2019s effort for offside.<\/p>\n
The Scot tapped in Alejandro Garnacho\u2019s cut back but referee John Brooks overturned the goal after VAR ruled Harry Maguire had interfered with play from an offside position.<\/p>\n
The decision was a wake-up call for the hosts who were looking to build on Wednesday\u2019s last-16 3-1 Carabao Cup victory at Ipswich.<\/p>\n
Craven Cottage was fired up and Willian dragged the Cottagers up the pitch with a slaloming run but his effort was blocked at the last moment.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian was Fulham\u2019s main creative outlet in the final third and in the 27th minute he produced a delightful cross, but, in keeping with Fulham\u2019s season so far, no striker was there to finish at the back post.<\/p>\n
Nigeria international Alex Iwobi marauded from his own half into United\u2019s box but was wasteful in front of goal, failing to hit the target.<\/p>\n
The hangover from United\u2019s back-to-back 3-0 home defeats against Manchester City and Newcastle was clear to see as ten Hag\u2019s side lacked intensity, with Fernandes\u2019 skewed added time cross summing up their first-half efforts.<\/p>\n
The visitors searched for a way into the game after halftime through Garnacho who enjoyed touches in promising areas before a dangerous cross was tipped over by Leno.<\/p>\n
Momentum shifted in Fulham\u2019s favour on the hour. Iwobi picked out Harry Wilson who tried from range with a powerful outside of the boot effort but he was denied by United keeper Andre Onana.<\/p>\n
The Cottagers also came close from the following set-piece when last week\u2019s goal scorer Joao Palhinha failed to keep his effort down as Onana made another save to maintain the deadlock.<\/p>\n
The minutes ebbed away and substitutions from both sides sapped the games\u2019 intensity before Fernandes\u2019 free-kick in the 83rd minute gave United hope late on.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese midfielder had not been heavily involved but showed what he is capable of when he struck a dipped free-kick towards Leno\u2019s bottom corner and the Fulham keeper did well to prevent United edging in front.<\/p>\n
But there was no denying Fernandes in added time. He combined with Rasmus Hojlund and jinked inside onto his preferred right foot before unleashing a powerful shot that proved too much for Leno, who could only palm it into his bottom corner.<\/p>\n