Manchester United were spared some blushes after a deflected strike from Matheus Cunha earned them a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
In a week that has seen Michael Carrick’s team lose to rivals Man City and be dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton, United needed a positive result in London but trailed the Cottagers with mere minutes remaining in the match.
In a game that lacked quality and intensity, an error from Lisandro Martinez sent the hosts into the lead as the defender deflected a Senne Lammens save into his own goal. Both sides had previously wasted opportunities to score with 26 shots coming in a goalless first half.
United’s lack of urgency threatened to be their undoing before Cunha struck in the 89th minute to salvage a draw but the woeful nature of their performance will increase the pressure and scrutiny on Carrick as the teams head into the international break.
Follow the reaction from Fulham v Man Utd, below:
Matheus Cunha rescues Manchester United but their major issue remains clear
A game that had looked like it was edging towards a first Alvaro Arbeloa win, courtesy of Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal, instead saw another wicked deflection divert it to a 1-1 draw.
Neither club is completely unhappy, but this could have been a lot worse for both.
An exuberant Fulham at least climb off the bottom of the table, ensuring it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit there going into this three-week international window. They look the closest to the “crisis club” enduring all manner of external criticism and introspection going into an unusually long break. That was so close to being United.
Gary Neville lambasts Manchester United’s display against Fulham as an ‘absolute disgrace’
Matheus Cunha rescued a point for the Red Devils with a deflected strike in the 89th minute after a Lisandro Martinez own goal had sent the Cottagers into the lead.
United took 29 shots throughout the game but were unable to capitalise in the final third and the scrutiny will now increase on manager Michael Carrick after a week of poor performances has seen them lose to Manchester City and Brighton (in the league cup) and now draw with Fulham who began the match bottom of the Premier League table.
‘They would not let Manchester United lose’: Fulham boss decries refereeing decisions after Premier League stalemate
Fulham went ahead in the 63rd minute after Lisandro Martinez turned into his own net, though United rescued a point late on as Matheus Cunha’s effort deflected past Bernd Leno in the 89th minute.
Both sides wasted chances in a game that was sluggish at times, though there were no particularly controversial calls made by either referee Peter Bankes or the VAR team.
Saha: ‘Players need to play at full pace’
“At some points when they decide to accelerate, they look like a Manchester United side – there is no problem; the quality is there,” says former Man Utd striker Louis Saha on Sky.
“There are some moments, though, when they accept the speed of a charity game. That’s shocking.
“Players need to play at full pace; if they can’t after 70 or 80 minutes, they should be substituted,” he added.
United’s results so far
Here’s what Manchester United’s results look like so far this season then:
Hull City 2-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 5-2 Ipswich
Everton 2-2 Man Utd
Man Utd 4-0 Sabah
Man Utd 0-1 Man City
Man Utd 2-3 Brighton
Fulham 1-1 Man Utd
Neville: ‘Carrick will be relieved’
“It was a game that was a real struggle for both teams. Both lacked confidence,” said Gary Neville at full-time.
“There were challenges for both managers coming into this game, they both need the international break to start their seasons again.
“The defensive work from both teams was awful and lacked effort. Carrick will be relieved going back to Manchester with a goal and a point,” he added.
United ‘need to do a lot more’
“It was too slow, Fulham ran more and looked like they wanted to win more. Bassey just eased Cunha out the way [for Fulham’s goal] and looked like he wanted to take the game to Man United,” explains Ashley Young on Sky.
Carrick will be thinking ‘we need to do a lot more’,” he added.
Cunha: ‘
“It is so frustrating for us. In the beginning, we put the plan in and created some chances,” says Matheus Cunha on Sky after full-time.
“We didn’t score and then they scored in one action. It is hard to explain. It is frustrating for us. After the goal, we played much better snd had a lot of character,” he explains.
“It needs to be from the start. It is only one point but we should never play for one point.
“It is hard. They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this.
“We need to do our best. We need to improve in every single position.
“It is only the beginning. Last season was the same, with noise around, but we finished third,” he added as he finished.
Next up
Manchester United’s next game comes against Tottenham on 10 October at Old Trafford, and they face a trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions league after that.
As for Fulham, they play on the same day at 3pm, and they travel to Ipswich.
How the table looks
That result leaves United languishing in 12th, with five points from their opening four games.
As for Fulham. they will head into the international break in 19th after earning just their second point of the season.
Manchester City went top after their win over Sunderland today, while Spurs are now rock bottom!
