**Fulham 1-1 Manchester United**
**by Joseph Musa**
**at Craven Cottage**
FULHAM manager Alvaro Arbeloa on the result: “it is really frustrating, but we need to continue, we knew it was going to be hard against a top team but I think we are improving game by game”.
It was end to end in the first half, where Fulham had the better of the chances. Senne Lammens made a few key saves to stop Manchester United from conceding.
United had two chances early on, a Lisandro Martinez volley outside of the area pulled a good save from Bernd Leno.
A minute later Bryan Mbeumo’s looping header from a Marcus Rashford cross went just wide.
Josh King brought Lammens into action in the 27th minute, when he shot straight at the United keeper, Fulham worked the ball well down the left before Alex Iwobi crossed for King.
Two minutes later Sander Berge struck just inside the area, and it looked to be heading in, until Lammens dived low to his right to save.
A minute later, Oscar Bobb arguably should’ve scored after turning well in the area but dragged his shot wide.
The King v Lammens show continued as the United keeper made another good save, this time with his right leg from a King strike.
Marcus Rashford had two chances of his own just before half-time.
The first was a strike straight at Leno after good work by Diogo Dalot, the second a skied shot high over the bar.
Early in the second half, Gary Neville stated on commentary: “I’ve watched Manchester United since the age of five, that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen them play.”
Fulham took the lead in the 63rd minute as captain Calvin Bassey outmuscled Matheus Cunha to win the ball, Bassey drove with it before shooting, Lammens saved but the ball hit Lisandro Martinez to roll over the line.
Four minutes later, Bernd Leno then made a brilliant save from a Mbeumo curler which was heading in.
Leno then made another smart save, this time from Cunha who shot outside of the area and the ball seem to be sneaking in until Leno got a good left hand to it.
The away side then equalised in the 89th minute as Cunha struck again from outside the box, the ball deflected off centre back David Affengruber who stuck his leg out, going past Leno the opposite way.
Martinez then thought he had the chance to win it in the 93rd minute, as he turned two Fulham defenders then hit the ball with his right foot, Shea Charles blocked to go for a corner.
It is honestly bemusing how it took United conceding for them to start playing with more intensity, which is a worrying sign for head coach Michael Carrick.
Carrick, however, when asked about the lack of intensity said: “it didn’t look like that for me; I was quite happy with the way we finished the game.”