Manchester United celebrate Benjamin Sesko's winner
Welcome to Carrick time. Michael Carrick played in plenty of those sorts of games for Manchester United and now he knows what it feels like to manage one as well.
For the second week in a row, Carrick's United reacted to a late equaliser by going up the other end and scoring an even later winner. When Kevin hit a stunning leveller for Fulham in the 91st minute at Old Trafford, United hearts sank.
They had thrown away a commanding position in the final five minutes, and players slumped to the turf. But an afternoon to forget for VAR had led to nine added minutes, and for United at their best, that is always more than enough time. To rehash a phrash we've heard a lot of recently, this is in their DNA. We weren't even halfway through that time when Benjamin Sesko controlled Bruno Fernandes' cross and arrowed a shot into the roof of the Stretford End net.
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It sent Old Trafford wild, but Carrick and assistant Steve Holland were the calmest men in the building. United's subs had torn off down the touchline to celebrate the goal, and with the noise threatening to take the roof off, Holland raced after them, telling Leny Yoro he was needed to come on and see out the win.
United survived a nervy finale that took us into the 102nd minute to secure Carrick a third successive win. That already matches the longest winning run of the Ruben Amorim era and Carrick was again serenaded by the Stretford End at full-time.
He was also wrapped in another embrace by the outstanding Casemiro, who scored one and set another up as part of an excellent midfield display alongside the tenacious Kobbie Mainoo.
Carrick knows a thing or two about what it takes to play in midfield for United. If Casemiro is the here and now, Mainoo is once again the future. The veteran relishing his prolonged farewell tour and the boy from Stockport who could have easily left the club this month have quickly re-established an impressive partnership.
This was Mainoo's best performance since returning to the team. He began January thinking he would have to leave United to play first-team football. Now he is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
One thunderous first-half tackle on Raul Jimenez set the tone for a display that mixed steel with real quality. He dictated the tempo when it required controlling and the speed of his play was integral to creating space for United.
Mainoo might not be Casemiro's direct replacement, but he does again look like a long-term fixture in this midfield, which wasn't the case a month ago. He always backed himself to outlast Amorim and days like this make you realise what a relief it is that he was right.
For all that the dramatic finale will dominate headlines, this felt like a step forward for United at home, where they have been passive against this level of opposition for too long. They played with tempo and invention, led by the brilliant Amad, who gave Antonee Robinson an afternoon he will want to forget.
Fulham were angry with the manner of United's opener. John Brooks pointed to the spot when Jorge Cuenca appeared to foul Matheus Cunha, but replays showed the centre-back took the ball. Discussions between Brooks and VAR James Bell revealed that Brooks said the penalty had been given for holding. Bell adjudged that to have happened outside the box, and told the referee to award a free-kick instead.
Cuenca did have a hand on Cunha's shirt at one point, but it felt soft. United were grateful for their handout. Fernandes' delightful free-kick was lofted onto the head of Casemiro, who headed beyond Bernd Leno for his first goal since confirming he will leave the club at the end of the season.
A sign of United's ambition in possession came early in the second half when Diogo Dalot suddenly found himself in the kind of position you would expect to see Fernandes. Dalot timed the pass perfectly for Bryan Mbeumo's run, but Leno smothered the shot.
United were managing to sustain attacks, however, and the pressure eventually paid off. Cunha's emphatic finish in front of the Stretford End came after a spell when Fulham just couldn't get out. Every time they threatened to clear their lines they were pounced on, with Dalot and Mainoo particularly impressive in winning the ball back.
That eventually allowed Casemiro space to pick a pass 25 yards from goal. He weighted his delivery to Cunha so well that his countryman didn't have to break stride before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
That should have been that for United and Sesko missed a chance to kill the game off when he headed Amad's cross against the post just seconds after coming on. That miss threatened to be costly when Fulham scored with five minutes to go.
Maguire was a little unlucky in conceding the penalty, taking Jimenez out as the Mexican got his shot away. The striker made no mistake when sending his penalty into the roof of the net.
Then Kevin cut in from the left and curled a sensational finish into the far corner, sending Fulham's travelling supporters wild. It looked like being more dropped points at Old Trafford for United, until Sesko's sensational intervention.