Fulham v Manchester United

The history between Fulham FC and Manchester United FC in English football has been a mix of competitive clashes, with Manchester United often dominating the fixtures, given their status as one of the top clubs in England. However, Fulham has provided some memorable moments, especially in more recent times, when they’ve managed to challenge United in the Premier League.

Early Encounters

• First Meeting: The two clubs first met in competitive matches during the early years of the 20th century. Fulham was generally a lower-tier team while Manchester United was gradually rising as one of the dominant forces in English football.

• Dominance of Manchester United: Historically, Manchester United has had the upper hand over Fulham, especially during their golden years in the 1990s and 2000s under Sir Alex Ferguson. United was almost always fighting for league titles, whereas Fulham spent much of this period fluctuating between the top division and the lower leagues.

Premier League Era (1992–Present)

• Fulham’s Promotion to the Premier League (2001): When Fulham earned promotion to the Premier League in 2001, they had the chance to face the top clubs in England, including Manchester United. United was in their peak period during this time, having dominated English football with multiple Premier League titles.

• Fulham’s Home Advantage: In the early Premier League years, Fulham’s home ground, Craven Cottage, was a tricky venue for many top clubs, though they still struggled to match Manchester United’s overall strength. However, Fulham managed to have some notable performances at home against United, and they produced some memorable moments despite United’s dominance.

Memorable Matches

• 2009/10 Premier League Season – Fulham 3–0 Manchester United:

  • One of the most famous games between Fulham and Manchester United came in 2009, when Fulham defeated United 3-0 at Craven Cottage. This result stunned the football world and was one of the most significant wins in Fulham’s Premier League history.

  • Goals came from Bobby Zamora, Zoltán Gera, and Damien Duff. The victory was part of Fulham’s strong mid-table performance under Roy Hodgson and highlighted their ability to challenge even the biggest teams.

• 2011/12 – Fulham 2–2 Manchester United:

  • Another memorable encounter was in the 2011/12 season, where Fulham held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. Fulham had previously been close to pulling off an upset against United at Old Trafford in 2009, and this 2-2 draw gave them a strong point from the fixture.

  • Despite a late equaliser from Federico Macheda of United, Fulham showed resilience against a side aiming for the title.

Recent Years

• 2018/19 – Fulham 1–3 Manchester United:

  • The 2018/19 season saw Fulham relegated to the Championship, but their match against Manchester United at Craven Cottage showed some of the attacking flair that had once made them a strong Premier League side.

  • Although Fulham lost 3-1, they still managed to trouble United’s defense with some quality attacking play, a reminder that the club could still compete at this level.

• 2022/23 – Fulham 1–2 Manchester United:

  • Fulham’s return to the Premier League in 2022 saw them face United in another exciting encounter. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat for Fulham at home.

  • Despite a late surge from Fulham, Manchester United managed to hold onto their lead and secure the three points in a typical competitive Premier League affair.

Head-to-Head Record

Historically, Manchester United has had a strong record over Fulham in the Premier League. The Red Devils have won the majority of the encounters between the two teams, but Fulham has managed to pull off some memorable results over the years, especially at home.

• Total Premier League Meetings: Manchester United has won a substantial number of matches in the head-to-head.

• Fulham’s Famous Wins: The 3-0 victory in 2009 is arguably the standout result for Fulham against United in the Premier League era.

Players and Legends

• Fulham’s Stars Against United: Players like Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, and Clint Dempsey have had memorable moments in matches against Manchester United. These players contributed to Fulham’s resilience against the bigger sides in the Premier League.

• Manchester United’s Influence: For Manchester United, players like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ryan Giggs have been instrumental in dominating games against Fulham over the years.

Rivalry Today

• While not a traditional rivalry in terms of fierce competition, Fulham vs. Manchester United is always an exciting fixture, especially when Fulham is in the Premier League. Fulham fans look to these matches as opportunities to test their team against one of the most successful clubs in English football history, while United fans expect a routine win.

• With Fulham establishing themselves as a solid Premier League club again, there is always potential for exciting encounters in the future, as the club continues to fight to remain in the top flight and push for higher finishes.