Man United Escape With Late Draw Against Fulham, Carrick’s Job on the Line

Manchester United needed a last-minute goal from Matheus Cunha just to escape Craven Cottage with a point on Sunday, and the result has only added to the growing pressure on manager Michael Carrick.

United went into the game desperate for a win but ended up thanking their stars for a 1-1 draw against Fulham.

They fell behind in the second half after a comical own goal. Senne Lammens had saved Calvin Bassey’s shot, but Lisandro Martinez, trying to clear, ended up turning the ball into his own net instead.

Cunha’s late equaliser spared United a third straight defeat, but nobody at Old Trafford will be celebrating this one.

The numbers tell their own story. United have won just once in their last five Premier League games and are already 10 points behind leaders Manchester City. Out of their first seven matches in all competitions this season, they’ve lost three — and now head into the international break with Carrick’s future the biggest talking point in England.

Carrick says he’s not bothered about his job security. But after back-to-back gutting losses to Man City and Brighton, this Fulham result is another blow to a manager under serious pressure.

Last weekend, United lost the derby to Man City courtesy of an Erling Haaland winner that the referees’ body later admitted should never have stood. Then came Wednesday’s League Cup shocker, where United threw away a 2-0 lead against Brighton. Scraping a draw against Fulham — who sit second from bottom — is just the latest embarrassment in a season already full of them.

United were expected to at least match last season’s third-place finish. Instead, things have gone downhill since Carrick’s move from interim boss to permanent manager was confirmed.

Up next: United host bottom-of-the-table Tottenham on October 10, in a game both Carrick and Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi desperately need to win.

How it played out:

United nearly fell behind early when Fulham’s Gonzalo Garcia dragged a good chance wide. Moments later, Cunha squared the ball to Bruno Fernandes, whose powerful shot cannoned off the post.

But United’s defence looked shaky all game. Lammens had to be at his best, pulling off saves from Josh King and Sander Berge, while Oscar Bobb also wasted a golden chance for United at the other end.

Fulham kept coming, and Lammens was called into action again and again before the break.

The goal, when it came, summed up United’s afternoon. Cunha carelessly gave the ball away in his own half, Bassey unleashed a shot that Lammens could only parry, and Martinez’s panicked clearance somehow ended up in his own net.

United pushed for an equaliser, with Fulham keeper Bernd Leno denying both Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha. But in the 89th minute, Cunha’s shot took a big deflection off David Affengruber and looped in — a rare bit of luck for Carrick on an otherwise miserable day.

Should Carrick be worried about his job, or is this just a rough patch? 👇