Player ratings as Garnacho strikes late for Man Utd

Alejandro Garnacho was the hero as his injury-time strike ensured Manchester United saw off Fulham with a late 2-1 victory on Sunday.

Christian Eriksen tapped home the opener and his first United goal before Daniel James equalised in the second half with a strike against his former club.

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho – who has provided some excellent performances against Aston Villa and Real Sociedad recently – popped up late on to slide in the winner and consolidate United’s grip on fifth before the World Cup break.

Both sides looked vulnerable and uncomfortable out of possession in the early stages but it was United who went ahead as Bruno Fernandes burst into the box and squared for Eriksen, who converted from close range.

Fulham probed, smelling weakness against an away side that had only named eight substitutes, and came close to an equaliser when Harry Wilson latched onto Andreas Pereira’s low cross but saw his effort saved.

Tyrell Malacia was set for a tough afternoon as Fulham smelt blood and set Willian and Antonee Robinson onto the out-of-position Dutchman. He kept his head above water throughout the first half, however, and United even had chances to kill the game before the break. Anthony Martial could only head an inch-perfect cross from Luke Shaw over the crossbar and Eriksen fired wide from a brilliant, low ball again from Fernandes.

Marco Silva’s side had work to do after the break, but a first league win over United since December 2009 wasn’t out of reach, despite the visitors having not yet dropped a point from a winning position this season.

Again, Erik ten Hag’s side spurned a chance to put the game to bed moments into the second half. A missed block saw a floated ball fall into Anthony Elanga’s pass, but his tame shot wasn’t enough to beat Bernd Leno. Marcus Rashford followed in the rebound, but could only win a corner for his efforts.

As they have done with regularity this season, Fulham went in search of an equaliser and weren’t afraid to commit forward. Just as United looked to exploit them on the break, a loose pass gifted possession back to the hosts. Willian burst down the right flank and released Tom Cairney, who rifled a ball across to substitute and former United man James to slot home at the back post.

Strangely, United only seemed to get worse as the game went on, with a scattergun approach to trying to regain the lead naturally not working out. That was until Garnacho sparked a moment of brilliance at the death, exchanging…