Matheus Cunha’s deflected 89th-minute equalizer saved Manchester United from a third consecutive defeat in all competitions and denied Fulham a first top-flight win of the season as the sides drew their final games before the international break at Craven Cottage.
Lisandro Martinez’s comical own goal gave the Cottagers the lead in a game that looked vital to reviving United’s early season fortunes after two home defeats in four days, conceding in excruciating fashion with 27 minutes remaining. Senne Lammens he saved the ball from Calvin Bassey but couldn’t get back to his line in time after the ball hit the leg of a fallen Martinez inside the box.
Opposition centre-back David Affengruber put an outstretched leg to Cunha’s speculative effort from outside the area for the equaliser, deceiving Bernd Leno as the ball spun into the opposite corner of the net with the goalkeeper waving the other way.
The result means Fulham Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is still looking for his first Premier League win, although his side’s second point of the campaign moved them above Tottenham at the foot of the table.
Fulham vs Man United: Why Carrick should worry
In a match with many opportunities, united produced another scrappy display to increase the pressure on Michael Carrick after defeats at home to 10-man Manchester City in the league and 2-0 down Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.
Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha sent shots against the posts for United in the first half, but Fulham threatened frequently, forcing Senne Lammens to save two Josh King strikes, deny Alex Iwobi when the winger broke and tip Bryan Mbeumo’s ball onto the post after the first goal.
The former United midfielder Carrick turned his side into the form side of the division in the second half of last season after being appointed on a temporary basis in January, guiding them to Champions League qualification after a terrible start to the campaign.
They have now won two of their seven games in all competitions this season, beating promoted Ipswich Town and Azerbaijan Premier League side Sabah at home.
“If I was Michael Carrick, I’d be worried about the message the players are sending him,” former United captain Gary Neville told Sky Sports, describing his former side’s lack of urgency at the start of the second half as “remarkable”.
“I’ve been watching Man United since I was five and this is the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen. Absolutely pathetic. I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?”
Team Fulham vs Man United
Fulham were unchanged from their 0-0 draw at Liverpool in the Premier League on September 12.
Fulham: Bernd Leno, Timothy Castagne, David Affengruber, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson, Oscar Bobb, Sander Berge, Josh King, Shea Charles, Alex Iwobi, Gonzalo Garcia
Substitutes: Benjamin Lecomte, Joachim Andersen, Cesar Palacios, Rodrigo Muniz, Kevin, Hugo Larsson, Manuel Angel, Ryan Sessegnon, Emile Smith Rowe
Team Manchester United vs Fulham
United made a change at full-back from their 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City a week earlier, bringing on Luke Shaw for Patrick Dorgu.
Manchester UnitedSenne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, Bryan Mbeumo, Youri Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, Shea Lacey
Fulham vs Manchester United stats
- Fulham are winless in their last 11 home Premier League games against Manchester United (D3 D8) since winning back-to-back games against them at Craven Cottage in 2009.
- United have lost one of their last 22 Premier League games against Fulham (W16 E5), losing 2-1 at Old Trafford in February 2024.
- Fulham are on their longest winless start (D2 L3) to a league season since 2020/21, when they failed to win any of their first six Premier League games. Arbeloa became the first Fulham manager to fail to win any of his first four league games in charge since Scott Parker in March/April 2019 (top five)
- United’s total of four points from their first four Premier League games (W1 L1 L2) this season was the fewest in the competition at this stage, along with 1992-93 and 2025-26; they recovered from those starts to finish 1st and 3rd in those respective seasons
- Since the start of February, which began with a defeat to Man Utd, the only team present to have taken fewer Premier League points than Fulham (20) is Tottenham Hotspur (15).
