Manchester United wrapped up the Premier League season with a 2-1 win at home to Fulham on Sunday afternoon, sealing third place in Erik ten Hag's inaugural campaign at the helm.
With a place in the top four confirmed by the victory over Chelsea in midweek, there was a carefree air breezing through the tepid opening exchanges. The Old Trafford crowd were looking towards next weekend's date in the FA Cup final as early as the first five minutes.
The visitors had no hope of shifting above or below an impressive tenth place but Marco Silva's side began with a verve and endeavour that belied their unwavering fate. Kenny Tete wandered into a glaring pocket of space to nod Fulham in front from a 19th-minute corner.
Tom Cairney drove into United's area soon after, dangling out a toe which Casemiro clumsily caught. Stepping up on the ground where he earned an eight-match ban in March, Aleksandar Mitrovic couldn't exorcise any demons - in fact, he added another to the devilish pack, planting a limp spot kick within David de Gea's wingspan to register a record-breaking fourth missed penalty of the season.
Mitrovic's unprecedented inaccuracy belatedly roused United from their slumber. Alejandro Garnacho spearheaded the first wave of retaliation, clattering the crossbar from six yards. Jadon Sancho was more accurate from a similar range, prodding United level shortly before the interval after Fred crashed into the penalty area.
If Fred's bundling in the build up to Sancho's equaliser was scruffy, the Brazil unsheathed a scalpel to tee up Bruno Fernandes after the interval, slicing a reverse pass straight through the middle of the visitors. Eyeball to eyeball with Bernd Leno. Fernandes coolly dinked the German keeper without breaking stride as he wheeled away to the corner flag in celebration.
Fernandes described United's season as "positive" but "not successful". However, he delivered the telling touch to provide the perfect warm-up ahead of the cup final against Manchester City last week, where the chance for more positivity, at least, awaits.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea - 7/10 - The winner of the Premier League Golden Glove made a rare penalty save on the day he accepted his award.
RB: Diogo Dalot - 6/10 - Dutifully overlapped all game, taking the sole focus off Sancho, which seemed to unshackle his teammate.
CB: Harry Maguire - 4/10 - Slotted into the sluggish tempo like a hand in a glove.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 5/10 - Kept his passing game simple and safe with an understated display.
LB: Tyrell Malacia - 5/10 - Leapt firmly into every tackle, although he was less consistent with his success in winning the ball.
CM: Casemiro - 3/10 - Uncharacteristically rash when conceding his penalty in league football since January 2019.
CM: Fred - 8/10 - Took the brief of a box-to-box midfielder very literally, covering every blade of grass at Old Trafford while creating two goals.
AM: Bruno Fernandes - 8/10 - Floated between the lines with menace, peeling into any whisper of space vacated by Fulham's midfield double-pivot.
RW: Jadon Sancho - 7/10 - Played with the schoolyard freedom of his Borussia Dortmund days, happily stuffing the ball between any set of slightly open legs and snaffling a goal.
ST: Marcus Rashford - 4/10 - Feeble in his failed efforts to defend the near post when United were defending a corner for Tete's opener.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho - 7/10 - The skeletal winger was at the tip of most of United's forward thrusts.
Substitutes
SUB: Christian Eriksen (66' for Fred) - 5/10
SUB: Anthony Martial (67' for Garnacho) - 5/10
SUB: Scott McTominay (67' for Casemiro) - 5/10
SUB: Wout Weghorst (77' for Rashford) - N/A
SUB: Facundo Pellistri (84' for Fernandes) - N/A
Subs not used: Butland (GK), Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Varane
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 7/10 - Released the handbrake of his wide players and Fred, overloading Fulham all over the pitch.
Fulham player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Bernd Leno - 5/10 - Would not have cared for the ease with which Fernandes dinked him.
RB: Kenny Tete - 7/10 - Took his goal well and put up a decent fight against Garnacho's wriggling.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - 4/10 - Reluctant to get sucked towards Rashford when he dropped off the backline.
CB: Issa Diop - 3/10 - A forceful aerial presence in the opposition box but much less assertive at Fulham's end of the pitch.
LB: Antonee Robinson - 5/10 - Charged up and down the left flank with admirable and undiluted energy reserves but struggled to match the flurry of Sancho's feet.
CM: Sasa Lukic - 4/10 - Didn't screen Fulham's backline with anywhere near the diligence of his midfield partner or the usual starter he replaced, Harrison Reed.
CM: Joao Palhinha - 5/10 - Lacked the sharpness of his best form but still shuttled around the turf with an infectious zeal.
AM: Tom Cairney - 6/10 - Did well to lure Casemiro into the concession of a penalty but struggled to match the pace of the contest when it sporadically broke out of a stroll.
RW: Harry Wilson - 5/10 - Drifting in off the right flank, Wilson flickered in and out of the contest.
ST: Aleksandar Mitrovic - 3/10 - Upon his return earlier this month, Mitrovic joked that he had been practising penalties throughout the duration of his ban. Perhaps it is time to hand over the baton.
LW: Willian - 6/10 - Probed from set pieces but not as effective in open play.
Substitutes
SUB: Harrison Reed (66' for Lukic) - 5/10
SUB: Manor Solomon (66' for Wilson) - 5/10
SUB: Daniel James (80' for Cairney) - N/A
SUB: Vinicius (80' for Mitrovic) - N/A
Subs not used: Rodak (GK), Decordova-Reid, Kebano, Dibley-Dias, Soares
Manager
Marco Silva - 4/10 - Took pride in the fact that his side had performed well without getting results against United this season. On Sunday, Fulham deserved left Old Trafford empty-handed.
Player of the match - Fred (Manchester United)
This article was originally published on 90min as Man Utd 2-1 Fulham: Player ratings as Fernandes fires Red Devils to third place.
