Harry Maguire calls for greater Manchester United ruthlessness after Fulham draw

Harry Maguire says Manchester United must be more clinical after Fulham held them to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

United created a number of opportunities but failed to make them count, leaving the defender frustrated at a result he felt could have been very different. Maguire believes the visitors should have taken greater control in the opening period, before acknowledging that their level dropped after half-time.

“We have got to take our chances and take our moments,” Maguire said. “When you come away in the Premier League it is tough and you have seen that in the results this year.

“When we had those moments in that first half, they are big moments in the Premier League and you have really got to take them.”

The 1-1 draw was also shaped by what Maguire considered an inadequate start to the second half. Although he felt Fulham had not produced many clear openings, United conceded the opening goal during a spell when they were not performing well enough.

“The start of the second half we didn’t perform well enough, without them really creating any chances,” he said. “It was a really unfortunate goal to concede.”

United responded with sustained pressure after falling behind and eventually found an equaliser. Maguire was encouraged by the reaction, contrasting it with the team’s response in their previous match, and suggested an earlier goal might have allowed them to go on and win.

“Our reaction was so much better and positive than it was last week,” he said. “The boys showed great spirit and great reaction.

“We pushed them right back and the pressure was relentless; we needed a ball to fall or drop for us.

“It was just unfortunate that the goal did not come earlier as we had the momentum to go and win the football match.”

Maguire urged his team-mates not to be distracted by outside criticism, while accepting that United still have several aspects of their game to address.

“You have got to ignore the noise and really believe and think about what we have done this year, along with what we need to work on and improve on, but we are not far away,” he said.

The experienced defender said small differences had contributed to United’s recent results and confirmed the squad would use the upcoming break to focus on correcting their weaknesses.

“We could be sat here looking at things completely different, that’s football and it is fine margins,” Maguire said.

“We will have a break now and come back, we know we need to improve but we will work hard and take the positives from today.”

Manchester United’s next match is against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10.