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On a drenched and frigid Wednesday night in west London, Manchester United came from behind to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over an impressive and resilient Fulham side.
The result leaves United at the top of the Premier League table and extends to 17 games unbeaten away, tying the club’s all-time record. Best of all, it came thanks to a top quality moment from Paul Pogba, who was a quietly majestic presence in the midfield.
It always seemed like a more rigorous test for visitors than the table might suggest. With a dense January rain mist penetrating the skeleton of the new stand, United were forced to dig deep into their own reserves against well-organized opponents.
“We needed the win and we got it the hard way,” Pogba said afterwards, although there was nothing but sweetness in his winning goal just past the hour mark. , a shot started from the start, a moment of space on the right that drew a bark of astonished joy from the United bench.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær had sent a team that looked ready to play, with almost a full squad to choose from, an injury-free run that was part of that team’s mid-season push. Solskjær has talked a lot about the need for extreme physical conditioning in his first season. All of these United regulars look fiercely in shape.
Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood started off on offense, and Pogba fell down deep midfield, a gradual move in the absence of gristlier Scott McTominay. Fulham started with the freezing wind at his back. They looked hungry from the start. Ademola Lookman had a first skim shot from 25 yards, then knocked out the empty stands with the opening goal within five minutes.
It took just one long pass from the impressive André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to open United. Lookman finished brilliantly, rushing to the right side of the area on his own before spanking into the far corner. Solskjær will wonder when and where to play the pass. But his team immediately fell back, with Pogba moving the ball well in midfield.
First Bruno Fernandes slammed a shot against the foot of the post from outside the area. Moments later he crossed from the left, the ball was webbed by Alphonse Areola and Cavani, lurking just in the right place, finished cleanly. Cavani celebrated with a shout. It was his first goal after the ban.
Pogba ran the game in patches in this first half. Before kick-off, the star United midfielder had walked around his teammates to cheer them on. Here he passed early, but showed such calm and skill on the ball that his air of command seemed to spread through the red shirts.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka made good ground several times on the right, crossing Anthony Martial to lead a little more with half an hour. By now, the game had settled into the predictable press of red possession. But Fulham’s midfielder pivot proved to be an aggressive and pressing hurdle, with Lookman still busy at the break.
Fulham was also brilliant early in the second half, with Harrison Reed pulling powerfully over the bar after a better job from Lookman. United looked like a cautious side at times even as they took the ball, with Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly stationed 20 yards behind the red line in front of them and rarely stepping in to allow the midfielder to continue.
Loftus-Cheek showed some fine touches on the right, throwing Lookman in for a shot that David de Gea saved comfortably. Pogba produced a beautiful whipped deep cross. And with 64 minutes elapsed, the game seemed to meander to 1-1, with Fulham still showing real discipline in midfield.
At this point enter Pogba, who shot the ball from the sky on the right flank, wandered inside, saw the space in front of him and hit a magnificent curling stroke inside the far post. . The ball made an exciting fizz as it left Pogba’s boot, and a click as it inflated the net. Halfway through this season could, frankly, go either way for one of those top teams. But it was a champion’s skill.
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Fulham pressed hard and had a chance to equalize soon after, with Loftus-Cheek seeing his low shot well saved by De Gea. Another great driving race opened up a chance for him to cover miles above the bar.
Upon death, United were grateful for a beautiful rescue challenge from Wan-Bissaka. It was a victory for the perseverance in a miserable night and for the deeper gears provided by an increasingly impressive midfielder.
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