Fulham 0-3 Man Utd: Five things we learned as Anthony Martial repays faith and Claudio Ranieri toils

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial were in inspired form, with the former getting two goals and the latter scoring at the end of a brilliant weaving run

Manchester United swept aside Fulham at Craven Cottage with a 3-0 win which took Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s high-flying side into the top four.

Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial were in inspired form, with the former getting two goals and the latter scoring at the end of a brilliant weaving run.

For Fulham it was more misery as they sunk further into the relegation mire. Here are five things we learned:

Why January business was smart

The January transfer window was a relatively quiet affair for United. Only Marouane Fellaini departed, and nobody arrived, yet on 31 January a positive piece of news broke as Anthony Martial was pictured, all smiles, signing a new five-year contract – a player Jose Mourinho had considered selling not so long ago.

It was a January which seemed to fit the new ethos instilled under Solskjaer, one of stability and fortification, of trying to get the best from the plentiful resources already available to him, and Martial’s form is another example of those methods bearing fruit.

Martial’s goal here was one of his best in a United shirt, with defenders bouncing off him as he drove from the halfway line, somehow keeping his balance before placing a curling finish past Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico. He created Paul Pogba’s opener and was a constant danger up against Denis Odoi, in a performance which demonstrated exactly why United got their minor piece of January business just right.

Anthony Martial celebrates scoring with Paul Pogba (Man Utd via Getty Images)

Pogba epitomises new-look Man Utd

Lots of players, and teams, tend to show evidence of new-manager bounce when a change comes in the dugout. What has been so astounding about the transformation at United is partly that they have been able to sustain their momentum so forcefully – this win over Fulham was their 10th in 11 games under Solskjaer – but also that certain individuals have gone from such inhibitive performances to wildly expressive and commanding displays.

No one personfies that shift more than Paul Pogba, whose powerful and pinpoint first-half finish and second-half penalty took his tally of league goals under Solskjaer to eight – not to mention his five assists. It’s not only his contribution in the final third but his all-round game which seems to have changed – the barnstorming runs beyond defenders, the control and guile in midfield, the strength and skill to keep the ball in the tightest corners. Fulham never got hold of him here, and you suspect they won’t be the last this season to suffer at Pogba’s feet.

Ranieri’s defensive confusion

Chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” might be a little harsh on a manager who was hoisting the Premier League trophy not so long ago, but Fulham fans are clearly frustrated with Claudio Ranieri’s famed tinkering, and in particular his shuffling in defensive positions. That particular chant rained down as right-back Cyrus Christie was sent on to replace right winger Andre Schurrle, who had carried most of Fulham’s limited threat all afternoon. Ranieri shifted to the back-three he had used in the past few games, but the damage was already done.

The question remains as to exactly how Ranieri sees his best defensive setup. Denis Odoi looked decidedly uncomfortable starting the game at right-back, and it was in behind him that United broke the deadlock. Yet in truth Fulham have struggled both under Jokanovic and Ranieri, with three at the back or four, with Sergio Rico or a different goalkeeper, and with just about every different selection of personel. Time is running out for Ranieri to figure out exactly what he should be doing.

Denis Odoi had a torrid afternoon (AFP/Getty Images)

Perfect preparation for PSG

If Solskjaer is to get the United manager’s job on a full-time basis, making an impact in the Champions League is likely to be high on the list of factors which swing the vote. His side take on Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday at Old Trafford as they aim to reach the quarter-finals, and so the opportunity to rest players like Marcus Rashford completely and bring off Pogba within 70 minutes was invaluable. Pogba’s weekend of work was complete by 2pm on Saturday, the perfect way to prepare for Tuesday night’s mouthwatering contest.

Life gets no easier for Fulham

It is hard to know the exact deficit of points required for the dictionary defintion of ‘cut adrift’, but it’s fair to say Fuham are beginning to enter that territory. They are seven points behind 17th-placed Burnley, with an extra game played and a far worse goal difference, and things are not about to get any easier. The next three sides heading to the Cottage are Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, and the reality is that Fulham must take wins from the London Stadium and St Mary’s in their next two games if they are to avoid playing Championship football next season.