LISANDRO MARTINEZ’S deflected winner offered some respite to under-pressure Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as the Red Devils won 1-0 at Fulham on Sunday.
A dreary encounter looked set to end goalless until Martinez’s shot 12 minutes from time hit Sasa Lukic and looped over Bernd Leno.
Just a fourth Premier League win in 12 games for Amorim lifts United to 12th in the table.
Amorim suggested that United’s best performances during his opening two months had come away from home due to nerves about performing in front of an expectant home crowd at Old Trafford.
But this display was in keeping with many others from the English giants this season, under two different managers, against sides with a fraction of their budget.
There was little to get United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe excited as he watched on in west London, but victory does dispel any remaining notion that United could be dragged into a relegation battle.
Fulham made the brighter start but were also guilty of a lack of penetration in a pedestrian 90 minutes.
Andre Onana returned in goal for the visitors despite his error for Brighton’s third goal in the Seagulls 3-1 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
The Cameroonian was forced into two early saves from the lively Alex Iwobi.
It took just before the hour mark for United to seriously threaten when Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick slid under the Fulham wall but just the wrong side of the post.
Rasmus Hojlund’s return had been one of five changes made by Amorim from a dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Rangers on Thursday.
But the Dane’s goal drought extended to 11 games as he barely posed a threat before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
Adama Traore flashed a shot just over for Fulham in a rare dangerous moment for either side.
And it was little surprise that it was a moment of fortune rather than inspiration that broke the deadlock.
Martinez took aim from long range but in his desperation to block, Lukic’s deflection saw the ball fly over Leno and dip into the top corner.
Fulham should still have snatched a point as United’s frailty from set-pieces was exposed.
Joachim Andersen was afforded a free header from a corner but Toby Collyer got back to head off the line.
The visitors could also have extended their advantage deep into stoppage time when Amad Diallo’s strike was ruled out for offside by a VAR review.
But, just as in the meeting between the sides on the opening night of the season, one goal was enough for all three points for United.
Defeat dampens Fulham’s European ambitions as they remain in 10th, seven points off the top six.
They obviously have to big up their own man but that’s nonsense talk from the Clare boys there. Conlon hasn’t even won a Munster title, as decent as he has been. Tommy Walsh, Brian Whelehan and Ken McGrath all well ahead of him in this particular debate, and there’s probably many more.
@Aidan Farrell: Is a Munster title the reason you’re excluding Conlon…sure neither did Tommy Walsh or Brian Whelehan? does that mean they’re out of the reckoning…? And on the off chance All Irelands come into you’re thinking…how many did Ken McGrath win in the end? 2 less than Conlon I believe.
All great players by the way but with John Conlon’s overall honours in the game over a 12-13 year career he has to be in the discussion.
@Niall F: I’m saying John Conlon has never won a Munster title in all the years he has played for Clare. He has won a couple of back door All-Irelands and all credit to him for that. Saying he’s a better, more versatile hurler than the likes of Tommy Walsh is ludicrous. Look at what Walsh has won in the game. Provincial medals, front door All-Irelands and All Stars in multiple lines of the field.
@Aidan Farrell: players win all irelands because essentially they have great players around them. Ken mc grath and john conlon may not have had that luxury in comparison to tommy walsh say. John conlon hugely influenced clare in every position he played in and dominated huge games whether at centre forward, full forward or centre back. Definitely one of the greatest versatile players in the last 12 years. Many of the greats in that period were in a specialist position so for me, the view of john conlans greatness in terms of versatility is a valid one. To come back the way he did after a serious knee injury after 10 years of inter County hurling in his 30s was extraordinary.
All these clare lads havent pucked a ball against Limerick in last 3 munster finals.
@Sean: there was hardly a puck of a ball between them on most occasions during Limerick s success over the last 6 years.two great teams. Clare had chances to beat Limerick on three occasions since 2019 having beaten them in 2018 and 2023……Limerick looked buried with 20 minutes to go in ennis this year. Bar the munster final this year, all other games in the championship could have been won by either side….again, 2 incredible teams
@Seamus kelly: This Limerick team have won 5 All-Irelands and 6 Munster titles. This Clare team has a solitary All-Ireland. Wouldn’t describe both as incredible. One is, the other most certainly is not.
That’s Tommy Walsh, next!
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: Tommy played the majority of his career at wing back.
Surely, it’s Ken McGrath. Played everywhere from full forward to full back for Waterford
@John Fitz: hard to look beyond Ken McGrath…Declan Hannon definitely worth a mention as well!!
Brian Corcoran end of discussion
Willie John Daly comparable to John Conlon in that he also played right half forward
and centre back in All Ireland finals.
What about Tony Brennan Tipp ( full forward and full back in All Ireland winning teams) and Jerry O Riordan Cork ( full forward in 1946&1947 and right full back in Cork’s 3 in a row 1952-1954). Too màny views from people who were not born when versatile players of the past such as Jackie Power ( Limerick) and Tommy Doyle ( Tipp) were starring. Of course John Conlon is a great and versatile player.
There weren’t any question marks over him. Anyone could see that he’s a quality elite-level hurler. Why do the GAA crowd always need to pretend that everybody’s writing them off?