A comical Lisandro Martinez own goal was the Red Devils’ undoing at Craven Cottage, in a game that they ultimately deserved to lose, before Matheus Cunha’s deflected equaliser, whch cannoned in off the oh-so unlucky David Affengruber.
asserted
equaliser → deserve → Affengruber
The visitors were second best throughout, with Alvaro Arbeloa just missing out on his first league victory in charge of the Cottagers.
asserted
Arbeloa → miss → Cottagers
Carrick’s men had their goalkeeper to thank on countless occasions, with Senne Lammens producing save after save to keep the scoreline respectable.
asserted
Lammens → have → scoreline
Josh King lit up the west London evening with a star showing, afforded far too much time and space to weave his magic and get the home fans off their seats.
asserted
King → light → seats
United went close on numerous occasions, with Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha both hitting the woodwork in the first half, while Lisandro Martinez forced a good save from Bernd Leno and Marcus Rashford ballooned over from close range to sum up a tough day in the capital for the Red Devils, who remain marooned in mid-table.
asserted
who → go → table
Oli Gent was at Craven Cottage to rate the United players...
Senne Lammens 8
Kept the visitors in the game all too often.
asserted
Gent → rate → game
Iwobi could sense the Portuguese’s nerves and tried to capitalise.
uncertain
Iwobi → sense → nerves
Robinson’s aggressive overlaps caused him an additional headache.
asserted
overlaps → cause → headache
Harry Maguire 5
Nowhere to be seen for Bassey’s burst and shot that Lammens spilled, and just too pedestrian in possession.
asserted
Lammens → see → possession
Lisandro Martinez 4
Was having a similar game to Maguire until the own goal, which was unfortunate but ultimately summed United’s performance up.
asserted
which → have → performance
Luke Shaw 5
Steady on the ball and more assured defensively than Patrick Dorgu at left-back, but too cautious in his attacking play until United were forced to spring into action upon falling behind.
asserted
United → force → action
Strange, since his £35million move was sanctioned to play those cute passes between the lines to find United’s exciting attacking quartet.
asserted
move → sanction → quartet
His lack of defensive nous gave King a field day finding space between the lines to run the show.
asserted
lack → give → show
Bryan Mbeumo 4
Superbly marshalled by Antonee Robinson, who knew exactly what the Cameroonian wanted to do all game.
asserted
Cameroonian → marshal → what
Second to every 50-50, as the American nipped in ahead of him all too often.
asserted
American → nip → him
As per usual, went roaming across every blade of grass in search of the ball that just did not find him, with his midfield colleagues dawdling.
asserted
colleagues → roam → him
Marcus Rashford 4
Ineffective, but again, starved of service and well dealt with by Timothy Castagne, but his game is far too predictable.
asserted
game → starve → Castagne
The England international just does not suit this type of fixture, when United are looking to break down a defence dropping deeper and deeper.
asserted
United → suit → defence
Matheus Cunha 6
Starved of any real service when he was crying out for the ball played into feet.
asserted
he → starve → feet
A massive slice of luck for his goal, but if you don’t buy a ticket...
asserted
you → buy → ticket
Subs:
Joshua Zirkzee 6
Introduced to give the away side a focal point up top that they were sorely lacking in the absence of Benjamin Sesko.
asserted
they → introduce → Sesko
The Dutchman, however, while silky in possession, just does not havre that same fear factor and presence that the Slovenian carries.
asserted
Slovenian → havre → that
His runs from deep certainly added an element of dynamism, but it proved too little, too late.
asserted
it → add → dynamism
The Aporia
