'Naive' Man United suffer last-minute defeat to Fulham

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Harry Maguire admitted “naive” Manchester United paid the worth for being too attacking within the last minutes of their shock 2-1 defeat in opposition to Fulham on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag’s aspect suffered a serious blow to their hopes of a top-four end within the Premier League as Alex Iwobi snatched Fulham’s winner seven minutes into second-half stoppage time.

United defender Maguire seemed to have rescued some extent when his close-range end within the 89th minute cancelled out Calvin Bassey’s Sixty fifth-minute opener.

However United have been caught throwing gamers ahead in the hunt for all three factors as Iwobi capped a counterattack to seal Fulham’s first victory at Previous Trafford since 2003.

“Total, on the stability of play, we did not do sufficient within the first 60 minutes or so. We began the sport not nice,” Maguire stated.

“The primary half was fairly even, however while you’re not enjoying at your greatest, it’s important to do the fundamentals proper.

“To be a aim behind, I assumed our response was good, particularly within the final half-hour, and once we equalised, most likely just one crew was going to win it.

“We have been most likely naive in the long run by throwing too many our bodies ahead and getting accomplished on the counterattack.”

Sixth-placed United are actually eight factors adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa within the race to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League.

United may don’t have any complaints after Fulham dominated with a show that punctured the optimism round Previous Trafford following the affirmation of Jim Ratcliffe’s buy of a 25% stake within the membership this week.

British billionaire Ratcliffe, a boyhood United fan, has taken management of the membership’s soccer operations from unpopular house owners the Glazer household.

However United’s tame efficiency underlined how a lot work they need to do to fulfil Ratcliffe’s daring ambition of knocking Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool “off their perch.”

Maguire claimed United have been hampered by the absence of Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, who had been in advantageous kind earlier than struggling an damage this week.

“We obtained hit by the damage to Rasmus, who has been huge point of interest for us. However it’s as much as us to search out the options and the areas we have to enhance on,” Maguire added.

“We are able to play into him, he holds it up, he begins the press very well, not solely that however Marcus (Rashford) has been enjoying very well on the left.

“It is the story of our season. We have been damage hit, as different groups have, and we have to discover a answer fast.”