Home SPORTS Manchester United Struggle to Find Form: Red Devils Drop Points in Thrilling Draw Against Fulham

Manchester United Struggle to Find Form: Red Devils Drop Points in Thrilling Draw Against Fulham

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Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United's struggles continue | Matheus Cunha (L) and Benjamin Sesko (R)


Manchester United's attacking woes continue, with the team struggling to capitalize on defensive dominance. The disconnect between defense and attack is a concern for manager Ruben Amorim.


Manchester United dominated the early stages of the match, with Matheus Cunha causing problems for Fulham's defense...


Manchester United's Premier League campaign hasn't quite taken off as they'd hoped. After a disappointing opening-day defeat to Arsenal, the Red Devils faced Fulham at Craven Cottage, desperate to turn their fortunes around. However, their performance was lackluster, and they managed to secure only a narrow draw.


Whisper it quietly, but Manchester United might be in for another tough Premier League season if their early performances are anything to go by. Since Ruben Amorim took over midway through the 2024/25 campaign, the team has struggled to find consistency. Their recent draw over Fulham, although welcome, didn't exactly showcase a team on top of its game. With a busy schedule ahead, including upcoming matches against Burnley, Manchester City, and Chelsea, United will need to step up their performance to achieve their goals.



Bruno Fernandes' Crucial Miss

Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, had a golden opportunity to put his team in control when they were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute. Calvin Bassey's reckless tackle on Mason Mount earned the Red Devils a spot-kick, which Fernandes took. Unfortunately, he sent the ball flying over the bar, leaving the majority of the Craven Cottage crowd in jubilation. This miss was particularly disappointing for United, who had been dominating the game up to that point.


This missed penalty was Fernandes' fifth in the Premier League, tying him with Mo Salah and Aleksandar Mitrovic for the most penalty misses since Fernandes' debut. The Portuguese international attributed his miss to a bad hit, claiming he took his foot too far under the ball. He also expressed frustration with the referee, Chris Kavanagh, who bumped into him while he was preparing to take the penalty. Fernandes felt that the referee's failure to apologize disrupted his routine.


After the match, Fernandes reiterated his disappointment with the draw, stating that United couldn't be satisfied with just one point. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for his team to maintain their level of performance throughout the entire match. United now looks to their next match against Burnley, where they'll aim to secure their first win of the season.


Manchester United dominated the early stages of the match, with Matheus Cunha causing problems for Fulham's defense. Cunha's pace and agility allowed him to run the hosts ragged, and he wasted no time in creating scoring opportunities. Within the first 13 minutes, he had already taken three shots at goal, including one that hit the woodwork, showcasing his precision and power.




Bruno Fernandes also got into the action, finding the target with one of his shots as Manchester United took the game to Fulham. The Red Devils' attacking prowess was on full display, with Cunha and Fernandes leading the charge. United's dominance in possession and territory set the tone for a intense match, with Fulham struggling to contain their opponents' creative threat.


Profligacy in Front of Goal

Manchester United's lack of clinical finishing will be a concern for manager Ruben Amorim. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, United's 10 shots yielded only three on-target attempts. This inefficiency in front of goal could prove costly in the long run. Benjamin Sesko, who came on as a substitute in the second half, had a forgettable game, managing just one touch in the opposition box during his 38 minutes on the pitch. This lack of impact from Sesko may raise questions about his integration into the team.




Benjamin Sesko showed promise in the air, winning two of his three aerial duels and demonstrating a physical presence upfront. However, as a striker, his currency is goals, and he needs to focus on getting into key positions to make a tangible impact. Sesko's ability to capitalize on service and create scoring opportunities will be crucial to his success moving forward.



Fulham cleverly targeted Luke Shaw, who was making his 200th appearance for Manchester United, exploiting a weakness in the Red Devils' defense. In the opening 20 minutes, a significant 47.8% of Fulham's attacks came down United's left-hand side, with Shaw struggling to cope with the pressure. This tactical approach by Fulham caused problems for United and highlighted an area where they need to improve.


Given Fulham's strategy of targeting Luke Shaw, it was no surprise that he had the most touches among Manchester United players in the first half. As the game progressed, Shaw's involvement remained high, and he ended up with the most attempted passes (65) on the United team. This statistic highlights Shaw's workload and the defensive challenges he faced during the match.


Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny

Fulham's attacking efforts were marred by wastefulness, with Rodrigo Muniz attempting just two passes in the entire first half. His performance took a disastrous turn when he inadvertently directed Leny Yoro's header into his own net, giving Manchester United the lead. Meanwhile, Amad Diallo's substitution proved counter-productive, as he and Matheus Cunha were the only Fulham players to get shots inside the United box, with two each. Diallo's withdrawal in the 52nd minute meant Fulham lost a potentially creative threat.




In the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Fulham took the initiative, with 41.5% of the action occurring in Manchester United's defensive third. The Cottagers' momentum paid off just 1.5 minutes after Emile Smith Rowe's introduction, as he equalized for Fulham after being left unmarked by Matthijs de Ligt in the area. Smith Rowe's impact was immediate, and his goal leveled the scores, adding a new dimension to the match.


Matthijs de Ligt's passing accuracy was impressive, with a completion rate of 94.9%, although Amad Diallo (before his substitution) achieved a perfect 100%. However, de Ligt's overall defensive performance was not up to par, making just one tackle in the entire match and losing possession on a couple of occasions.


Defensive Strength vs Attacking Weakness

Manchester United's defensive unit outperformed Fulham in several key areas, including tackles (17 attempts to 10) and success rate (11 to 8). They also dominated in one-on-one duels, both aerially (53.5% to 46.5%) and on the ground (56.4% to 43.6%). However, despite this defensive solidity, United's attack failed to capitalize on their advantage, highlighting a clear disconnect between the team's defense and attack.


In contrast, Patrick Dorgu's struggles were more pronounced, losing the ball on 19 separate occasions. His lack of application and consistency in all areas of the game raises concerns for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Dorgu's errors were more frequent and impactful, making him a liability in the team's defensive setup.




Despite Manchester United's defensive dominance, Fulham outgunned them in key attacking areas. The Cottagers attempted more shots (13 to 10), had more on-target attempts (4 to 3), and enjoyed more touches in the opposition box (38 to 25). Fulham also had slightly more possession (52.4% to 47.6%) and significantly more total passes, accurate passes, and crosses (33 to 14). To start winning games consistently under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United needs to make a more significant impact in the attacking third.


The bulk of the responsibility for improving Manchester United's attacking fortunes will likely fall on Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo. For the team to start clicking, these three need to develop a strong partnership and gel as a unit. Until then, United will need to regroup and reassess their strategy, going back to the drawing board to find ways to improve their attacking play.



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