Manchester United extended a strong Premier League run with a 3-2 victory over Fulham, settled by Benjamin Sesko’s 94th‑minute strike at Old Trafford. The result made it three straight league wins, and
four in five under Michael Carrick, but United needed a late rescue after letting a two-goal lead slip.
Sekso’s winner arrived after Fulham fought back from 2-0 down through a Raul Jimenez penalty and a powerful Kevin finish. Manchester United had earlier moved clear thanks to goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, yet defensive lapses invited pressure and allowed Fulham to level late in the second half.
The Slovenian striker almost decided the match much earlier. Moments after coming on in the second half, with Manchester United leading 2-0, Sesko met a cross and headed against the woodwork. Fulham’s comeback then altered the mood, before Sesko responded again, meeting Bruno Fernandes’ second assist of the afternoon deep into stoppage time.
Sesko described the moment as the realisation of a long-held ambition. "That was unbelievable. Scoring at home and scoring the winner is unbelievable," Sesko told Sky Sports shortly after the full-time whistle. "I've been dreaming about that and dreaming that I can do that. " The forward underlined how vital the points felt for the dressing room.
Sesko highlighted the broader momentum under Carrick. "We all know as a team how important these results are. We are on a really great run right now, and we are just hoping that we can continue to work hard like that to win games. I'm really happy that I could help the team out. We can continue our streak now. "
Manchester United’s record under Carrick spans two spells and shows a clear pattern of early success. United have taken four wins and one draw from five Premier League matches with Carrick in charge, including the short 2021 stint. Only Matt Busby in 1946 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019 previously managed at least four wins from their first five league games.
Sesko pointed to Carrick’s approach as central to the recent surge, which includes notable wins over Manchester City at Old Trafford and Arsenal away. "It's true, he has said these things many times to the team," Sesko said, when asked about Carrick’s message to play with more freedom. "That's exactly what we are doing. "
Sesko also stressed the defensive and collective side of Manchester United’s improvement. "But it's not just that, you can see how much we work hard for each other without the ball, and that also contributes to good results in the end. The work rate is definitely different. Everyone is on point and covering their spaces. In the end, that's what counts. " Sesko added that the squad intends to maintain that level and focus on every moment.
Manchester United vs Fulham: Key decisions, VAR calls and away form
The match story was shaped early by a disputed incident leading to Casemiro’s opener. Manchester United initially received a penalty after Jorge Cuenca’s challenge on Cunha, but VAR ruled the contact occurred outside the area. Play returned to a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, from which Casemiro scored, leaving Fulham angered by the process.
Marco Silva expressed clear frustration with how VAR and referee John Brooks handled the situation. "The penalty was given for the tackle. After, because the decision was so bad, they found a different foul," the Fulham boss said on Sky Sports as Silva criticised the review. Silva stated that he understood the initial reasoning but disagreed with the later change.
Silva expanded on his view of the decision. "I feel my players, I feel our fans, but we have to respect the people in charge. I know why the penalty was given. VAR went in a completely different direction to find something to find a free-kick that was not the reason why the penalty was given. " Silva called the starting call "a horrendous, terrible decision" and described it as "big, big mistake. "
Despite the defeat, Silva praised Fulham’s football, especially after half-time. "Top performance from ourselves. In the second half, our team was better. The way we played and controlled the ball, they wanted to press us high, but we never let them," Silva said. Fulham briefly thought they had another goal when Cuenca scored, but that effort was ruled out.
Fulham’s away form in the Premier League remains a problem. The club have now lost seven away league games this season. Only Wolves, with nine, plus Brentford and Burnley, with eight each, have been beaten more often on the road. Silva accepted the disappointment and urged Fulham to use the frustration to respond positively in the next fixture.
Post-match scenes at Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/oHyuyBq6uCManchester United (@ManUtd) February 1, 2026
The late drama left Manchester United fourth in the Premier League and extended a strong sequence under Carrick, built on intense work without the ball and greater attacking freedom. For Sesko, the stoppage-time winner underscored personal progress and collective confidence, while Fulham departed Old Trafford convinced that key refereeing decisions had shaped a tight contest.
