Manchester United's winless run stretched to five games after a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Matheus Cunha's 89th-minute equaliser cancelled out an own goal from David Affengruber, leaving Michael Carrick's side 12th in the Premier League with just five points from their opening five matches.
Gary Neville delivered a damning assessment of the team's application in the closing stages. "The lack of effort during the 15 minutes before Fulham’s goal," the former United captain said. "Players went through the motions and pulled out of tackles." The criticism came after Carrick had switched to a 3-5-2 formation and replaced Kobbie Mainoo with Cunha ten minutes from time, a move that failed to secure the points.
Midfield struggles
United's engine room was overrun for long periods, with Fulham's Sander Berge and Shea Charles dominating the central areas. Bruno Fernandes operated as the number ten, supported by Mainoo and summer signing Youri Tielemans, but the trio struggled to impose any sustained control. Carrick later expressed concern that some players had not followed his tactical instructions during the match. The manager is under increasing pressure, with doubts growing over his long-term suitability for the role as the club's rebuild stalls.
The result leaves United with a record of one win, two draws and two defeats. They have scored eight goals and conceded eight, leaving them with a zero goal difference and ten points behind early leaders Manchester City. Captain Bruno Fernandes, the team's top scorer with three goals in four appearances, was unable to influence the game decisively at Craven Cottage.
Squad context
Carrick's summer signings have yet to fully settle. Tielemans, a £35 million arrival from Aston Villa, started in midfield, while the £50 million acquisition Andrey Santos from Chelsea was an unused substitute. The manager also had to contend with the absence of midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is currently sidelined. This lack of cohesion was evident as Fulham, according to goalscorer Cunha, "put in more energy than us" at the start of the second half.
There was a strange historical footnote to the day, as Carrick had once filled in as an emergency centre-back during a United loss at Fulham back in December 2009. The current problems, however, feel more systemic than a one-off tactical mishap. The team's recent form reads one win, two draws and two losses, a sequence that includes a 2-3 home defeat to Brighton and a 0-1 loss to Manchester City.
Manchester United must now regroup ahead of their next Premier League assignment, a home match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10. The full squad list is available as Carrick considers his options to halt the slide.
The report in full is at The Guardian Football
Matheus Cunha has criticised his teammates' application following the 1-1 draw at Fulham. The Brazilian, who scored the 89th-minute equaliser, told reporters, "In the beginning of the second half, they put in more energy than us; we can not accept this." He insisted the required enthusiasm must be present from the start. The result leaves United 12th with five points from five games. They face Tottenham at Old Trafford on October 10.
