"Attack, attack, attack," the Manchester United fans implored. They eventually did through a defender.

United have benefited from Lisandro Martinez stepping into the final third in recent weeks and a player who had scored one goal in his first two-and-a-half years at the club now has two in a month.

Martinez scored at Anfield and created Bruno Fernandes's winner against Rangers by advancing towards the opponent's penalty area. The Argentine is as much of an asset in attack as defence with his line-breaking passes and he is becoming a deadlock-breaker.

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Both of his goals were in front of the United away-day masses. The wait was worth it for the 2,701 die-hards in the Putney End. United have now won their past eight at Craven Cottage, one of their supporters' favourite away grounds. They chanted "Argentina" repeatedly as Martinez conducted a post-match on-pitch interview.

It was a deflected pot-shot but it was a rarity for a United player to take a shot. Martinez's 78th-minute goal was United's fourth of the game and the first on target.

The ball clipped Sasa Lukic, was gloved by Bernd Leno and grazed the woodwork before dropping in. United have a tendency to leave it late at Fulham and did so again. They scored with their only attempt on target against Brighton last week and did so again.

Ruben Amorim was standing in front of Fulham's lavish Riverside Stadium by the Thames and he may not feel he is in the deep end now. United fans chanted his name as full-time loomed and moments later as they celebrated the three points. Back-to-back victories have been beyond United in the Premier League this season, though they have gained two wins this week.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, long based down the King's Road, watched on by the Thames in the most expensive stand for a Premier League season ticket. He should think twice about hiking ticket prices again after watching such dross. "£66, you're taking the p**s," the United fans sang, before they broke into a more caustic song about Ratcliffe.

Just the 11 points to go now for United. To the magic 40 mark to ensure safety from relegation. They would have been ten points off the top half had they lost. Fulham, with one defeat in 11 games before they hosted United, lost their nerve.

Nobody will pretend this is a confidence-building performance from United but winning by any means necessary will do. Had results gone against them at Tottenham and Aston Villa, they could have kicked off in 15th.

Amorim and his assistant, Carlos Fernandes, regularly bristled at what developed in front of them. Instructions were not followed and there was more trial and error, with plenty of the latter.

Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui switched flanks at half-time and it made no difference. They never will as full backs with a purportedly attacking remit. Andre Onana promised he would take "risks" during pre-season. He was reduced to time-wasting in the 76th minute. Much of United's play was craven at the Cottage.

Harry Maguire banished the memory of his error against Rangers swiftly with another commanding performance. This was a rare clean sheet - United's second under Amorim.

The United followers have such little faith in the current squad that none of the starting players were serenaded until Bruno Fernandes lined up a free kick in the 57th minute. Onana, like a caddy advising a golfer on the wind direction and which club to fish out of their bag, jogged to the halfway line to advise.

Joshua Zirkzee, developing a curious cult following in response to the barracking he copped at Old Trafford three weeks ago, was also warmly welcomed. A United fan unfurled a red, white and black tricolor that read 'Best, Law and Charlton'. This squad has some way to go to attain half their adoration.

The "attack, attack, attack," command came in the 32nd minute. United did not have an attempt at Leno's goalframe until Matthijs de Ligt connected with a flighted free kick in the 42nd.

Rasmus Hojlund had a pop at Onana in the fifth minute for a lofted aerial pass that Joachim Andersen intercepted. Andersen, Hojlund's teammate in the Denmark national team, knew his game inside out.

Hojlund's evening did not improve and Amorim gave up on him minutes into the second half. Hojlund possibly avoided a half-time change to be spared just to manage what little confidence he has. His kit was muddied, as it always is, though that was through Andersen mercilessly leaving him flat on the turf. Hojlund has now gone 11 games without a goal.

Fernandes snapped after 15 minutes, irked that De Ligt had played the ball sideways rather than forwards. This was all soundtracked to hearty renditions of 'Red Army' and 'Amorim's red and white army' from the loyalists.

This soporific spectacle was karma for the rights holders who inconsiderately inconvenienced the Mancunian matchgoers with a 7pm Sunday evening kick-off slot. United regarded that as slightly more beneficial as it afforded them nearly 70 hours of recovery time following the Europa League tie with Rangers.

The cries of 'Come on Fulham' from the Johnny Haynes Stand were almost laced with impatience, aired with a we-should-be-beating-these tone. Fulham had the benefit of an eight-day gap between matches whereas United had played twice since Fulham's win at Leicester.

Amorim attempted to counter that with another five changes yet Fulham were initially more cohesive, with Alex Iwobi especially urgent on the ball. United crossed the 40-minute mark without having a shot at goal. Andersen almost took one on their behalf with an overhit back-pass that Leno coolly tamed.

He could not stop Martinez's pot-shot, though.