Manchester United picked up their first point of the season with a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League opening weekend meant Manchester United travelled to London desperate to get points on the board.
Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in the first half to set up a tense second half, but a Leny Yoro header from a corner gave United their first goal of the 2025/26 campaign.
Ruben Amorim didn’t look delighted with the performance from the bench, and it is another missed opportunity to pick up three points.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes in action against Fulham.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Andre Onana message is loud and clear
Ruben Amorim sent a clear message in his team selection for the trip to Fulham. Last week, Andre Onana was declared fit but was dropped for Altay Bayindir, only for the 27-year-old to make a mistake for Arsenal’s winner.
Amorim defended Bayindir from criticism in public and decided to keep faith in him to start at Craven Cottage.
The fight for the No.1 spot will continue, especially as United are close to signing Senne Lammens in a £17 million move.
Benjamin Sesko made to wait
Another eyebrow-raising decision made in Amorim’s team selection was that Benjamin Sesko remained on the bench.
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United’s £66m signing was given a 25-minute cameo against Arsenal last week, and many fans would have expected to see him start against Fulham.
Amorim has been full of praise for Sesko since his arrival in Manchester, but clearly it was decided that he was not ready to start against Fulham.
Bruno Fernandes struggles
Bruno Fernandes was given a golden opportunity to score United’s first goal of the season when he stepped up to take a penalty in the first half.
However, United’s captain uncharacteristically blazed it over the bar. It wasn’t the only stain on Fernandes’ performance, with the Portuguese playmaker caught out in possession a few too many times for Amorim’s liking.
Referee Chris Kavanagh appeared to bump Fernandes as he was setting up his spot-kick, and the United star certainly seemed unsettled by the incident.
Fernandes has impressed in a deep midfield role, but he struggled to reach his usual levels against Fulham.
Mason Mount experiment
It has been clear all summer that Amorim wants an “athletic” midfielder, and many assume that will come in the shape of a new signing.
But Amorim has hinted at playing Mount in midfield, and he tested his theory in the second half at Craven Cottage.
Mount played alongside Fernandes in a midfield pivot, with Amorim interestingly choosing to leave Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte on the bench.
Corners are a weakness and a strength
Against Arsenal, it was a Riccardo Calafiori header from a corner that proved to be the difference.
Bayindir kept his spot in goal despite failing to deal with that set piece, and United once again looked weak from set pieces at Craven Cottage. Amorim couldn’t bear to watch from the sidelines on a few occasions.
However, Amorim said last week that United needed to improve their own set pieces and Yoro’s goal ended up coming from a Bryan Mbeumo corner.
The Red Devils may struggle to defend them, but at least they can score them…