Manchester United fans made their point with early chant after 'imposter' criticism
Where would Manchester United be without Bruno Fernandes? In a better place, according to former captain Roy Keane. Staring down the abyss of irrelevance in reality.
In a week when Fernandes' importance to United was again placed in the spotlight by Keane's caustic midweek comments, the club's current captain was once again the only person standing between United and total humiliation.
Keane's criticism came at a strange time, when the importance of Fernandes to United was clearer than ever to see. The captain is integral in a team missing its other real attacking threat in Amad, especially when Alejandro Garnacho remains peripheral under Ruben Amorim.
United's reliance on Fernandes was clear against Fulham. He was the deepest player in their 3-1-3-3 build-up shape, and it helped them start the game well and dictate the tempo. But when he played the ball forward, the front five showed the limitations of this team.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui offered no theat from the flanks and Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have already been exposed as not quite good enough. Christian Eriksen showed his class at times, but he is 33 and on his way out at the end of the season. United needed Fernandes to set the tempo outside his own box and the be the threat outside Fulham's.
As they got desperate, that is what he did. Dalot's low cross picked Fernandes out well, but he still had plenty to do. The low left-footed shot was a superb goal and the seventh in a row he has been at the heart of, dating back to the late win in the fourth round against Leicester City. Keane labelled him an "imposter" but without him this side really would be in a relegation scrap.
The Stretford End nailed their colours to the mast early on, chanting