Fulham 1 Man Utd 1: Carrick’s Red Devils bailed out by deflected Cunha strike after horror Lisandro Martinez own goal

THE pressure is mounting on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick after the club’s fans turned against him at Fulham. United avoided their first defeat at Craven Cottage since 2009 thanks to a fortuitous deflected goal from the spirited Matheus Cunha. Matheus Cunha levelled for Man Utd in the 89th minute Credit: AFP via Getty Images Lisandro Martinez fumbled past the flapping Senne Lammens in the 63rd minute Credit: AP Photo/Kin Cheung But the next three weeks over the international break could be particularly uncomfortable for Carrick after an unconvincing 1-1 draw which included a comical own goal from Lisandro Martinez. Carrick’s decision to remove Kobbie Mainoo in the 81st minute was loudly booed by the United followers in the Putney End. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! They then broke into a rendition of Mainoo’s chant, as if to hammer home their point. It was at Fulham last season that United matchgoers chanted “Attack, attack, attack” and bemoaned the handling of Mainoo, an unused substitute that day. That signalled the first shift against Ruben Amorim. Now it has possibly started with Carrick. Martinez was subjected to boos for the first time since his World Cup exploits with Argentina. He gave Fulham fans something more to shout about. Senne Lammens had been a one-man defence until his botched block from Calvin Bassey’s drive was unwittingly prodded in by Martinez on the rebound in the 63rd minute. That too was saveable. Cunha, bossed by Bassey in the build-up, smacked his thighs in exasperation at the error. Martinez had words with Lammens. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Michael Carrick is under pressure to inspire a turnaround during the international break Credit: PA Martinez was booed by Fulham fans after his World Cup antics with Argentina Credit: Getty The Fulham announcer gleefully confirmed an “own goal”. He at least spared Martinez the embarrassment of naming him. At the end of last season, United had the utmost confidence in their goalkeeper and striker. Not anymore, with Benjamin Sesko missing through injury again. Midway through the second half, United started pinging the ball towards Harry Maguire. Martinez’s own goal did not spur Carrick into making a substitution. Then, after Maguire blazed a cross towards the Thames in the 75th minute, Carrick summoned Joshua Zirkzee. He has scored two league goals since December 1 2024. Nothing appeared to be by design and everything was desperate. United’s most threatening game-changer on the bench was the 19-year-old Shea Lacey. United struck the woodwork twice more at Fulham and have done so more than any other Premier League club. Bernd Leno received a standing ovation for an agile denial of Bryan Mbeumo at 1-0. But United cannot bemoan bad luck. This was the third time Carrick picked this starting XI this season – the one that beat Ipswich and drew with Everton. Now they have lost. That same XI was made possible by Luke Shaw’s return. Shaw turned 31 in July yet played as though the numbers in his age were the other way round. His positional indiscipline contributed to a flurry of Fulham chances. Despite the looseness of both defences, both goals led a charmed life for more than an hour. Fulham’s new frontman, Gonzalo Garcia, flashed one shot wide and was unable to latch onto Alex Iwobi’s prod into the area in a lively opening 20 minutes. United came the closest to a breakthrough when Cunha refused to give up on a lost cause and angled the ball back for Bruno Fernandes to squirm against the post on 25 minutes. Fernandes smiled ruefully in appreciation of Cunha’s doggedness. That sparked a flurry of chances. United switched off, an unmarked Josh King connected with a half-volley at the far post from the industrious Iwobi’s cross but Lammens shovelled the ball away effortlessly. Iwobi was on the charge seconds later, only Garcia sliced his effort from an identical area to King. Sander Berge tested Lammens again on the follow-up before Oscar Bobb fired wide. Fulham were just as gettable and Cunha’s deflected drive looped onto the woodwork and bounced off Leno for a corner. Fulham embarked on another breakaway as Lammens was called upon to repel a more threatening effort from King with his outstretched right boot. Both of King’s opportunities, as well as Garcia’s airshot, came in similar areas with Shaw so narrow he gave the impression that United were operating with a back three. Fulham repeatedly worked the ball from left to right. Shaw and Diogo Dalot, United’s full-backs, are the longest-serving members in the squad and look long in the tooth. Lammens smothered the ball at the probing Iwobi’s feet minutes before the interval and there was still time for Marcus Rashford to fire more blanks from Cunha’s ricocheted cut-back. King received a questionable booking for tumbling under contact from Maguire. The contact was identical to Maguire’s dismissal for denying Evanilson a clear goalscoring opportunity at Bournemouth in March. Again, Maguire was the last man yet referee Peter Bankes ruled in his favour. Sir Alex Ferguson made a rare appearance at an away match, enjoying the hospitality in the plush Riverside Stand. It beat what he’ll have seen on the pitch. Comment now