Ten Hag insists he has the backing of his team and calls for hunger and desire

Erik ten Hag insists his Manchester United players after fully behind him after they eased the pressure on their under-fire boss with a crucial win at Fulham.

Captain Bruno Fernandes’ late 90th minute winner clinched a morale-boosting victory at Craven Cottage following a largely uninspiring performance from the crisis club.

Following two successive 3-0 losses, the victory - at least temporarily - alleviates the scrutiny on Ten Hag’s job.

After the game, the Dutchman said: ‘I think always we go from game to game. This week we were definitely not happy with our standards.

'Today we improved. Everyone knows that. Every game you have to bring that level and attitude. To show hunger, passion and desire.

'That can be the foundation. It’s a good win, with a solid performance. But we know every game we have to win. I knew they are playing (for me).

‘It’s a good dressing room that fights for each other. They know the standards.’

Fernandes’ position as captain has been questioned in recent weeks but Ten Hag said: ‘So often from the moment I made him captain he has done this.

‘He sets the example, he is absolutely the example. He is taking responsibility all the time. He always wants the ball and wants to create.’

Meanwhile, Ten Hag insisted Harry Maguire was not suffering with concussion after receiving lengthy treatment for a hefty blow to the head in the opening minutes.

United say Maguire was assessed for concussion but cleared to carry on. The England defender appeared to receive further head-related treatment in the second half, but that was due to hand injury and not related to the first-half blow.

Maguire produced an imperious performance to emerge as one of United’s heroes, and Ten Hag - who revealed Marcus Rashford missed the game after complaining of pain following Friday’s training session - added: ‘He was playing a massive game a very good performance. He showed leadership in and out of possession. I’m very pleased.’

Fulham boss Marco Silva said: ‘Frustration. In our dressing room, it's disappointing what happened in the last minute of the game.

'We were on the front foot, we created our chances. We should have created a little more and it was a moment for us to score.

'If you arrive in danger areas, you have to score. We didn't. It's not unlucky, you have to be there until the last second of the game.

‘Three players, four players making mistake after mistake (that led to the goal) is difficult to understand for us.

'We have to grow as a team. It's emotional control we lost in that moment.’