FULHAM 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Manchester United served up a 3 goal flourish to return to 4th place in the Premier League at a beleaguered Fulham with Paul Pogba scoring twice.
Embed from Getty ImagesPogba scored either side of Anthony Martial’s solo goal to chalk up 10 wins from 11 unbeaten games for interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
January’s Manager of the Month actually dropped the Player of the Month – Marcus Rashford – one of six changes from the side that narrowly beat Leicester City with the visit of Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday in mind.
Out went Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Rashford, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, and Ashley Young as Solskjaer freshened up the side with Juan Mata, Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, and Phil Jones.
Jones had earlier been awarded a new four year contract extension which would take him to 2023 with the option of an extra year.
Crucially, United’s midfield trio of Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, and Pogba remained in place.
United started slowly at Craven Cottage and Fulham should have taken an early lead.
Andre Schurrle’s cross for Luciano Vietto was dragged wide as Fulham failed to strike first following a fast break.
The Reds were under more pressure when Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his header go wide while being grappled by Smalling.
United soon regained their composure and Martial, who had a stunning game, set up Pogba for United’s first goal after 14 minutes after sliding in Pogba for a ridiculous shot from 6 yards out wide on the left.
Martial went on a superb solo run under pressure from Denis Odoi, skipping away from a half hearted Maxime Le Marchand challenge before hitting the second for United after 23 minutes to leave the Cottagers reeling.
Jones almost celebrated his new contract with a dipping pile driver that was tipped over by Sergio Rico in the Fulham goal.
Mata was fouled in the area by Le Marchand leaving Pogba to fire in his second goal of the day from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
Calum Chambers tested David De Gea early in the second half, while Mitrovic finally gave De Gea something to save as Fulham tried to pull a goal back.
But it was United who could have scored again after another error allowed substitute Sanchez in for a fierce shot on goal that Rico palmed away.
Ex-Liverpool forward Ryan Babel hit the post from a yard out as Fulham failed to even get a consolation at the end of a sobering day for the relegation strugglers.