MANCHESTER UNITED host Fulham in a huge Premier League clash – and the action is underway!
Erik ten Hag’s side have been in superb form of late as they continue to chase down a Champions League spot.
However, Erik ten Hag will have to continue without injured star striker Rasmus Hojlund for a few weeks.
- Kick-off time: 3pm GMT
- Live stream/TV: Not televised in the UK due to blackout
- Man Utd starting XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Forson, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
- Fulham starting XI: Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Basey, Robinson; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz
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Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
48. Fulham have begun the second half as they did the first – on the front foot.
Some lovely interplay releases Castagne down the right, and the former Leicester man wins his team a corner.
From the dead ball, the outswinger lands on to the head of Tosin, who flashes his effort well wide of goal.
Kick-off – Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
46. Back underway at Old Trafford for the second half.
Neither side have made a change, and do that hopefully means more of the same.
First half facts and figures
For the 17th time this season, Fulham have failed to score in the first half. It’s not for the want of trying though.
The HT view from OT
Before he heads off for a half-time cup of soup, Neil Custis has been in touch…
“Honours even at the break with the goalkeepers tested at both ends before the half-time whistle blew.
“Onana denied Andreas Pereira a goal back at his former club while Bernd Leno went full stretch to stop Garnacho.”
Half-time – Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
The half-time whistle blows and it’s goalless at the break – but how it is is anybody’s guess.
Fulham have been the better team, having started at an electric pace, but United have had their chances too during an entertaining first half.
Both sides have hit the post while the respective goalkeepers have also been required to be at their acrobatic best at times.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham – Wilson yellow card
45+2. Harry Wilson is the third Fulham player to go into the book this afternoon, all three following fouls on Alejandro Garnacho.
Well, he’s got one of those haircuts, hasn’t he?
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
45. The fourth official signals two minutes of stoppage time.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
43. It’s incredible that this contest is still goalless with half-time on the horizon.
It’s been open, exciting and – in the past 20 minutes, at least – end-to-end action.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham – Pereira yellow card
41. Michael Oliver has decided that Andreas Pereira waving his arm in his direction from 20 yards away is worthy of the same punishment as Harry Maguire clattering Sasa Lukic on the ankle with his studs.
Maybe blue cards isn’t such a mental idea after all…
The view from Old Trafford
Neil Custis ahas been keeping a keen eye on matters for us at Old Trafford, and writes…
“United starting to come back into it now.
“Garnacho had a shot headed away from in front of the line by Antonee Robinson.
“Maguire piled in to try and fire home the follow up but launched the ball over the bar.
“Bruno Fernandes was getting more on the ball and nearly threaded Rashford through.
“Then Diogo Dalot got forward and fired one of his trademark long-range efforts which clipped the foot of the post.
“Back at the other end and Fulham rattled the woodwork too with Rodrigo Muniz turning and firing a shot off the righthand post.”
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
38. Pereira with the curler! Saved by Onana!
Fulham once again cut their hosts open on the counter-attack, this time setting up their former Manchester United man on the left.
Pereira takes a touch to steady himself, and then whips a shot towards the far corner that Onana pushes away.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
36. It’s an end-to-end contest now.
Mainoo comes to the party, slipping in a neat pass to Rashford, who despite a loose first touch manages to get a cross-shot away.
Tosin is back in the right place to clear from the danger area.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham – Maguire yellow card
34. As Fulham burst forward again, Harry Maguire leaves a nasty one on the ankle of Sasa Lukic.
Chasing a loose ball, the United defender lunged in on the Serbian and caught him with his studs.
Michael Oliver goes back to book Maguire, but there’s no second look from VAR. We’ve seen red cards given for them.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
32. Now it’s Fulham’s turn to strike the woodwork!
It’s brilliant centre-forward play from Rodrigo Muniz, who crisply controls Alex Iwobi’s square pass, turns his marker with ease, and then blasts against the top of the post.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
30. Dalot hits the post!
United are beginning to apply a little bit of pressure, and almost grab the lead through an unlikely source.
Pushing into midfield, Dalot takes control, and then whips a long range effort across goal and on to the outside of the frame of the goal.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
28. United threaten for the first time as a free-kick into the box causes chaos.
Maguire has the chance to shoot but doesn’t take it, only for Garnacho to take over, drop a shoulder and let fly,
It looks destined for the far corner until Robinson lunges in to head off the line.
The view from Old Trafford
Neil Custis is in the press box this afternoon, and he is far from impressed with the home side so far…
“Really shaky start from Manchester United who could easily have been behind.
“They are trying to be proactive pushing high up but are getting caught on the break.
“Twice Alex Iwobi had chances but failed to even test Andre Onana putting his shots wide.
“Marcus Rashford is getting no service up front and they are also struggling to find the dangerous Alejandro Garnacho.”
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham – Tosin yellow card
25. On a rare United foray forward, Garnacho sets off on a run in behind.
He doesn’t get though before Tosin sticks out an arm to pull him back.
Unsurprisingly, referee Michael Oliver can’t wait to get the yellow card out, and we have the game’s first booking.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
23. Midway through the first half, and Manchester United are yet to have an attempt at goal.
In contrast, Fulham have had five, two of which have forced Onana into a save.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
21. Fulham go close again!
Pereira’s corner is met by the head of Muniz, and although Onana makes a decent save, Lukic should follow up to score.
Unfortunately for the Serbian international, he moves too quickly, and can only chest it away from the goalline.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
19. Up the other end, United win a corner that is swung towards the near post of Bernd Leno, who does well to punch clear.
Immediately, the visitors are on the counter, and earn a corner of their own when Lukic’ snapshot is diverted behind.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
17. Beautiful football from Fulham!
Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi link up in midfield to cut United open.
Once again, it’s the Cottagers’ Nigerian ace that takes the shot on, driving forward towards the edge of the box as space opens up invitingly.
In the end, Iwobi’s effort is just wide, and he probably should have done better.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
15. It’s the visitors that have been far superior in the opening quarter of an hour.
The question is can they take advantage while on top, or will their current confidence wilt under any spell of pressure?
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
13. Iwobi pulls a shot wide!
The Cottagers open up the home side with the most basic play, lifting a long ball forward to Muniz, who cleverly flicks on into space.
Iwobi and Wilson race on to it, and eventually it’s the former that takes the shot on, almost scuffing it into the ground and wide of the post.
Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
11. It’s been an impressively confidence start from Fulham considering the number of changes they have made, and the new-look partnerships they have both in defence and midfield.
Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed, in particular, have looked decent.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
