Manchester United record biggest Premier League victory in over a year to give Jose Mourinho breathing space

Manchester United 4-1 Fulham: Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford join Lukaku in helping United score four goals for the first time since November 2017 and move up to sixth

Romelu Lukaku gave Manchester United breathing space over Fulham with the third goal (PA)

Manchester United’s biggest Premier League victory in 13 months was a timely response to Jose Mourinho’s growing army of critics at Old Trafford, even if the emphatic win may only have covered up wider concerns.

First half goals from Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku justified the manager’s decision to again leave Paul Pogba on the bench and, although Fulham substitute Aboubakar Kamara pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, Marcus Rashford was able to complete the rout after 82 minutes.

He beat keeper Sergio Rico at his near post with a curling shot from the edge of the area although by that stage Fulham had been reduced to 10 men following a second yellow card for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

The bizarre, eve of match pronouncement from Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes that both club and manager were deliriously happy with each other seemed to fly in the face of all available recent evidence.

It also begged the question as to whether this was the first instance in modern football history of an agent issuing a vote of confidence on behalf of his client’s employers.

But if the scene was set for another uncomfortable afternoon in the growing soap opera that revolves around Mourinho, at least Young eased some of the pressure with a 13th minute goal.

There had already been a couple of promising, speedy attacks launched by the teenage right-back Diogo Dalot when Young collected a short pass from Rashford and headed towards the Fulham area.

Denis Odoi made a poor effort to tackle Young and, having easily beaten his marker, the United veteran then has the presence to loft a sublime finish over Rico and into the top corner of the away goa.

United players congratulate Ashley Young after his early goal (Getty)

For a United side with a comparable record to the one David Moyes possessed at a similar stage of his one and only season in charge five years ago - Mourinho entered the Fulham game just one point better off than his predecessor had been - defeat was inconceivable.

And when Mata doubled the lead after 28 minutes, that sorely-needed victory looked as good as secured.

It was a simple goal that highlighted the defensive weaknesses which Fulham’s new manager Claudio Ranieri must address, and quickly. Lukaku slipped a pass down the wing for Rashford, his excellent cross picked out an unmarked Mata, one step inside the Fulham area, and the Spaniard finished superbly past the diving Rico.

A hopeful long shot from Aleksandar Mitrovic, straight at David de Gea from 20 yards, had offered brief respite for the visitors in between the two goals but United’s first half dominance was near-total.

Romelu Lukaku gave Manchester United breathing space over Fulham with the third goal (PA)

In fact, Young might have doubled the lead himself, before Mata did so, meeting a deep Lukaku cross with a first-time volley which was blocked by a defender.

And as an impressive first half performance wore on, Rashford unleashed a spectacular 30-yard free-kick which Rico saved well, diving and judging the swirling ball impressively.

There was still time for United to take that three-goal cushion into the interval, this time from a well-worked 41st minute corner and a one-two between Mata and Jesse Lingard.

Mata reached the by-line and pulled the ball across an empty six-yard area where three unmarked red shirts were lurking, Lukaku eventually doing the honours with a routine finish.

Aboubakar Kamara scores Fulham's penalty to give them a glimmer of hope (Getty)

Ranieri made a half-time double substitution but that alone could not stem the bleeding.

Within minutes, a terrific Rashford blast had been parried by Rico, with Lukaku narrowly missing from the rebound, and the keeper did well to beat the Belgian to a Dalot cross with his defence again conspicuous by their absence.

Ander Herrera also missed a glorious chance, shooting wide from Mata’s pass, before Fulham pulled a goal back on 67 minutes.

Franck Zambo Anguissa is shown a red card for Fulham (Getty)

United claimed Kamara had fouled Phil Jones as he collected a pass but referee Lee Probert judged Herrera had tripped the Fulham substitute, who took and scored the resulting penalty himself.

Hopes of a Fulham fightback were shortlived, however, with Zambo Anguissa collecting a second yellow card, for fouling Rashford, within a minute and reducing his team to 10 men.

Marcus Rashford added United's fourth and final goal (Action Images via Reuters)

Inevitably, Fulham struggled thereafter and although Rashford eventually added a fourth, Lukaku, Rashford himself and substitute Scott McTominay all missed easier chances to do so.