After a thrilling finale, Manchester United reclaimed fourth place in the Premier League from Chelsea on Sunday. Interim manager Michael Carrick’s side struck deep into stoppage time at Old Trafford to beat Fulham. Aston Villa suffered a painful home defeat against ten-man Brentford.
Manchester United continued their climb under Michael Carrick with a dramatic 3-2 win over Fulham at Old Trafford, a match that had everything: early control, a Fulham comeback that looked like it had stolen the points, and a last-gasp winner that felt straight out of the club’s most famous late-show traditions.
The victory underlined United’s status as genuine contenders for Champions League qualification, keeping the momentum going at a crucial point in the season and pushing them back above key rivals in the table.
Carrick’s squad was boosted by the return of Joshua Zirkzee, available for the first time since coming back from injury, although he started on the bench as United managed his minutes. Tyrell Malacia was also among the substitutes, another useful option returning at a time when depth matters. Fulham, meanwhile, welcomed back Kenny Tete into their matchday squad, and arrived in Manchester with the confidence of a side enjoying a strong campaign and used to competing with bigger opponents.
From the start, Fulham showed they were not at Old Trafford to sit deep and hope. They moved the ball with purpose, pressed intelligently in phases, and tried to drag United’s midfield out of shape to open lanes for quick transitions. United responded with a controlled, patient approach, circulating possession and looking for moments to accelerate through the lines. The first clear breakthrough came from a classic set-piece routine. Within twenty minutes, Bruno Fernandes produced a dead-ball delivery with real quality, floating a free kick into a dangerous area for Casemiro to attack. The Brazilian timed his run perfectly and guided the header into the far corner, leaving Bernd Leno little chance. It was the kind of goal that shifts the mood inside the stadium, giving the home side a platform and forcing the visitors to chase the game.
With the lead secured, United had a period where they looked comfortable. The midfield began to win second balls, the full-backs pushed higher, and Fulham were briefly pinned back. Casemiro, in particular, was central to that control, screening defensively but also stepping forward to join attacks when space opened up. Fulham still had moments, especially when they managed to break the first press and switch play quickly, but United’s structure largely held.
The second goal, though, was the moment that suggested United might cruise. Casemiro was involved again, this time turning provider. As Fulham tried to compress the space around United’s midfield, a quick sequence opened a pocket for Matheus Cunha. The forward received the ball, spun sharply to create separation, and rifled a powerful finish past Leno. At 2-0, Old Trafford had the feel of a game being professionally managed: United ahead, Fulham competitive but seemingly lacking the final punch to turn their good spells into goals.
But Fulham did not fold. Their response was built on persistence and belief, continuing to play their football rather than turning the match into a series of hopeful long balls. They increased the tempo, committed more bodies forward, and began to test United’s ability to defend crosses and second-phase situations. As the game moved into its final stretch, the pressure finally told.
The first swing came late, in the 85th minute, when Fulham were awarded a penalty and Raúl Jiménez converted to make it 2-1. The goal changed everything. United, who had looked in control for long periods, suddenly had to manage nerves, shifting from dictating the game to protecting it. Fulham sensed vulnerability and pushed even harder, throwing players forward and taking risks.
Then came the equaliser in the 91st minute, scored by Kevin, a moment that stunned Old Trafford and briefly made it feel like United’s winning run under Carrick was about to end in painful fashion. A 2-0 lead had evaporated, and for a few seconds United looked like a team hit by the shock of a collapse rather than one ready to respond.
What happened next was the mark of a side with belief and, crucially, the ability to reset mentally. Almost immediately after the equaliser, United went back on the front foot, driving forward with urgency. They forced Fulham back, targeted the half-spaces quickly, and looked determined not to let the match drift into a disappointed draw.
In stoppage time, the decisive moment arrived. Benjamin Sesko, introduced from the bench, produced the kind of finish that managers dream of from a substitute: quick thinking, sharp movement, and ruthless execution. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, he turned in one motion and drilled a shot into the net, sealing a 3-2 win in what supporters still affectionately call Fergie Time. The late strike not only rescued the points but also restored the emotional tone of the evening from frustration to exhilaration in the space of a minute.
Beyond the drama, the win carried real significance for the league picture. United’s ability to take three points from a match that looked to be slipping away is the kind of swing that can define a season, especially in a tight race where one late collapse can ripple into confidence and momentum issues. Instead, Carrick’s side came away with proof of resilience, plus another signal that their recent form is not a fluke.
For Fulham, despite the defeat, there were positives in the way they responded and the quality of their late surge. To come back from 2-0 down at Old Trafford is no small feat, and the composure to keep playing their way into the match showed why they have been so competitive this season. The frustration, of course, is that the comeback ultimately counted for nothing, undone almost instantly by Sesko’s winner.
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford
Aston Villa suffered a damaging home defeat to Brentford, losing 1-0 despite playing against ten men for most of the match. With Ian Maatsen and Lamare Bogarde starting, Villa had the kind of line-up that suggested control and attacking intent, but the game turned into a frustrating afternoon where dominance on paper did not translate into goals.
The major incident came just before half-time, when Brentford’s Kevin Schade was shown a red card, leaving the visitors to defend with ten men. Normally, that scenario sets up a siege and relentless pressure from the home side. Instead, in a twist that summed up Villa’s day, it was Brentford who struck first. Right before the interval, Dango Ouattara found the net to silence Villa Park, giving the London side a lead to protect with a compact defensive block.
The second half became a test of patience for Villa. They tried to raise the tempo, move the ball quicker, and stretch Brentford side to side, but the visitors defended with discipline and tactical clarity. Brentford limited clear chances, protected the central areas, and forced Villa into shots from less dangerous positions. The longer it stayed 0-1, the more it felt like one of those days where the final ball would not fall Villa’s way.
The result has clear consequences. Dropping points at home in this manner is a major blow to any realistic title ambitions, and with Arsenal’s lead now seven points after the weekend’s matches, Villa’s margin for error has shrunk dramatically. The bigger concern is the psychological impact of failing to capitalise on a man advantage for so long, especially with the season entering a phase where pressure grows with every round.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest earned a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, but the match had a clear narrative shift after Forest’s early lead and a disastrous late first-half spell that left them fighting for survival with ten men.
Forest started strongly, taking the lead in the fifth minute through Morgan Gibbs-White, giving the home crowd hope of a crucial win. The early goal allowed Forest to settle into a more compact shape, looking to protect the advantage and break forward when Palace left space behind.
However, the match turned late in the first half when Neco Williams handled the ball inside the area. The incident brought a double punishment: a penalty for Palace and a red card for Williams, leaving Forest down to ten men. Ismaïla Sarr stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 1-1, and suddenly the game looked set up for Palace to take over completely.
In the second half, Palace had the numerical advantage and saw more of the ball, but Forest defended with determination and organisation, refusing to let the visitors create a constant stream of high-quality chances. Palace could not find the rhythm or incision needed to fully exploit the extra man, and Forest’s discipline ensured they held on for a point that could be significant in the relegation battle.
For Forest, the draw felt like a small win given the circumstances, a reminder that even when things go wrong, a team’s defensive commitment can still salvage something. For Palace, it was a missed opportunity, the kind of game where you expect to force a winner, but instead leave with the sense that two points have slipped away.
Updated: 06:41, 1 Feb 2026
