Manchester United's attacking struggles without a brilliant Bruno Fernandes were laid bare in a 1-1 draw at Fulham's Craven Cottage. The Red Devils, now 12th in the Premier League with just five points from five games, needed a heavily deflected late goal from Matheus Cunha to salvage a point, masking deeper issues in their build-up play.
Fernandes created four chances and hit the post with a clever flick, but his 0.28 expected goals and 0.17 expected assists showed a subdued performance by his high standards. When the Portuguese playmaker is not at his peak, United's attack looks worryingly light on ideas, a problem that has contributed to a recent run of one win in five league matches. Their form shows they have scored only 6 goals in their last 5 games across all competitions.
Structural issues masked by deflection
The fortunate nature of the equaliser, which took a big deflection off Fulham's David Affengruber, papered over significant cracks. United's underlying numbers are a major concern, with the team ranking 84th out of 96 top-five-league clubs in Europe for expected goals per shot last season. They also placed 87th for the proportion of shots taken inside the penalty area.
This season's data tells a similar story. Excluding the 5-2 rout of Ipswich, where 20% of United's league minutes were played, their shot quality metrics rank below clubs like Getafe and Paderborn. The reliance on Fernandes is stark; he provided a goal or an assist in eight of the final 17 league games last term and remains the team's top scorer this season with three goals in four appearances.
Amorim's unchanged setup under scrutiny
Manager Ruben Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag, has largely kept faith with a settled front four and back five. This stability, however, has not translated into consistent threat without their chief creator firing on all cylinders. Fernandes, now 26, has 13 assists and four goals this term at a rate of just over one per 90 minutes, but his expected output is now considered on a par with creators like Martin Odegaard rather than being the league's undisputed best.
Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa pointed to his own goalkeeper's performance as evidence of United's bluntness. "The Fulham goalkeeper was probably man of the match," Arbeloa said after the game, acknowledging the number of shots but not their quality.
The draw leaves United 10 points behind leaders Manchester City and in need of a swift response. With midfielder Manuel Ugarte currently sidelined, the burden on Fernandes and the attacking unit grows heavier. The immediate focus turns to Old Trafford and a home fixture against 20th-placed Tottenham on 10 October, a match where overcoming this creative deficit is essential. The team will need to improve on their recent average of 1.2 goals per game to secure a result.
The report in full is at CBS Sports
Matheus Cunha expressed frustration with his Manchester United teammates after the 1-1 draw at Fulham's Craven Cottage. The Brazilian, who scored the late equaliser, told reporters his side must start games with more energy. "This needs to be from the start," Cunha said. "In the beginning of the second half, they put in more energy than us; we can not accept this." The club, currently 12th with five points, next host Tottenham at Old Trafford on 10 October.
Manager Michael Carrick said it was "ridiculous" to think his job was under pressure after back-to-back defeats. The club, 12th with five points from five games, drew 1-1 at Fulham's Craven Cottage after a bizarre Lisandro Martínez own goal and a late Matheus Cunha equaliser. Carrick told reporters that question was not on his radar. United next host Tottenham at Old Trafford.
