The Blades looked to have overcome the Basham blow by getting themselves back on level terms at 1-1, before two more Fulham goals kept them bottom of the top-flight table. It’s been a tough week on the injury front for the Blades, while debutant Auston Trusty’s performance provided some light among the gloom at Craven Cottage...
5. Trust in Trusty
After a few tastes of Premier League experience from the bench, the moment that Trusty dreamed about since he was a boy growing up in the States finally arrived in West London and boy did he take it. He was straight into his work after about 15 seconds of the game, heading behind a dangerous cross from the right after Fulham started strongly, and that set the tone for his afternoon as he showed the athleticism that Heckingbottom had earmarked before the game. He even raced forwards to join in an attack as United threatened in the first half and although Basham’s misfortune will see him stay in the team going forward, he would have stayed in the side anyway after a really impressive performance despite the defeat
6. Good value?
Members of the media received pelters on social media for suggesting that United looked good for a point until Tom Cairney’s freak goal but, at 1-1 with around 15 minutes to go, it seems a reasonable opinion. At that scoreline United could have sat in a little and soaked up the pressure of Fulham, denying them the spaces that their clever movement sought to find. Instead, Cairney’s effort rebounded in via the crossbar and the back of Wes Foderingham and United instead had to chase a way back into the game again, giving Fulham the opportunity to go and get a third and put the result beyond any doubt.
7. A show of support for Hecky
The Blades may be struggling on the pitch but their supporters have not lost their voices away from home this season and again made themselves heard in the away end at Craven Cottage. After around 15 minutes there was a loud and noticeable show of support for boss Paul Heckingbottom, with a rendition of the ‘Hecky and Stuart McCall’ song to the tune of Status Quo. Basham’s injury dampened the mood in the away end for a time, which is in no way a criticism, but the Shoreham Boys chant that followed the United equaliser was spine-tingling before yet more familiar misfortune punched them in the gut. So many good people at United deserve a turnaround in form but boy, do these supporters need something to cheer about - and soon.