Two games into the Premier League season and Manchester United remain winless despite promising performances.
At Craven Cottage, usually a happy hunting ground for the visitors, substitute Emile Smith Rowe denied Ruben Amorim’s men three points with an equaliser in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Rodrigo Muniz scored an unfortunate own goal to give United the lead, as a Leny Yoro header from a Bryan Mbeumo corner deflected in off the striker in the 58th minute. The goal spared Bruno Fernandes’ blushes after the United captain had wildly missed a first-half penalty.
But with his first touch, Smith Rowe came off the bench to brilliantly guide Alex Iwobi’s fine cross home. It was a deserved goal for a Fulham team that finished the stronger of the two as Marco Silva’s substitutions made an impact.
Carl Anka and Mark Carey analyse the action.
How did Fernandes miss his penalty so badly?
United moved the ball sharply, working it quickly into the channels where one of Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha or Mbeumo was able to make it stick. All that was missing was the opening goal.
That breakthrough seemed a matter of routine in the 33rd minute when referee Chris Kavanagh was called over to the pitchside monitor to review some agricultural defending on a Fernandes corner. Replays showed Calvin Bassey throwing Mount to the ground before the corner was delivered and the penalty was consequently awarded. Luke Shaw was also grappling with Muniz in the box, but the VAR was not reviewing that.
Fernandes went for a stutter-step run-up, but did not use his usual hop before striking the ball, opting for a powerful effort aimed for the top left corner. He struck the ball while leaning back, an unusual error from the typically reliable penalty-taker.
Fernandes’ penalty went over the crossbar (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The United captain’s regular routine appeared to be disrupted by the presence of the referee, who was in proximity to Fernandes before the midfielder started his run-up.
The referee’s attempt to walk around the player during his run-up saw Fernandes inadvertently back into him. Fernandes was visibly frustrated, and it may have thrown him from his usual rhythm, but it was nonetheless a bad miss.
Speaking to NBC, Fernandes said: “Like everyone, you have your own routine. I was preparing myself to get the penalty and that got a little bit on my nerves. But it is not because of that that I missed the penalty. I missed the penalty because I kicked very badly the ball. I took it too under and the ball ended up going over the bar.”
Carl Anka
Mount gives Amorim a good problem to have
It is widely discussed that Mason Mount is a player every manager loves.
His ability to stitch together attacks and provide disciplined defensive displays was on show last week against Arsenal, and the same was true against Fulham. Beyond his positive performances in the short term, it prompts an important, wider question for the season: which of United’s new attacking signings is going to miss out as a consequence?
Mount has started well for United this season (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
For now, Benjamin Sesko needs more time to get up to speed with his new squad, so two consecutive games starting on the bench are to be expected. However, the calls for Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha to start together will be just around the corner, with fans likely to be clamouring to see their shiny new upgrades on the field at the same time.
The balance Mount offers to the team cannot be denied. Particularly accounting for Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, there were times last season when the midfield duo looked dangerously overrun with the spaces far too wide to cover defensively. With Mount in the side, Amorim has a player who is comfortable tucking in to plug gaps out of possession, while still offering the technical quality to progress United up the field when his side are on the attack.
It is a good problem for Amorim to have, but with no European football this season, it will be harder to keep all of his star players happy all at once if Mount continues his strong start to the season.
Mark Carey
Silva’s case for new signings strengthened
With Fulham looking rather blunt in attack after the hour mark, Marco Silva looked to his bench. The arrival of Harry Wilson and Antonee Robinson was soon followed by Smith Rowe and Raul Jimenez — all of whom injected energy into the home side that led to Smith Rowe’s excellent equaliser, meeting Iwobi’s cross with a well-timed finish.
Smith Rowe showed his eye for a late run into the box multiple times last season, knowing that his team-mates rarely need a second invitation to cross the ball. For context, no side averaged more than Fulham’s 17.6 open-play crosses per 90 last season.
It would be crass to suggest that Silva would be happy that Fulham are still chasing their first victory of the season, but with the transfer window still open, it might strengthen his case that his side still needs reinforcements after a quiet summer of incomings.
“At this stage of last season, we had two/three players in,” Silva said at his press conference on Friday. “This season, we had a plan; the plan has fallen through. It’s our fault, not active at all. We cannot be pleased.”
On the one hand, there is plenty to be said about having a settled side going into a new season. Silva is excellent at managing his squad and making impactful substitutions, with 19 of Fulham’s goals being scored by players from off the bench since the start of last season.
On the other hand, new signings can provide added freshness, competition for places, and greater quality as Silva looks to build on last season. Depending on Fulham’s output this campaign, you can duly pick your narrative accordingly.
Mark Carey
Sesko will need time to acclimatise
The 53rd minute saw Amorim shake things up. Off came Casemiro and Amad to be replaced by Sesko and Diogo Dalot. That led to Mount dropping into the central midfield pivot, while Dalot offered some defensive security at right wing-back.
But Sesko, unfortunately, didn’t get many shooting opportunities, finishing the game with 15 touches and zero shots. Marco Silva’s decision to match United’s 3-4-2-1 in phases meant the 22-year-old was unable to go hunting in the right half-space, as he did last week in the 1-0 loss against Arsenal. Instead, Sesko spent much of his appearance standing between Joachim Andersen and Bassey, trying to peel off Andersen and attack Bassey’s blind side when the ball was funnelled out wide.
(Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
Fulham’s touch-tight approach when defending Mbeumo (he only had six touches of the ball between the 45th and 70th minutes) limited the creative supply to the striker. In the final 10 minutes, Sesko tried his best with the limited chances his team manufactured. But while the away section chanted “Attack, attack, attack attack attack!”, United’s players struggled to get the ball into the final third.
When out of possession, Sesko could be found checking his shoulders to see if Cunha and Mbeumo would join his attempts to press. Amorim’s new front three have plenty of running power and technical trickery, but they will need time to synchronise. Two games in, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of Sesko’s talents.
Carl Anka
What did Amorim say?
“It was a tough match. I think when we scored the goal we forget about maintaining the way we should play — we were just thinking about maintaining the result,” he told reporters.
“We want to win so bad we forget about maintaining possession, push the opponent, we just gave a little bit of the game to Fulham. We started really well, until the goal I think we were a good team. We can do better. After the goal, I think we were just thinking about maintaining the advantage. We cannot do that.
“We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances and that is the important thing. Then we just have to move on.”
What did Silva say?
“The players that came on were brilliant,” said Silva, per Fulham’s official website. “Last week was the same and last season it was the story of the season.
“Harry Wilson had a great pre-season and today he started on the bench, but a massive impact from him. Raul started last week and, of course, Emile, helped the team last week with the build-up for the goal and this afternoon he scored. He knows he’s important for us and he can arrive in the right spots.
“They started better, but from 20 minutes we controlled really well. We didn’t give many spaces to them and they only created moments from set pieces. They scored, but it was a great reaction from the boys in a difficult moment of the game. We finished the game stronger, in and around their box with some good moments. I’m proud of the fans and the way they were with the team right until the end.”
What next for United?
Wednesday, August 27: Grimsby (Away), Carabao Cup second round, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
What next for Fulham?
Wednesday, August 27: Bristol City (Away), Carabao Cup second round, 7.45pm UK, 2.45pm ET
(Top photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Source link
