Manchester United’s search for their first Premier League 2025-26 win continued as Fulham came from behind to play a 1-1 draw against them at Craven Cottage on Sunday. This was also the first time in 15 years that the Red Devils failed to pick up a win at the aforementioned stadium.
Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim was not pleased with his side’s performance. The Red Devils performed well in the first half, but once they scored the goal, they were laid-back and changed their style of play. This allowed Fulham to put more bodies upfront and, ultimately, score an equalizer.
A deflection off a corner kick in the 58th minute saw defender Rodrigo Muniz turn the ball into his own net. However, the joy was short-lived for Manchester United as substitute Emile Rowe-Smith lunged forward and tiptoed the ball home for Fulham after connecting with a cross from Alex Iwobi.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said, “We could have done better, but we are putting in the effort, so that is the most important thing for me. In some moments we did well, especially in the beginning of the game. And, I felt that after the goal, we were just thinking about the result. This team needs to win games. So, we need to focus on the performance and what we need to do because if we think about the results, we forget to do the normal things. That was my feeling. We were okay until we scored the goal. After that, we should have kept more possession and pushed the opponent more. I think we were not smart at that moment.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva also didn’t seem pleased with his side’s performance. The own goal which provided Manchester United the lead looked contentious, as Leny Yoro pushed Calvin Bassey during the corner kick, which prevented the defender from making a challenge to clear the ball away.
When asked why the VAR wouldn’t change the decision, the Portuguese replied, “I cannot understand. I would like to explain everything to you from the first week until the last. But, it's not my job; I don't have this competence as well. I don't want to go in this direction. I think everybody in the world saw what happened this afternoon at Craven Cottage.”
Fulham has developed a knack of scoring goals via their substitutes — their tally of 19 goals scored by players off the bench since the 2024/25 PL season is the highest among all the teams. The story was no different this afternoon as Emile Rowe-Smith netted the ball within two minutes of coming into play.
“I'm always repeating that we have a great group of guys, lots of boys, as you want to call them. But they are guys that always give everything for the shirt. They have the right mindset, open mind, and always try to learn. We adjusted some things this week to prepare well from the strategic point of view. And they understood and executed it well and they are giving everything as always. And the guys that love the football club, they love them as well. They have to be proud. But as you mentioned, the players that came in, they were brilliant. Last week was also the same (substitute Rodrigo Muniz’s equalizer in the dying embers of the second half),” Silva signed off.
Manchester United’s next assignment is traveling to Cleethorpes as they take on League Two side Grimsby Town in the second round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday. Fulham, on the other hand, will host Bristol City in the same competition on the same day.
