Here’s Jamie Jackson’s report from Old Trafford. Night.
Marco Silva speaks
Let’s talk about all the game and not just one moment. Until the penalty we were clear [sic] the best team of the pitch – clear. The [red card] was a decision that VAR can make. What is difficult for us to understand is why the two moments in their box in the first half: one of them is a clear penalty on Mitrovic, and no one checks, no one wants to see anything…
[Do you agree that you let your team down and your team imploded?] No, no, I don’t, I don’t… why … if you ask me if I did something that I am happy with, of course. If you ask me whether it should be a red card, I have big doubts. I would like to know what the referee will write [in his report] about what I said to him.
One thing on the handball. Sancho’s shot was definitely on target; I’m not sure why anyone suggested otherwise.
Roy Keane’s verdict
Fulham will be getting one or two plaudits. They won’t be getting any from me – they had an opportunity and they blew it.
Marcel Sabitzer speaks
It’s a massive win. We wanted to go back to Wembley and we did it. [Did you win it or did Fulham lose it?] We won it. Why not? We scored three, they scored one. We were concentrated and focussed; we came back and that’s the important thing.
I haven’t seen [the handball] but the referee decided and we’re good with it. [What were you thinking when Mitrovic went dark?] Oh, nothing, I was focussing on the game.
I’m so happy [to score at Old Trafford] – an important one too, and I’m very happy.
[And now it’s Brighton in the semi-final] Yeah? We go there, try to win it and get to the final. We will do it.
A word of praise for Antony, whose introduction energised United at a time when they really struggling. He does seem to play a lot better when he comes off the bench.
The match was memorable for one reason only. Fulham, who were 1-0 up and outplaying United, had two players and their manager sent off in less than a minute.
Gone in 60 seconds indeed: their FA Cup hopes, and the noggins of both Marco Silva and particularly Aleksandar Mitrovic, who couldn’t handle the (correct) decision to award a penalty to United and send Willian off for handball.
Mitrovic had given Fulham a deserved lead at the start of the second half. And then it all went wrong, big time.
Full time: Man Utd 3-1 Fulham
That’s it. Man Utd will play Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final after a memorable win over Fulham.
GOAL! Man Utd 3-1 Fulham (Fernandes 90+6)
Fred runs at a backpedalling Fulham defence, with two players free to his right. He rolls the ball across to Fernandes, who walks into the area, steadies himself and scorches a drive past Leno.
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90+4 min It’s an odd thing to say when the score is 2-1, but the match is petering out. Fulham’s nine men can’t get the ball, never mind keep it.
90+2 min Wan-Bissaka has a shot blocked. Fulham’s nine men just can’t get out.
90+1 min There’s a suggestion that Sancho’s shot, which Willian handled, was going off target anyway. Willian wasn’t to know that. A similiar thing happened to Abel Xavier in Portugal’s infamous Euro 2000 defeat to France: I’m pretty sure Sylvain Wiltord’s shot would have hit the outsied of the post and gone out of play.
90 min There will be seven minutes of added time because of all the chaos.
89 min: Quadruple substitution for Fulham Tom Cairney, Dan James, Manor Solomon and Cedric replace Reed, Tete De Cordova-Reid and Pereira.
88 min Antony plays a one-two with Weghorst and stumbles into the area. He drags the ball beautifully round Leno, but Diop gets back to poke the ball away. Moments later Antony plays a one-two with Sancho and hits a rasper from the edge of the area that is well saved by Leno.
I really like Antony as a substitute, and his introduction today changed the game.
87 min If the ball ever goes out of play, Fulham will make a quadruple substitution.
86 min“A ‘brilliant performance’ from Fulham,” says Stephen Winstanley. “Take your anti-United goggles off for once.”
The world-wide-web: bringing humanity together since 1991.
85 min Sabitzer’s low drive is straight at Leno. This game is over, you’d think.
84 min “Hi Rob,” says Richard Hirst. “What did I say about honourable defeat?”
I think the word ‘honourable’ has just disowned you.
82 min: Man Utd substitution Fred replaces Marcus Rashford, who had a pretty quiet game.
81 min “Shane O’Leary thinks Bat For Lashes was ‘earnestly awful?’” sniffs Matt Dony. “Lucky for him, he’s never heard me with an acoustic guitar falsettoing my way through her song Laura. A level of overwrought earnestness that would make Counting Crows blush. Currently on my second spin on the covid-coaster, so I’m not feeling brilliant. But Fulham are helping, or at least they were. Actually, they are still helping, but in a very different way. Top entertainment!”
Nobody likes to see it.
ABSOLUTE SCENES AT OLD TRAFFORD!! 😳
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 19, 2023
Tempers are flaring as Fulham go from 1-0 up to conceding a penalty and going down to 9-men... 🤯#ITVFootball | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/6vWTYNgRGT
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80 min Weghorst’s rising shot from a very tight angle is held by Leno.
79 min “That’s the clearest handball, red card and penalty you will ever see,” says Samuel Campbell. “No idea why Fulham are so incensed. Biggest issue is why did the ref have to watch so many replays.”
If he knew how much Fulham were going to kick off, he’d probably still be checking it now.
GOAL GIVEN! Sabitzer was beyond the defence but behind the ball, so the goal stands. In the space of eight minutes, Fulham – who had been by far the better team – have lost two goals, two players and their manager.
This is bonkers. Sancho played a lovely ball inside Tete for Shaw, whose low cross was ingeniously backflicked over Leno by Sabitzer. But there’s a VAR check for offside.
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GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Fulham (Sabitzer 77)
Marcel Sabitzer scores his first goal for Manchester United!
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77 min The Fulham players are still moaning at the referee. I can understand their frustration, after such a brilliant performance, but they don’t have a case here. The penalty, and the red cards for Willian and Mitrovic, were clear cut.
GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Fulham (Fernandes 76 pen)
Fernandes calmly sends Leno the wrong way.
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75 min Still no penalty. To recap, Willian, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marco Silva were all sent off in the space of about a minute.
74 min Mitrovic wagged his finger in the referee’s face, then sort of shoved his arm. Marco Silva has been sent off as well, and the penalty still hasn’t been taken!
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Mitrovic has been sent off as well!
He went ballistic at the referee – he’s still going ballistic in fact – and Fulham are down to nine men. I think he pushed Chris Kavanagh. What an absurd few minutes.
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Penalty to United and a red card for Willian!
Oh my word, Mitrovic has lost it!
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VAR check Antony – who has energised United - broke thrillingly and played in Sancho. He danced round the keeper, sent Reed to the wrong fire and finally lifted a shot that was blocked on the line by Willian. It hit his arm, so I suspect this will be a penalty and a red card.
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70 min: Off the line by Willian, but was it handball?
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68 min Fernandes rolls the free-kick towards the unmarked Sancho on the edge of the D. His shot, which was probably going wide, hits Robinson and goes behind for a … goalkick.
67 min Robinson is booked for fouling Antony, who had slipped him cleverly on the right.
66 min: Outstanding save by de Gea! A dunderheaded foul from Maguire gives Fulham a free-kick on the right wing. Pereira puts it on the head of Mitrovic, 12 yards out, and he powers a header towards the far top corner. De Gea springs dramatically to his right to claw it away.
65 min “Remember Keegan’s Fulham came to Old Trafford in the cup?” says Niall Mullen. “They were really good (think they lost 1-0 maybe?). It’s nice to remember, because I think we forget, that Keegan was a good coach.”
Coach or man-manager? I agree with you though – the emotional failures have partially obscured the spectacular job he did for most of his time at Newcastle, Fulham and Man City.
64 min Mitrovic heads Tete’s cross straight at de Gea. He was a fair way out so it wasn’t much of a chance.
62 min Fernandes’s corner is headed behind for another, which he swings straight into the arms of Leno. The expected storm hasn’t materialised yet, and Fulham are pretty comfortable.
61 min “Ah, Ralphie,” says Simon McMahon. “Manchester United’s worst ever signing, right? But Fergie knew a player when he saw one. Dundee United hall of famer. Won the league for Jim McLean’s team at Dens the day after his 22nd birthday with one of the best goals you’ll ever see. Remains our top scorer in Europe, when United were mixing it with the best. The Scottish Garrincha. Without the World Cup winners medals of course.”
Or the international caps.
59 min Antony’s first involvement is to kick Robinson off the ball. He might have been booked for that, although it wasn’t the most vicious kick in the world.
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58 min: Man Utd substitution Antony replaces Scott McTominay, which means Bruno Fernandes will drop deeper. Sancho has moved to the left with Rashford up front and Weghorst as the No10.
58 min The impressive Palhinha is fouled 30 yards from goal by Fernandes. It’s too wide for a shot, and Pereira’s overhit cross goes behind for a goalkick.
57 min Erik ten Hag is giving advice to Antony, who is about to come on as substitute.
56 min “United’s lineup options today are as thin as gruel,” says Ben Barclay, “but with Erik Ten Hag doling it out, I’m happy to say: ‘Please sir, can I have some more.’ (More Pellistri and Antony, less Weghorst and Sancho…)”
54 min Fernandes sidefoots wide from the edge of the area after a good cutback by Rashford. That was half a chance, and the goal appears to have woken United up.
There was a VAR check for a foul on Rashford, who was sandwiched between two Fulham defenders and stayed down after the goal. But it was just a natural collision, not a foul, and the goal stands!
Pereira’s flat, outswinging corner from the right was flicked dangerously across goal by Diop, and Mitrovic cushioned a left-foot volley into the net from six yards. Fulham deserve that.
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GOAL! Man Utd 0-1 Fulham (Mitrovic 50)
Aleksandar Mitrovic scores his first FA Cup goal!
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49 min: Excellent save by de Gea! The corner is only half cleared to Willian, who cuts inside Rashford and fizzes a curler towards the bottom corner. De Gea, who must have seen it late, dives full length to his left and fingertips it round the post. That’s a lovely save, slightly reminiscent of Gary Walsh’s stop from Dwight Yorke at Villa Park in 1994 (though not quite as good).
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48 min: Good save from de Gea! Maguire’s attempted clearance is blocked by Palhinha and ricochets to Willian on the left side of the area. He teases Wan-Bissaka and then drags the ball behind him for Robinson, who whips a right-foot shot that is pushed over by the leaping de Gea.
46 min The second half is under way, and there are no substitutions yet.
“Ha, ha, ‘I should probably defer to his entirely superior judgement,’” says Shane O’Leary, quoting my comment about Erik ten Hag’s love of Wout Weghorst. “You’d do well in the Kremlin, or the BBC.”
I’m doing well at the Guardian, aren’t I? Oh.
“The first half sums up the life of a supporter of a ‘lesser’ team perfectly,” says Richard Hirst. “At Wembley 1975 and Hamburg 2010 I didn’t mind that we lost, I was just amazed and delighted that we got there. Same here; I don’t expect Fulham to win at Old Trafford, I’m delighted they are playing so well. (But if they do win …)”
You’ve had a few good wins at Old Trafford over the years haven’t you? I say ‘a few’, I’ve just realised the only one I can remember is 2003-04. That was really impressive, mind.
“Charlton, Best and Law also playing blinders today,” says Dean Kinsella.
Poor old Ralphie Milne is still getting abuse from the Stretford End though.
Half-time reading
“Weghorst,” says Geertjan Wielenga, “is like a really tall man who wandered onto the pitch in coincidentally the right kit.”
I can’t quite get a handle on him. At times he looks out of his depth, but at others he produces some really classy, deft touches. And anyone who conceives that free-kick against Argentina in the World Cup is a friend of mine.
Half time: Man Utd 0-0 Fulham
No goals, and no clear chances for either side. That aside, it was a veritable orgy of entertainment. Fulham were better for most of the half, particularly in midfield, but United showed signs of stirring just before the break.
45+2 min: Good block by Ream! Maguire forces a miscontrol from Willian high up the field, and Martinez fires the loose ball into Weghorst on the edge of the area. He lays it off first time to Sancho, who does likewise to the onrushing McTominay. His shot hits Ream and spins behind for a corner.
45 min Tete shoots well wide of the near post from distance. Two minutes of added time.
44 min Casemiro/Eriksen/Fred/Martial is having a great game.
43 min Palhinha’s long-range shot is well blocked by Sabitzer.
42 min “Must say I’m surprised that Ten Hag prefers Weghorst to Pellistri, who to me has looked the business in his appearances so far this season,” says Allan Castle. “Arsenal overwhelmed Fulham with zippy forward play last week... surely Pellistri would’ve offered more of that?”
They’re completely different players, aren’t they? I’ll be honest, I don’t see what Weghorst offers to merit starting every single game, but Erik ten Hag does and I should probably defer to his entirely superior judgement. I really like Pellistri though.
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41 min Sancho plays a nice reverse pass to the overlapping Sabitzer, whose fast low cross evades Rashford near the penalty spot. I say ‘evades’, Rashford actually left it. Not sure why. There was a Fulham defender close by, though, so I suspect any shot would have been blocked anyway.
40 min Sabitzer pings a snapshot from 22 yards that is pushed away by Leno. It was sweetly struck but straight at the keeper.
39 min Fulham break dangerously through Mitrovic. He gets to the edge of the area and then walks straight into a classic Martinez tackle. Superb defending, which prompts probably the loudest roar of the match from the home fans.
38 min “Sad to see that the term ‘crying wolf’ (9 mins) has not been cancelled by your woke language controllers,” says Ian Copestake. “It is clearly lupophobic and might be better termed ‘Bruno-ing.’”
37 min Fernandes drops the corner right on top of Leno, who pushes it away under pressure from McTominay.
37 min Fernandes deliberately drives a very long cross towards Shaw, who is about to head back across goal when the backpedalling Tete nods it behind for a corner. Good defending.
36 min “We shouldn’t be too hard on Weg The Peg,” says Shane O’Leary. “Many years ago I was watching Chelsea play a Newcastle side led by a genially lumbering Malcom MacDonald. Said Malcom lumbered through the middle of relaxed Chelsea defence and put his laces through it from outside the area. The ‘shot’ bent soooo far left it went out for a Chelsea throw-in.
“In other news... I listened to an entire Bat For Lashes album yesterday, so earnestly awful it makes Weg The Peg seem like Pele. Come on you cottagers, and Fulham!”
I used to like her stuff, and now it’s just guilt guilt guilt.
35 min United have a few attacking options on the bench, including Antony and Pellistri, and I suspect we’ll see one of them as early as half-time. Sad to say that Jadon Sancho has again been anonymous, although that’s no surprise given Fulham’s dominance. He’s far better in a possession team.
32 min A sharp pass from Martinez into Weghorst sparks United’s best move so far. Weghorst and Sabitzer combine to find Rashford, whose shot from a very tight angle is blocked at the near post by Leno. Rashford’s touch on the edge of the area was slightly heavy, hence the narrow angle.
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31 min I should have said earlier that there are no replays in the FA Cup quarter-final, so this game will go extra-time and penalties if necessary.
31 min Robinson’s curling cross is headed over from 12 yards by Mitrovic. The presence of Martinez meant he couldn’t quite get on top of the ball, but it was still a half decent chance.
30 min The only criticism of Fulham’s so far, and it’s a not insignificant one, is that they haven’t really created any chances. Everything else has been just ticketyboo.
29 min “United are playing like a group that has had a fixture every three days since the restart, with limited rotation from a first-season manager still trying to figure out his best setup,” says Matthew Richman. “Yet another knock-on effect from a season of world football characterised by alleged bribery, fraud, and human-rights abuses.
“Yes, Qatar was a good World Cup on the pitch, but the subsequent football is yet another addition to the price paid. I’ll be sickened if their bid for United makes good.”
You know things are bad when the Glazers are the lesser evil.
26 min Harrison Reed, who has been terrific so far, is holding his right hamstring. That would be a blow for Fulham.
25 min Reed dances past two players and stabs a pass down the side of the defence towards Mitrovic, who goes down under challenge from Martinez. There was a bit of contact, but not enough for the referee (or VAR) to give a penalty. Mitrovic was looking for it, although it was still a risky challenge by Martinez. In previous seasons, certainly 2020-21, I think that would have been given.
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23 min Rashford, near the left edge of the area, flips a really nice cross from a standing position that just evades both Sabitzer and Weghorst in the six-yard box.
21 min Maguire is booked for pulling back Mitrovic, which means he’ll miss the semi-final one way or another. United are struggling here.
20 min Casemiro is having a great game.
19 min “Your preamble took me back to the time about a decade ago when I played the tune ‘Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go to Work)‘ by They Might Be Giants to my kids when they were young and impressionable,” says Peter Oh. “I can still feel the enthusiasm with which they lustily yelped along to the ‘I never go to work’ part.
“As for the match, United might be giants and Old Trafford a fortress, but the lads from the Cottage could cause a surprise, couldn’t they?”
It sounds like that song made a birdhouse in yo- oh never mind.
18 min “What a pathetic shot from Weghorst!!” says Jeff Sax. “There has to be a better player in their Academy?!”
He’s a centre-forward Jeff, he’s not in the team to score goals.
17 min Pereira is booked for a tactical foul on Sancho.
17 min Fulham have been much the better side. We’ve seen this kind of sluggish start a few times from United in recent weeks; they’re shattered, aren’t they.
15 min An outstanding cross from Ream on the left bounces right across the six-yard box and out for a goalkick. Oof, that was begging for somebody to wallop it into the roof of the net from a yard or two out.
14 min Reed gets round the back on the right after outsmarting Martinez, but his cutback towards Pereira is put behind by Sabitzer.
13 min After Rashford’s first thrilling surge of the game, Weghorst shoots straight at Leno from the edge of the area. A half chance.
10 min Fernandes looks in a fair bit of discomfort, though I suspect he’s just winded. He’s back on the field now.
9 min Fernandes goes down holding his stomach after an elbow from Willian. United play on a for a while, assuming he's crying wolf, but eventually Sancho puts the ball out of play.
8 min Rashford’s on the left now, with Fernandes on the right and Sancho as the No10. I give up.
8 min Pereira plays a good reverse pass to Mitrovic, whose run into the area is tracked by Martinez. Mitrovic lays the ball back to Willian, who swishes well wide from 20 yards with the outside of his right foot.
7 min Actually, Rashford is now playing on the right, with Sancho left. Bit weird. I’m sure they started the other way round.
5 min It’s been a really good start from Fulham, aggressive and purposeful. United have hardly crossed the halfway line.
3 min Fulham appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when Mitrovic, in mid-air and about to head the ball towards goal, is eased aside by Shaw. We haven’t seen a replay but apparently VAR isn’t getting involved. My instinct is that the contact wasn’t strong enough for a penalty.
3 min Fulham regain possession and Diop, still up from the corner, loops a header that is pushed over the backpedalling de Gea. A comfortable save.
2 min Pereira’s dangerous cross towards Mitrovic is put behind by McTominay. Pereira takes the corner, and the abundant noggin of Harry Maguire deals with it.
1 min Tacticswatch: United have started with Bruno Fernandes as the No10 and Jadon Sancho on the right. Everything else is as expected.
1 min Peep peep! Andreas Pereira, once of United, gets things going. Fulham are kicking from right to left as we watch.
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The winners of today’s game will play Brighton in the semi-final, and the winners of that game will play Manchester City in the final.
“As the match is on what used to be known as terrestrial TV I can watch Fulham go down to, I hope, honourable defeat,” says Richard Hirst. “Equally pertinently, I can test out whether the MBM coverage is as accurate and unbiased as I assume - no pressure!”
A reminder of the teams, who are about to wander onto the field.
Man Utd (possible 4-2-3-1) De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Sabitzer; Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford; Weghorst.
Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Mainoo, Pellistri, Antony, Elanga.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic.
Substitutes: Rodak, Tosin, Cedric, Lukic, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, James, Vinicius.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
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And if you’re a Manchester United fan, why haven’t you subscribed to United Writing? Eh?
#Casemiro was good, so was #Pellistri, and #Rashford recovered from missing a sitter to score with a screamer. @TimdeLisle on #mufc's 11th win in 12 cup games https://t.co/Qz2jbDk1yt
— United Writing (@united_writing) March 17, 2023
The semi-final draw is about to take place, with the draw for the final to follow. Join Daniel Harris to find out who the winner of today’s game will be playing at Wembley next month.
“Welcome Rob,” says Jeff Sax. “Will we see the Man Utd from the Liverpool game or a winning MU?”
Jeffrey, if I knew that, I’d be in a beer garden, on a betting app.
With Raphael Varane injured, Harry Maguire starts again today. And like just about every player at Old Trafford, he has improved under Erik ten Hag.
While we’re talking about Grimsby, I had great fun this week researching their runs to the FA Cup semi-final in 1936 and 1939. If you like kooky details from the distant past, you’ll enjoy it.
I also learned about Tom Zerboni, a dynamic teenage left-back who is the nephew of an old university friend. When he makes his debut for England (or Italy), hopefully I’ll get an exclusive interview.
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The semi-final line-up
The winners of this game will join Manchester City, Sheffield United and Brighton in the last four. Brighton are cruising to victory over Grimsby at the Amex, where the seriously impressive Evan Ferguson has scored twice.
Team news
Erik ten Hag makes four changes from the win away to Real Betis on Thursday. Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer and Jadon Sancho replace Tyrell Malacia, the suspended Casemiro, Fred and Facundo Pellistri.
Marco Silva makes two changes to the side that was well beaten by Arsenal last weekend: Joao Palhinha and Willian return from suspension and injury respectively in place of Sasa Lukic and Manor Solomon. Both players have been so important for Fulham this season.
Man Utd (possible 4-2-3-1) De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Sabitzer; Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford; Weghorst.
Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Mainoo, Pellistri, Antony, Elanga.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; De Cordova-Reid, Andreas, Willian; Mitrovic.
Substitutes: Rodak, Tosin, Cedric, Lukic, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, James, Vinicius.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
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Preamble
Wednesday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Friday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday.
As well as being the least compelling opening paragraph in the history of sports journalism, that’s Manchester United’s schedule between the World Cup and the upcoming international break (sic): 25 games in 88 days, with no midweeks off and something at stake every time. It’s no they sit top of the Premier League’s unofficial Fatigue Table.
Today’s match is the second of three quarter-finals for United, a pleasant bonus in Erik ten Hag’s first season but a potential distraction from the primary target: finishing fourth. They’re in too deep to pull out now, and will be desperate to beat Fulham at Old Trafford today.
United’s home form this season is superb – P25 W20 D3 L2 – but this doesn’t feel like a banker: Fulham have troubled all the big teams away from home this season and are quietly having their best season in at least a decade. Reaching a first FA Cup semi-final since 2002 would blah blah happy cliche.
Kick off 4.30pm.
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