Match report: Fulham 0 United 1

The Argentinian scored after 78 minutes as Amorim’s side gained momentum in a tight game in west London. The Reds have now won on all of the club's last eight visits to Craven Cottage, a run stretching back to December 2011.

This third away victory in the league this season moves United up to 12th place in the table, with focus now shifting back to the UEFA Europa League in a busy January schedule. Amorim's men travel to Romania to take on FCSB on Thursday, knowing another win will secure progress into the competition's Round of 16.

Although United showed better control in possession in the opening stages, it was Fulham who saw more of the goal, firstly when Alex Iwobi drove forward. The 28-year-old kept the ball close to his right boot before switching it onto his left and testing Andre Onana with a low shot towards the bottom-right corner.

Iwobi nearly got even closer to goal soon after, after Raul Jimenez managed to squeeze through a gap between Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte. Thankfully Matthijs de Ligt was alert to the danger, hooking it clear while on the turn before Iwobi could pounce.

De Ligt then combined with Lisandro Martinez to deny space to Emile Smith-Rowe as he bore down on Onana’s goal.

United’s best moments came on the left wing, where the Reds were able to create an overload with Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui stepping up to join Alejandro Garnacho in attack. It was the latter whose quick feet provided inspiration for the visitors' first chance, bursting past his man before teeing Mazraoui up to cross. His floated delivery was cleared by Antonee Robinson.

Raul Jimenez’s right-footed curler went well wide, and the Mexican then shot beyond the left post a minute later after a heavy touch off Robinson’s cross had created a difficult angle.

Bernd Leno denied De Ligt’s header from a Fernandes free-kick — won by Ugarte — and Mazraoui cleared at the far post to deny Fulham in the closing stages of the first half, after which Amorim instructed Dalot and Mazraoui to swap wings. Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro were soon introduced, too.

In truth, though, changes for both sides couldn't alter the nature of the game much. Neither team could carve opportunities of great note. Fernandes's right-footed free-kick was drilled towards the bottom-left corner, but Leno was equal to it. Fulham substitute Adama Traore brought pace and intensity to their attacks down the left wing without great efficiency. The Spanish winger blazed his one real sight of goal over the crossbar.

In the end, it was an element of fortune that finally brought a goal, even if the move that preceded it was impressive. Garnacho had his defender's insides turning with a body feint this way and that, allowing our no.17 to pull it back for Toby Collyer, introduced for the injured Ugarte two minutes earlier. Collyer was beaten to the ball, only for Martinez to step up out of defence confidently and strike. His shot was pure, but benefitted from a healthy deflection, the trickery of which beat Leno as it found the top-right corner.

Fulham came agonisingly close to a late equaliser when Joachim Andersen flicked on Andreas Pereira's left-sided corner. Collyer saved United with a fantastic goal-line clearance, but a now end-to-end game produced several more significant opportunities.

Rodrigo Muniz struck well over the crossbar when free in the area with just two minutes remaining before Amad netted from a late United counter-attack, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. The Reds held on for the remaining seconds to secure a valuable three points on the road.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Onana; Mazroaui (Malacia 81), De Ligt (Yoro 58), Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte (Collyer 75), Fernandes (c); Amad, Garnacho (Mainoo 81); Hojlund (Zirkzee 58).

Unused substitutes: Bayindir; Lindelof, Eriksen, Casemiro.

Goal: Martinez 78.

Booked: Ugarte.

Attendance: 27,288.