By Victor Kanayo
Fresh from the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigerian duo – Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey on Saturday tore Manchester United apart in the Premier League as their goals ensured that Fulham were victorious at Old Trafford.
While Bassey scored the first for the London based club, Iwobi sealed a win for them at about stoppage time to ensure the match ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
It was Fulham’s first win at Old Trafford since 2003, while Aston Villa surged clear in fourth by beating Nottingham Forest 4-2 same day.
United tasted the defeat few days days after the completion of Jim Ratcliffe’s minority stake earlier this week.
Ratcliffe had revealed his ambition to topple Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the English game within three years.
But the work that lies ahead of the British billionaire on and off the field was exposed as Fulham dominated a ragged United for long spells.
The Red Devils had won their previous four Premier League games to rekindle hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but the latest defeat leaves them eight points adrift of Villa.
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The result ended a run of 11 Premier League away games without a win for the west London outfit. Prior to this contest, only Sheffield United had a worse top-flight away record this term.
Neither the defeat nor, more importantly, the performance, will give anyone the belief United will achieve Ratcliffe’s lofty aims any time soon.
Later on, Manchester City scratched a win after their encounter with Bournemouth ended 1-0.
