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Jose Mourinho\u2019s Manchester United comprehensively dispatched of floundering Fulham to kick-start their top-four push as Romelu Lukaku ended his Old Trafford drought.<\/p>\nJose Mourinho\u2019s Manchester United comprehensively dispatched of floundering Fulham to kick-start their top-four push as Romelu Lukaku ended his Old Trafford drought.<\/p>\n
Four winless Premier League matches had led pressure to mount on the United manager, which is perhaps why the Portuguese\u2019s agent Jorge Mendes felt the need to make a statement about his future on the eve of the game.<\/p>\n
But the Old Trafford faithful were able to enjoy some respite from the negativity surrounding the club on Saturday afternoon, with first-half goals from Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Lukaku putting the hosts in control.<\/p>\n
Substitute Aboubakar Kamara\u2019s penalty reduced the deficit from the spot but Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa\u2019s sending off was followed by a Marcus Rashford piledriver as United ran out 4-1 victors.<\/p>\n
While the second half was nowhere near as comfortable as the first, there was a rare air of positivity around Old Trafford after giving their Champions League qualification hopes a much-needed shot in the arm.<\/p>\n
Young superbly fired United into an early lead and Mata coolly slotted home a second before Lukaku ended his 997-minute wait for a goal at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
The decision to both award the penalty, scored by Kamara, and send off Anguissa shortly afterwards proved controversial but could not change the course of a game that Rashford wrapped up by catching out goalkeeper Sergio Rico.<\/p>\n
It was a promising response to United\u2019s 2-2 draw against Arsenal, with Paul Pogba remaining on the bench despite Mourinho making four changes for Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
Those moves worked from the outset, with a bright start bringing a morale-boosting 13th-minute opener as United skipper Young all too easily got past Denis Odoi to send a superb strike into the top corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re nothing special, we lose every week\u201d chanted the Fulham fans, whose side were struggling to contain the hosts.<\/p>\n
Chris Smalling and Young had attempts as Claudio Ranieri became increasingly exasperated on the touchline, with the gaps in Fulham\u2019s side eventually exploited again in the 28th minute.<\/p>\n
Lukaku sent a weight ball through Rashford, whose cutback was met by a first-time strike from Mata in front of the Stretford End.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard\u2019s 50th Premier League goal was followed by Rico superbly denying a Rashford free-kick and Lukaku netting at Old Trafford for the first time since March.<\/p>\n
A smart routine saw Jesse Lingard put Mata behind the Fulham defense, with Lukaku meeting his cross to turn home from close range, sparking high fives from Mourinho.<\/p>\n
Fulham goalkeeper Rico stopped Lukaku grabbing another just before the end of a half in which a meek Aleksandar Mitrovic attempt was they best they could muster. The striker was replaced at the break as part of a double change.<\/p>\n
Rashford and Lukaku tried to extend United\u2019s lead when play resumed, with impressive teenage right-back Diogo Dalot sending over a fine cross that Lukaku would have turned in was it not for Rico.<\/p>\n
But Fulham were now looking slightly more of a threat.<\/p>\n
Smalling was withdrawn through injury and Andre Schurrle fizzed across the face of goal after Herrera inexplicably turned wide with the goal at his mercy.<\/p>\n
The latter was soon involved in a goal at the wrong end, giving away a penalty for a foul on Kamara. The substitute turned home the spot-kick but hope of a comeback was all-but ended when Anguissa, already booked, was shown a red card by referee Lee Probert.<\/p>\n
The decision caused consternation before Luciano Vietto tried to net a second for Fulham, but United ended on top as Dalot\u2019s cross just evaded Lukaku.<\/p>\n
Rashford and the Belgium striker were denied by Rico, whose good work was forgotten when allowing a Rashford snapshot in at his near post from an acute angle.<\/p>\n
Rashford was replaced immediately afterwards by Scott McTominay, who could have netted a fifth when meeting a clipped Dalot cross.<\/p>\n