FLAIR OF THE POG
Brilliant goal from France star sends Ole’s battlers back to the top of the Premier League
THIS is becoming a wonderful habit for Manchester United.
For the second week running, Paul Pogba stepped up and scored a brilliant and decisive goal in the title race.
This was even better than at Burnley nine days ago. Pogba drifted in from the right-hand side, worked some space and then curled an incredible 20-yard shot into the far corner.
It must go down as one of United’s goals of the season and will certainly be classed as one of the most important if they do go on to win the title. After all, it was enough to send them back to the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City, Leicester, Liverpool and the rest.
No matter United have a rookie manager (below, Solskjaer with Fulham boss Scott Parker), a club legend brought in as an emotional appointment who lacks the experience of some of his rivals.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are top of the table, half of their season gone and a World Cup winner playing his best football since he arrived back at Old Trafford in 2016.
United are now also 17 games unbeaten on the road which is the best run in the Premier League since 1999 – the year Sir Alex Ferguson’s men won the Treble.
They are a long way from those swashbuckling levels, but this United team really should be taken seriously and the debate should end now. They are in it to win it and genuine contenders.
The game felt it had hardly started when Fulham went
ahead with the visitors still looking half-asleep, especially at the back.
Fulham midfielder Andréfrank Zambo Anguissa played a through-ball, Ademola Lookman raced through while looking suspiciously offside and there was more than a hint of United’s defence stopping while waiting for the offside flag.
But United right back Aaron Wan-bissaka was caught napping, he played Lookman onside and the Fulham winger showed wonderful composure as he slotted the ball past David De Gea for a fifthminute opener.
It took United a while to get going but, typically, it was Bruno Fernandes who was the catalyst. The Portugal midfielder just seems to be the key for everything for the Reds.
Fernandes rattled the post from 20 yards and then played a huge part in the equaliser after 21 minutes.
He whipped over a cross from the left, Fulham keeper Alphonse Areola made a mess of it and fumbled the ball straight into Edinson Cavani’s path.
Cavani had the simple task of a tap-in and the veteran Uruguay striker showed his worth again. It was his fifth goal of the season and if he helps win them the title then he will be United’s best free transfer since Zlatan Ibrahamovic.
They took control and really should have gone ahead but Harry Maguire put a free header horribly wide.
While, at the other end, Ivan Cavaleiro overran the ball and wasted a great opening.
United really pegged Fulham back in the second half, pinning the home side deeper and deeper as Solskjaer’s men went in search of a breakthrough. But when there was nothing on, Pogba just looked up and decided to take matters into his own hands.
He drifted in from the left, found some space and then unleashed a sensational curling left foot shot which flew into the far corner.
That was world-class quality from a World Cup winner now, finally, stepping up to make his mark and it could not be coming at a better time.
There was still work to be done. United keeper De Gea (left) made a good save from Ruben Loftus-cheek and there is still a long way to go in the chase. But United are beginning to look the real deal.