Erik ten Hag can count himself lucky that two players who appeared on their way out of Manchester United were key in buying him a little bit of breathing space.
Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay were United’s best performers at Craven Cottage on what was an otherwise another bang average performance from Ten Hag’s team.
They were the pair who really dug in and kept United in it during some difficult periods so Bruno Fernandes’ goal could nick the points late on.
While the manager’s £85million signing Antony failed to deliver again and was booed when taken off, Maguire and McTominay played as if they had a point to prove.