“Although Amad has been amazing lately but he’s not up to this guy’s level, not even close…This guy was the reason we won today”: Manchester United’s defender Lisandro Martinez says Man United has another youngster who’s far better than Amad Diallo

Lisandro Martínez’s deflected second-half strike was decisive as Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage for just their second Premier League away win since September.

In truth, it was a match lacking in quality from both teams, with the away side in particular offering precious little in attack.

But United were resolute enough at the back and battled commendably to victory against a Fulham side who’ve earned plenty of plaudits this season.

In securing victory, United maintained their unbeaten run at Craven Cottage, where they’ve not lost in the league since December 2009.

For a while, United looked as though they’d settled for a draw. Although neither side were especially impressive, all the attacking threat in the first half came from Fulham.

Nevertheless, André Onana remained largely untested in his goal, with Fulham’s attempts only amounting to 0.2 expected goals.

It took United just shy of 42 minutes to record their first shot as Matthijs de Ligt nudged the ball goalwards just before half-time – Bernd Leno dealt with it easily, however.

That meant United reached the break having managed just a single attempt, their fewest in the first half of a league game since recording none against Liverpool in April last year.

The visitors did improve somewhat after the break, enjoying more of the ball than their hosts and going close through a clever Bruno Fernandes free-kick that stuck the side-netting.

At the hour mark, United had enjoyed 65.4% of the ball in the second half, up from their 50% share in the first period.

And yet, neither team managed a touch in the opposition’s area after the break until later than the 70th minute, with quality in the final third sorely lacking.

Perhaps, then, it shouldn’t have been surprising that the winning goal came in such fortuitous fashion.

The ball fell kindly to Martínez and the centre-back struck from 25 yards, his effort deflecting off Sasa Lukic’s shin and looping over Leno in the Fulham goal.

It was the Argentinian’s third Premier League goal involvement under Ruben Amorim, a figure only Fernandes and Amad Diallo can better.

Fulham went agonisingly close to equalising late on, but Toby Collyer nodded Joachim Andersen’s headed shot off the line, a clearance that was ultimately worth two points and only a second away Premier League win for Amorim.

It might’ve been slightly more comfortable had Amad’s late strike not been disallowed for offside, though it mattered not in the end.