'No identity, just garbage' - Ten Hag blasted as Fulham down Man Utd

Tom Weber

• Updated: 24 Feb 2024 17:15 GMT
• 4 min read

Erik ten Hag once again finds himself in the firing line after his Manchester United side were downed 2-1 by Fulham.

The Red Devils went into the clash with the Cottagers full of confidence after a good run of form, but that confidence soon dissipated. A disciplined Fulham showed themselves unfazed by the occasion and Calvin Bassey gave them a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute.

A late Harry Maguire goal levelled the score and Man Utd looked to have the wind in their sails to go on and potentially win this encounter, only for Adama Traore to go on a brilliant run which culminated in Alex Iwobi netting in the 97th minute to defeat the Red Devils at Old Trafford - Fulham's first away win in the Premier League since the opening day.

Man Utd had to make do without in-form Rasmus Hojlund, who will be sidelined for the next few weeks. Ten Hag's decision to start young Omari Forson ahead of birthday boy Antony and Amad Diallo - likely to convince the out-of-contract youngster to extend his deal - was met with initial praise.

However, rather than keeping the frontline that had been so successful in recent weeks, the Dutchman chose to play Forson, usually a striker, on the right, moving Alejandro Garnacho left and Marcus Rashford centrally. This gambit proved a mistake and Ten Hag's tactical set-up against the Cottagers was blasted on social media after the game.