Fulham put in another battling display against Manchester United, but once again left with nothing at Old Trafford.
After Kenny Tete had headed us in front, Aleksandar Mitrović saw a penalty saved by David De Gea – a moment which tipped the momentum of the contest.
It gave United a real shot in the arm, and they capitalised on a lucky deflection to equalise through Jadon Sancho.
Bruno Fernandes then got what proved to be the winner early in the second half, as the Whites’ final outing of a brilliant season ended in defeat.
There was just the one change from the side that drew with Crystal Palace eight days earlier, with Saša Lukić given a starting berth at the expense of Harrison Reed, who dropped to the bench.
The first shot went the Whites’ way following a patient free-kick that eventually saw Issa Diop cushion a header across goal to Mitrović, but he got a little under the ball and nodded over.
United were fortunate to be awarded a 30-yard free-kick when Mitrović appeared to fairly nick the ball off Casemiro’s toes, and they almost rubbed salt in with Marcus Rashford’s beautifully struck effort, only for Bernd Leno to deny him at full stretch.
But it was a set-piece at the other end that yielded the opener, as Tete got free of his man to nod in Willian’s corner at the near post. A simple routine, executed perfectly.
Things could have got even better when Fulham were awarded a penalty for a foul on Tom Cairney by Casemiro, but De Gea guessed correctly and got down brilliantly to deny Mitrović’s firm effort.
That was followed by off target long rangers at either end from Lukić and Rashford.
Alejandro Garnacho then turned and shot marginally wide, before crashing one off the underside of the bar as United looked to capitalise on the boost of the penalty save.
Leno was called into action to keep out efforts from Casemiro and Garnacho, but he did so without any distress.
There was little he could do to prevent the equaliser, though, as an incredibly fortuitous ricochet off Tete after he’d tackled Fred fell straight into the path of Sancho who was left with the simplest of finishes.
Rashford should have put his side in front in the opening stages of the second half, but could only send his volley wide, under pressure from Tosin and Diop, having got on the end of a long ball forward.
But they did have the lead before long. Fred slipped in an exquisite reverse pass to get Fernandes in behind our backline, and the Portuguese chipped a delicate effort beyond Leno for 2-1.
Fulham responded with another corner, Mitrović’s header from Willian’s delivery dropping a yard wide, and a Harry Wilson free-kick which sailed over.
Cairney’s eyes will have widened when Mitrović’s cushioned header from a deep Tete cross looked set to drop for a simple finish, but Scott McTominay got a last ditch toe on the ball to deny him.
Another opening fell the way of the skipper moments later when substitute Manor Solomon laid the ball into his path – Cairney hit it well but De Gea made a fine fingertip save. Bizarrely, a goal kick was awarded.
Solomon then went himself with a decent effort from the edge of the box, but De Gea was able to repel it on the stretch.
At the other end, Wout Weghorst wasted the chance to put the game to bed when he somehow put his effort wide running onto Sancho’s cross as we ticked over 90 minutes.
That proved to be the final opportunity for either side but, while frustrated at Old Trafford again, everyone in black and white can look back on 2022/23 with fondness.
