The groans around Old Trafford summed it up.
Manchester United thought they had salvaged a point against Fulham thanks to a late Harry Maguire equaliser but then succumbed to a stoppage-time winner from Alex Iwobi.
Omari Forson, the 19-year-old who made his United debut, was not even born when Fulham last won in the league at Old Trafford in October 2003, but the excitement of Erik ten Hag’s selection did not translate into a performance of note for United.
Chances for the home side were scarce after Calvin Bassey had put Fulham ahead and United succumbed to their 10th Premier League defeat of the season — more than they registered throughout the whole of the 2022-23 campaign.
Dan Sheldon and Carl Anka unpick what happened…
Why were Manchester United so flat?
United failed to get into any kind of rhythm and the injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund are the key reasons for that.
Martinez and Shaw are effective on the left side of the defence, whereas Victor Lindelof, who started in Shaw’s place, does not offer the same threat going forward. Hojlund’s absence, brought on by a muscle injury he sustained on Friday, also meant Ten Hag had to play around with his attack.
Alejandro Garnacho started on the left wing, as opposed to the right side where he has been so effective in recent weeks, with Marcus Rashford starting up front instead of on the left, meaning Forson played on the right.
There wasn’t any discernible link-up play between the attacking trio and it appeared disjointed at times. Forson and Rashford swapped positions during the first half but that did not have any kind of desired impact Ten Hag hoped it would have.
Dan Sheldon
Were United a little naive after they equalised?
Maguire levelled for United (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Ten Hag made substitutions to try to win the game, but they were ultimately undone in the 97th minute after Fulham sprung a counter-attack and there were not enough players back to halt it.
After United scored through Maguire, they were in the ascendancy and you can understand Ten Hag and the players wanting to go for it. The crowd were raucous and grew louder each time United mounted an attack.
However, Fulham sliced United open multiple times in the match and the risk they would do it again was always present.
And that’s exactly what happened when Adama Traore charged through the home side’s midfield before playing in Iwobi to score the winner.
United went from earning a point to being in with a great chance to win all three, only to end up with none, denting their push for Champions League qualification.
Dan Sheldon
Did Rashford, Forson and Garnacho give United enough through the middle?
#MUFC first shot coming after 26mins says much about their attacking play.
Two best chances via Garnacho cutting in from left.
Fulham created best opportunities: Iwobi breaking from midfield + Muniz finding space in box. Muniz really smart, strong striker.
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) February 24, 2024
The favourable reading is to point out 249 academy players have made their senior debut for United down the years, and the sight of three graduates leading the attacking line against Fulham should have warmed the heart. If “The United Way” does exist, then it is through the talents of Rashford, Garnacho and Forson combining at speed in an attempt to score.
The less favourable view would be to say a team hoping to qualify for the Champions League is in drastic need of more attacking firepower. Rashford and Garnacho both prefer to play on the left wing and Forson was solid rather than spectacular on his debut.
Ten Hag speaks to Forson after his substitution (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
A head injury to Casemiro saw Ten Hag bring on Scott McTominay in the 52nd minute. The Scotland midfielder is United’s top scorer in the league this season with seven goals, tied with the injured Rasmus Hojlund, but is best used when making late runs into the box. His introduction in the second half saw him play as the No 10, while Bruno Fernandes moved to the right wing for the substituted Forson. Christian Eriksen joined Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield and there were far too many square pegs in a United set-up that already asks a lot from those more comfortable in their round holes.
Carl Anka
How should Ten Hag replace the injured Hojlund?
This will no doubt be on the mind of Ten Hag as he analyses the defeat to Fulham and starts to think about his starting XI for United’s FA Cup fifth-round match away to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
He has little choice but to play Rashford through the middle, so it is about deciding who features either side of the 26-year-old. Antony saw Forson start ahead of him and Amad Diallo come on before him in the second half.
Ten Hag could go with the same front three in the hope that they can develop a relationship on the pitch, so starting them against Forest would make sense. However, they were disjointed as a trio and there was little to suggest that could be fixed in the coming days.
Antony has had ample chances to cement his place in the starting XI, so you can see a scenario where Amad is selected ahead of Forson at the City Ground before the real challenge for Ten Hag is working out who to start away to Manchester City next weekend.
Dan Sheldon
What did Ten Hag say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for United?
Wednesday, February 28: Nottingham Forest (A), FA Cup fifth round, 7.45pm GMT, 2.45pm ET
Recommended reading
(Top photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
