Manchester United's frustrating start to the 2025-26 Premier League season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes' uncharacteristic penalty miss in the first half proved costly, as Emile Smith Rowe's late equalizer secured a point for the home side.
The Red Devils, managed by Ruben Amorim, came into the match hoping to bounce back from an opening-day defeat to Arsenal. United started brightly, with Matheus Cunha proving a constant threat to the Fulham defense. The Brazilian forward twice came close to opening the scoring, first hitting the post with a powerful drive and then being denied by a brilliant save from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
United's early pressure eventually led to a penalty award after a VAR check deemed Calvin Bassey to have fouled Mason Mount inside the box. However, Bruno Fernandes, usually reliable from the spot, blazed his effort high over the bar. It was a surprising miss from the Portuguese midfielder, who had only failed to score four of his previous 26 Premier League penalties. Some observers, including Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville, suggested that Fernandes may have been "unnerved" by a slight nudge from referee Chris Kavanagh before taking the kick, though this theory was met with skepticism by fans on social media.
Despite the penalty miss, United continued to press and eventually took the lead in the second half through an own goal. Leny Yoro headed a corner towards goal, and the ball deflected off Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz and into the net. However, Fulham responded well and equalized in the 73rd minute. Just seconds after coming on as a substitute, Emile Smith Rowe latched onto a cross from Alex Iwobi and finished past Altay Bayindir, who was starting in place of Andre Onana.
The game ended in a draw, leaving Manchester United with just one point from their opening two matches. While United showed glimpses of promise, particularly in attack through Matheus Cunha, their inability to convert chances and defensive lapses ultimately cost them. For Fulham, the draw represented a positive result, with Emile Smith Rowe's impact off the bench proving crucial.
Several talking points emerged from the match. Matheus Cunha's lively performance was a major positive for United, with the Brazilian quickly establishing himself as an exciting player to watch. However, Bruno Fernandes' penalty miss and overall performance raised questions, with some suggesting that he has not been at his best under the new manager, Ruben Amorim. The awarding of the penalty itself also sparked debate, with some arguing that referees are now scrutinizing penalty area incidents too closely, potentially leading to inconsistency. Gary Neville criticized Bassey for a "stupid" foul, highlighting the Premier League's instruction to clamp down on manhandling in the box.
Looking ahead, Manchester United will need to improve quickly if they are to compete for a top-four finish this season. Their next match is against Burnley. Fulham, meanwhile, will be encouraged by their performance against United and will look to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures.
