Manchester United salvaged a 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon after a late deflected strike from Matheus Cunha spared Michael Carrick's side an embarrassing defeat against the struggling West London club.
The result leaves United with just five points from their opening five Premier League fixtures against Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City and Fulham, sitting 10 points behind leaders Manchester City before the end of September.
Cunha dragged United level two minutes from time when his shot from the left deflected off Fulham defender David Affengruber's outstretched foot and bobbled over the line past goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who had the initial effort covered.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his executive team face mounting criticism for a summer transfer window that has left United hopelessly adrift of their domestic rivals, despite initial pre-season hopes of challenging for the Premier League title.
Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of chemicals group Ineos who acquired a minority stake in the 20-time English champions, previously remarked of the UK's broader economic struggles that "It is quite difficult to see how we arrest it," a sentiment now echoing among United supporters as the club reaches 13 years without a league title, a drought that will stretch to 14 years in May.
The unfolding crisis at Old Trafford follows an early Carabao Cup exit against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, the departure of top young prospect JJ Gabriel after being spurned by the talent, and escalating tension between club executives and matchgoing supporters.
Fulham outplay United despite bottom league standing
Despite entering the match at the bottom of the Premier League table at the start of play, host side Fulham displayed greater imagination, youthfulness and tactical coherence than their opponents under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, the former Real Madrid and Spain defender.
The point moved Fulham above London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the table, leaving Tottenham rooted to the foot of the division for the duration of the upcoming three-week international break.
Before kickoff on Sunday afternoon, travelling Manchester United supporters gathered outside The Eight Bells on Fulham High Street, reputed to be Fulham's oldest pub located near the River Thames, where paper signs on the windows stated that the venue was reserved for away fans only, with United anthems drifting into the sunshine.
Early pressure and goalkeeping heroics at Craven Cottage
Fulham dominated the opening exchanges on home turf, passing the ball with patience and confidence while evading United's half-hearted attempts to press them, until a quick pass found Gonzalo Garcia on the edge of the penalty box, though Garcia snatched at his shot and dragged it wide.
United gradually established a foothold in the match and came close to opening the scoring when Argentine World Cup-winning defender Lisandro Martinez latched onto a loose ball and struck a dipping 25-yard shot, which German goalkeeper Bernd Leno tipped wide with a flying save.
Midway through the first half, Brazilian forward Cunha dispossessed a Fulham defender who was attempting to shepherd the ball out of play and set up Bruno Fernandes, whose clipped effort rolled against the foot of Leno's right-hand post before drifting to safety.
Josh King shines as Fulham press before half-time
Fulham shifted the momentum after 30 minutes when Garcia missed a clear chance to put the hosts ahead, miskicking in front of goal as he tried to convert a cross from Nigerian international midfielder Alex Iwobi, before Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens saved well from Sander Berge's attempt on the loose ball.
Fulham attacker Josh King, who was overlooked for Thomas Tuchel's England national squad despite an impressive start to the campaign, repeatedly exposed United's defensive line throughout the first half.
Fifteen minutes before the interval, King jinked past England left-back Luke Shaw with ease and unleashed a powerful strike that Lammens turned away using his right boot.
Amid Fulham's pressure, United hit the woodwork for a second time when Cunha's shot from the edge of the penalty box deflected off a defender, looped high into the air, and was touched onto the post by Leno.
Booking controversy and second-half own goal
A minute before the break, England forward Marcus Rashford volleyed over the crossbar from ten yards out, before King drove past defender Harry Maguire at the other end and fell to the ground as Maguire's arm made contact, prompting referee Peter Bankes to issue a yellow card to King despite the incident not being a foul.
After a slow start to the second half, the match exploded into life just after the 60-minute mark when Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey wrestled the ball away from Cunha on the edge of the United penalty area and struck a fierce left-foot drive.
Lammens blocked Bassey's initial shot with his left leg, but the rebound struck Martinez, who could not react quickly enough to control it, before Lammens tangled his feet trying to clear the ball and deflected it into his own net as Martinez turned away in dismay.
Late equalizer salvages point for United
United sought an immediate response minutes later when Cameroonian forward Bryan Mbeumo curled a shot goalwards, but Leno produced a magnificent flying one-handed save to preserve Fulham's lead.
Although United dominated possession during the closing stages, former United midfielder Carrick watched his team display little cutting edge until two minutes from the end, when Cunha cut in from the left and fired a shot that deflected off David Affengruber's outstretched foot and bobbled over the line to equalize.
The draw leaves Manchester United facing three weeks of intense scrutiny during the international break before returning to Premier League action, while Fulham head into the hiatus with renewed confidence despite remaining near the bottom of the table.
