Gary Neville praised two Manchester United signings after Michael Carrick passed ‘another test’ by beating Fulham at Old Trafford.
A thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday extended United’s perfect record under caretaker manager Carrick, who also oversaw victories over title favourites Arsenal and arch-rivals Manchester City.
The Red Devils looked set to blow a two-goal lead and drop points, which Neville admits would have been ‘devastating’ given they were in complete control following goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha.
Raul Jimenez gave Fulham hope with an 85th-minute penalty and Marco Silva’s side appeared to have earned an unlikely point when Kevin scored an injury-time equaliser.
But Manchester United summer signing Benjamin Sesko scored an even later winner with virtually the last kick of the game to keep the Old Trafford club in the Champions League places.
Neville said it was ‘typical’ of United to snatch a late winner, as happened so often in their glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former right-back was delighted to see Sesko enjoy a euphoric moment given the £74m signing has largely struggled since arriving at United last summer.
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Neville also singled out fellow summer recruits Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for praise, insisting they have immediately looked like players that can thrive at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘I was sat watching Manchester United earlier and I was smirking and smiling because we went 2-0 up,’ he said on The Gary Neville podcast.
‘All of a sudden Fulham just kept going, they wouldn’t give in and when they scored I just went, “oh my goodness”.
‘If you asked any United fan or coach who you wanted to score it would have been Benjamin Sesko because he’s had a really difficult time since coming to the club.
‘Mbeumo and Cunha have just looked like Manchester United players straightaway, the way they take the ball and attack defenders.
‘It looked like Sesko was playing a bit-part role but that will be so big for him, to score a winning goal at the Stretford End and to come back like they did was very United-like.
‘He’s got a really good strike on him, that’s one thing he does have. This was another type of test for united and Carrick against a team lower in the league.
‘Carrick will have some work to do with the players but it’s a very important day for the club and the manager.
‘It would have been devastating to drop two points because they need to be pretty consistent now to get the top-four. United look like they’re in a good place.’
Manchester United are one point above fifth-placed Chelsea and two above struggling reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in the battle to secure a top-four finish.
Carrick’s side return to action on Saturday against Tottenham, who have underwhelmed under Thomas Frank but drew 2-2 with Man City last time out.
Matthijs de Ligt scored a 96th-minute equalise to earn United a 2-2 draw with Tottenham the last time these two sides met back in November.
While Manchester United have Champions League aspirations, Spurs are just 14th in the Premier League, nine points above the relegation zone.
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