Cunha rescues Manchester United as Carrick faces questions after Fulham draw

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United avoided a third successive defeat as Matheus Cunha’s late deflected equaliser secured a 1-1 draw at Fulham, but the result did little to ease the pressure on the manager.

United’s difficult start to the campaign appeared to be heading towards a crisis at Craven Cottage when Fulham took the lead. However, Cunha’s 89th-minute effort brushed off Patrick Dorgu and wrong-footed goalkeeper Bernd Leno to earn his side a point.

A defeat would have followed last weekend’s derby loss to Manchester City and the midweek League Cup exit against Brighton & Hove Albion, when United surrendered a 2-0 lead. That would have intensified scrutiny on Carrick before the extended international break.

United have now taken five points from five Premier League games, a return below what supporters would have expected from a relatively favourable opening schedule.

Although United had 29 attempts on goal compared with Fulham’s 12, Carrick’s side endured spells when they lacked urgency and concentration. Former United title winner and Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville described the opening 20 minutes of the second half as “pathetic”.

Fulham’s goal came in chaotic fashion. Calvin Bassey’s shot was parried by United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but the ball slowly rolled into the net off defender Lisandro Martinez.

United responded positively and Cunha later struck the post, while Bruno Fernandes also hit the woodwork. They ultimately needed a large element of fortune to equalise, with Cunha’s speculative shot taking the decisive deflection.

Carrick revived his reputation last season after initially replacing Ruben Amorim on an interim basis. He won 12 of his 17 Premier League matches in charge and guided the club back into the Champions League with a third-place finish.

That momentum has now stalled, leaving Carrick with plenty to consider before United’s next league match at home to struggling Tottenham Hotspur.

Asked whether he was worried by the growing noise surrounding the club’s poor beginning to the season, Carrick said: “No, what bothers me is that we want better results.

“We want more points, we’re going to have a spell where it’s not quite going for you and we’ve had a spell of that where small things have ended up as big things.

“We don’t think things are perfect by any means. We need to win football matches. The supporters were top-drawer again today and we have to give them something to keep shouting about.

“Certain things we can be better at, that is pretty clear, but there were some good signs today.”

Cunha said United had been second best at the start of the second half.

“In the beginning of the second half they put in more energy than us and we cannot accept this. We always play better after conceding goal, and it cannot be like this,” the Brazilian said.

“I don’t think today was about final decisions. We were a bit unlucky, I hit the post, and Bruno [Fernandes] hit the post. We need to create more and hope the luck comes and we score. We need to improve in every single position.”

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa was denied his first Premier League victory since replacing Marco Silva, although draws against Liverpool and United have provided some encouragement after a difficult start.

“We want points, that’s the most important thing, but I think my players are working hard and open to learn,” said the Spaniard. “They are playing in the way we want to play. If we continue playing this way, the victories will come.”