LISANDRO'S GREAT ESCAPE

Martinez wins it after ugly challenge goes unpunished

- By John Cross

THIS one will go down as the great escape. Manchester United were incredibly fortunate to come away from Craven Cottage with all three points after an ugly, scrappy affair.

And Lisandro Martinez was lucky to still be on the pitch to score the winner after two-footed lunge on Adama Traore as the two players reignited old hostilities.

Martinez's shot struck Sasa Lukic and flew up and over Fulham keeper Bernd Leno to delight the travelling fans behind the goal, who had stuck with United throughout.

How both referee Anthony Taylor and VAR Jarred Gillett missed Martinez's challenge on Traore is anyone's guess.

How much contact there was is almost irrelevant.

It has not been a good weekend for officials. Their beef dates back to the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, when Martinez said he sent Traore "to the gym" and the Fulham winger hit back by saying they "will meet again".