Harry Maguire acknowledged that, in order to prevent Fulham’s winner on Saturday, he “should have brought Adama Traore down.”
Alex Iwobi scored the game-winning goal in the 97th minute to give the Cottagers a 2-1 victory, and the Red Devils were defeated by them at Old Trafford in the nick of time.
Maguire appeared to be the hero of the afternoon heading into added time after cancelling out Calvin Bassey’s opener with his 89th minute effort.
But just eight minutes later, Maguire headed what proved to be a fatal ball straight into Fulham substitute Traore’s path.
The winger then stormed from inside of his own half, past a chasing Maguire and all the way to the edge of Man United’s box.
The former Wolves man went on to found an unmarked Iwobi in the box, who arrowed a shot past Andre Onana to seal all three points for the visitors.
Following the game, Maguire – who picked up a yellow card in the first half for a challenge on Sasa Lukic – admitted he perhaps could’ve done better to close to the Fulham star down.
Speaking to Man United’s YouTube channel after the game, the England international said: “Definitely, I mean they’re bringing a player on with fresh legs. He’s pretty lucky with how the ball falls to him, we know what he’s good at.
“I was on a booking myself so in hindsight again maybe I should’ve just brought him down, but then you miss next week.
“It’s easy to say now but yeah, it’s disappointing to lose the game.
The centre-back has made 23 appearances this term, scoring two goals and providing two assists in that time.
Following Saturday’s result, Man United remain in sixth, sitting three points off fifth place Tottenham, who have a game in hand now due to Chelsea playing in the Carabao Cup final this weekend.
Maguire and co next face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Wednesday, before diving into the Manchester Derby next Sunday.
“The lads gave everything, the reaction when we went a goal down was brilliant but maybe we should’ve started a bit faster in the first half and the second half maybe.”
Despite having the captain’s armband taken off him this season and Bruno Fernandes becoming skipper, Maguire has been key for Man United this season in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.
