Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa was scathing of the referees, claiming they “don’t like Manchester United to lose” following his side’s last-gasp draw against the Premier League giants.
United left it late to salvage a 1-1 draw at Fulham and avoid three straight defeats in all competitions thanks to Matheus Cunha’s heavily deflected shot in the 89th minute on Monday (AEST).
After back-to-back losses, United really needed a win to ease the pressure going into the international break. By full-time at Craven Cottage there was relief all around just to pick up a draw against winless Fulham.
Lisandro Martinez’s own goal shortly after the hour looked like piling more misery on under-pressure head coach Michael Carrick after defeats to Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion over the past week.
United twice hit the post in the first half but rarely looked like finding an equalizer until Cunha’s long-range shot deflected off David Affengruber and wrong-footed Fulham ‘keeper Bernd Leno.
Following the match, Arbeloa told Sky Sports: “We were so, so close. We were a little unlucky again but we know it was going to be difficult against a big team and we have seen what the referee has been doing through the match.”
He added: “There were so many things for them, you can see it in the foul by (Harry) Maguire. Every decision was for them. I knew after the game against Manchester City that they don’t like Manchester United to lose.
“We were so, so close to our first victory that we are a little bit upset now.”
United’s start to the second half against Fulham, meanwhile, was scrutinised by Red Devils legend and former captain Gary Neville.
Sky Sports pundit Neville labelled it “the worst 15 minutes I have ever seen Manchester United play”.
“I’ve never seen a Man Utd team walk out of possession as much as that,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “Michael has just said there was nothing wrong with the team’s energy – Michael has got to stop defending them.
“I called them mannequins. I’ve never seen a United team walk around as much as that. No alertness, no aliveness. No ‘on your toes’. You should always be on your toes.
“Very rarely do I say a team doesn’t work hard or is lacking in effort. That’s the ultimate criticism you can give a group of players.
“I’m always very careful to say that, but in those first 15 minutes of that second half, Man Utd … were a genuine disgrace. Nowhere near good enough without the ball.”
Manchester City, meanwhile, moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a 5-3 win over Sunderland.
New coach Enzo Maresca extended his perfect winning start to the season to five games and goes into the international break three points ahead of defending champion Arsenal in second place.
But that doesn’t tell half the story of a chaotic match at the Etihad Stadium that saw City twice squander the lead and Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey outshine Erling Haaland with a hat trick.
Eventually it was Haaland who ended the visitors’ brave fight with City’s fifth goal in the 81st minute.
Alexander Isak scored his fourth goal of the season as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0, and unbeaten Leeds drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.
It was a winning return to Bournemouth for Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola after leaving the south coast club at the end of last season.
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