Late Martinez strike earns Man Utd victory at Fulham
A deflected late strike from Lisandro Martinez earned Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory at Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Looking for just their fourth league win since coach Ruben Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag in November, United created very few openings in a poor first half at Craven Cottage.
The visitors did improve after the break and got the bit of good fortune they needed to grab victory, with Argentine defender Martinez's long-range winner taking a huge deflection before finding the net in the 78th minute.
A timely goal-line clearance from young United substitute Toby Collyer late on helped see the visitors home, with the victory moving Amorim's side up to 12th in the standings, four points behind 10th-placed Fulham.
"I think I was lucky, but an important win," Martinez told TNT Sports. "I am happy with the way we won the game. It doesn't matter who scores -- the most important is the three points.
"It means a lot. Not only to the fans, but for us because we have suffered a lot. It is a hard win, at this club the pressure is hard, but we are here. We know how difficult it is. Even a game like today we have to win and be humble after winning."
It has not gone well for Amorim in England thus far. Coming into Sunday's contest, United had lost six of their previous nine league matches.
In such poor form, the visitors looked short of ideas in a disappointing first half. Emile Smith Rowe has the best opportunity of the opening period for the hosts, but he could not get his shot away.
United skipper Bruno Fernandes' clever free-kick almost handed the visitors a lead early in the second half, but they needed that slice of fortune to see their first and only shot on target in the match find the net.
Collyer's intervention to prevent Joachim Andersen's header finding the net was pivotal, with Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz wasting two golden chances to equalise in the final stages.
Amad Diallo did have the ball in the net in stoppage time as the Ivorian thought he had sealed the three points, but he was adjudged to be offside following a VAR review.
An eighth successive league victory at Fulham meant United have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
"One shot on target from Man Utd -- a lucky deflection," Fulham coach Marco Silva said.
"We were the team that dominated more. We had two or three good moments to score but I don't remember one dangerous moment from Man Utd."
Leicester City snapped a seven-match losing streak in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur that continued the home side's abysmal form on Sunday.
Tottenham have now managed only one win in 11 league games after goals by Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss early in the second half piled more pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.
Leicester's second away win of the season took them out of the bottom three, above Wolverhampton Wanderers, into 17th place with 17 points from 23 games.
Tottenham, who deservedly led at halftime with a 33rd-minute header by Richarlison, remain 15th with 24 points after a fourth successive league loss, eight points off the drop zone.
As the rain hammered down from a slate-grey north London sky, the mood darkened considerably over the home side whose league season is in tatters.
Fans chanted "We want Levy out" at chairman Daniel Levy who sat stony-faced in the directors' box as a 13th league defeat of the season loomed after a poor second-half display.
It is Postecoglou who looks most vulnerable though as his side once again appeared fragile, gifting Leicester a way back into a game that they had appeared to have under control.
When Richarlison met a Pedro Porro cross to glance a header beyond Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk it seemed that Tottenham might finally emerge from their slump.
But the game turned upside down within four second-half minutes. The hosts were far too open as Bobby De Cordova-Reid got to the byline and crossed for Vardy to poach an equaliser.
It soon got worse for Tottenham as El Khannouss was allowed far too much time in the centre of the field before sliding a clinical finish past keeper Antonin Kinsky.
Vardy almost made it 3-1 as Tottenham's frail confidence was shattered and although Porro did rattle the woodwork with a powerful free kick for the hosts, Leicester deserved the points.
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