Michael Carrick was handed a lifeline as Manchester United snatched a late 1-1 draw away at Fulham on Sunday.
In the final Premier League match before the international break, an own goal from Lisandro Martinez in the 63rd minute opened the scoring. That looked like being the decider until Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort snatched a point in the final minute of normal time.
The result at Craven Cottage leaves Fulham without a Premier League win under Alvaro Arbeloa, stuck down in 19th place with just two points on the board. It’s not much better for Man Utd, who are 12th having won just one of their opening five games.
Nobody fooled by fortunate Man Utd comeback
Sky Sports commentator and former club captain Gary Neville labelled the period between the start of the second half and Martinez’s own goal as the “worst he’d ever seen” from Manchester United. It’s easy to see why.
The Red Devils failed to register a single shot during that 18-minute span, nor did they win possession in the final third. Instead, Man Utd played at a pedestrian pace with and without the ball, content to let Fulham knock the ball around with freedom, and lacking drive or urgency when they did get possession back.
Man Utd were punished for their lethargy when Calvin Bassey easily brushed aside Cunha to win the ball. The Nigerian drove forward and fired a low shot from the edge of the box, which was deflected into the path of Martinez, who was unable to avoid diverting the ball beyond Senne Lammens.
These are very worrying signs from Manchester United. In the first half, they managed 17 shots, but only two of them were on target to the tune of just 1.03 xG combined. After the break, they only moved into second gear as the clock ticked toward 90, but even then, they rarely truly threatened Bernd Leno until Cunha’s very fortuitously deflected equaliser.
A snatched point may buy Carrick some breathing space and at least prove his players can pull a rabbit out of the hat. However, the lack of tempo and ideas from his side on Sunday was very concerning, and nobody will be fooled by a deflected goal. A huge reaction is needed once we return from the international break.
International break needed for Alvaro Arbeloa
We’ve already touched on Carrick’s problems at Manchester United, but it’s no better for Arbeloa at Craven Cottage.
The Spaniard has big shoes to fill following on from Marco Silva’s successful reign, and the early signs aren’t great.
The Cottagers’ only wins under Arbeloa so far have come in the EFL Cup against lower-league opposition, and they now sit alongside Tottenham and Bournemouth as the only Premier League sides yet to taste victory.
Early in the season, it was defensive issues causing the problems, with Fulham conceding three against Chelsea and Crystal Palace at home, and while they only conceded once in the defeat at Sunderland, the Black Cats created chances worth 2.02 xG.
Now, it’s a lack of attacking edge that’s costing Fulham, who drew 0-0 at Anfield last weekend, and they only found the breakthrough this time out through an incredibly fortunate own goal.
Calvin Bassey led a solid defensive effort on Sunday, winning four of his five ground duels, while making two tackles, four clearances and a block.
However, at the other end, Gonzalo Garcia missed the target with all three of his efforts and had just three touches in the opposition box. The former Real Madrid youngster has just one goal to his name in five Premier League appearances, and while he needs time to adjust, there are early signs that he could struggle in the English top flight.
To say Arbeloa is under pressure would be premature. However, he hasn’t made the best first impression on the Fulham fans, who even sang a brief rendition of ‘we want our Silva back’ on Sunday.
The international break has come at just as perfect a time for Arbeloa as Carrick, with both managers needing time to reset after tough starts.