Manchester United secured a much-needed win after a difficult week as they struck late to defeat Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
Bruno Fernandes netted a dramatic winner in the final minutes of the game after some brilliant work from substitute Facundo Pellistri in the build-up.
The win has eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag amid questions over his future, though the three points did not mask the fact that it was overall another unconvincing performance against a side they should be beating.
Here are the main talking points from the win:
Rashford will walk back into the side
It felt like a huge opportunity for Marcus Rashford to silence his critics after a week of controversy. In the end, he missed out altogether through injury.
The 26-year-old has been in woeful form this season but Ten Hag insists he would have started the match had he been fit, given how badly Alejandro Garnacho and Antony had performed in midweek.
In his absence, Garnacho put in arguably his strongest performance when he has started a league match, but the woes continued for Antony who was hooked for Facundo Pellistri with half an hour left.
When Rashford is fit, he’ll still walk straight back into this United team.
Summer business looks bad
That United side that started at Craven Cottage was a damning reflection of their summer transfer business. Even if money was tight, it looks like they spent it poorly.
Sofyan Amrabat was loaned, but Scott McTominay was the defensive midfielder. Sergio Reguilon was loaned, but Diogo Dalot started on the left again.
Mason Mount was the main midfield target and purchased for a sum of £60 million, but he was once again on the bench, a square peg in a round hole already occupied by Bruno Fernandes.
Then there is Jonny Evans. A top professional but emergency cover who has already started more matches than anyone expected he would.
Pellistri rises to challenge of United fans
There is some mitigation in United’s struggles given the unfortunate injury record and takeover uncertainty, but fundamentally, performances just haven’t been good enough regardless.
United fans made that clear ahead of kick-off when a banner reading ‘play like you mean it!!’ was unfurled as the players did an attacking drill right in front of them.
This was the clearest sign yet that fans are growing impatient with the product on the pitch. Ten Hag still has a lot of support from matchgoers, but if he loses them, then he will also lose his job.
In the form of Pellistri, they have a player who did just that. His dogged determination and never-say-die approach kept the move alive for their dramatic winner, as he relentlessly pressed the defence into a costly unforced error.
On a day when Antony was anonymous again, Pellistri made his own case to replace him on the right.
VARce
Another game, another tedious VAR decision even more baffling than the last. Every week, the Premier League somehow reaches a new officiating low that defies any logic and sets unwanted precedents for future farce.
The check on Alejandro Garnacho’s possible offside was warranted given his contribution to the disallowed goal, but the check on Harry Maguire was baffling given his ‘inteference’ was clearly subjective.
That very fact was down to personal opinion, which contradicted the decision to review it; nevermind for the referee to then have the final verdict and deliver his opinion after a tedious four-minute delay.
United are having a better season than VAR, at least.
Hojlund has been handed thankless task
Rasmus Hojlund has huge potential, but it is only that. It is hard to see him fulfilling it when there is so much pressure being heaped on his shoulders.
He is clearly a highly talented forward with the raw attributes to become a leader in his position; however, he won’t ever have the time to help him along the way.
Hojlund has shown glimpses of the promise he brings, yet given the enormous price-tag, he is being judged on a goal tally and level of consistency that just can’t be expected of someone so young.
There was not much more he could have done on Saturday afternoon and it is clear he can’t do it alone.