Six saves from Senne Lammens and an 89th-minute goal from Matheus Cunha were the main reasons Manchester United left Craven Cottage with a 1-1 draw. The result in Fulham vs Manchester United felt more like a rescue job than a solid away performance, especially after Lisandro Martínez's 63rd-minute own goal had put the home side in front.

United had moments of threat, but they were hanging in the game long before Cunha's late finish arrived. That is why the ratings split so clearly between Lammens, who kept them alive, Cunha, who delivered the equaliser, and Martínez, whose night was defined by the own goal.

Lammens kept United alive before the late goal

The biggest number from the night is still the simplest one: Lammens made six saves. Without that, United do not get to the stage where a late equaliser is even possible.

BBC Sport's reporter, quoted by bbc.co.uk, wrote: "Senne Lammens: Key first-half saves to keep Manchester United level and came out bravely at Iwobi's feet to prevent another Fulham chance. Distribution could have been better and he didn't cover himself in glory with the Fulham goal. 6"

That sums up the split in the reaction to his game. On the positive side, several reports agreed he made important first-half stops and protected United through the periods when Fulham were on top. On the other, there was still criticism around the goal itself, even with Martínez officially credited with the own goal.

That distinction matters in a ratings piece. Lammens was clearly one of United's best players, but not every outlet saw him as blameless. The stronger reading is that he was decisive overall and still imperfect in one key moment.

United's wider display helps explain why his workload was so heavy. They never looked fully in charge, and the draw owed a lot to their goalkeeper surviving the early and middle stages of the game. When a keeper is your standout away from home in a 1-1, the performance in front of him usually needs questioning.

Cunha's finish changed the result, not the performance

Cunha finished as United's top-rated player at 8.2, but his game was not a straight line upward. Manchester Evening News' reporter, quoted by manchestereveningnews.co.uk, wrote: "Matheus Cunha: Started the game very slowly and too often a passenger when United are attacking. Can come alive in bursts but isn't working as a No.9, but scored from the left. 6"

It is a fair description of the match. Cunha was quiet for long stretches, yet he still produced the action that preserved the point. His goal in the 89th minute, created by Patrick Dorgu, gave United an exit from a game that had been slipping away.

That goal should not hide the shape of the performance. United were not building steadily toward a comeback; they were still relying on isolated moments. Cunha supplied one, and high-level forwards are judged on those moments, but the equaliser did not suddenly turn the evening into a convincing attacking display.

There were other flashes around him. Bruno Fernandes hit the post in the first half, which was one of the better openings United created. Around the side, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire were all part of a team performance that never quite settled into rhythm.

Martínez's own goal summed up the shakier side of United

Martínez's 6.57 rating tells its own story. It was not a total collapse, but the own goal in the 63rd minute became the defining moment of his night.

That is also where the blame debate sits. Martínez put the ball into his own net, so he carries the official error. Some of the reaction still pointed back to Lammens and whether the goalkeeper should have dealt with the danger better before the touch went in. Both things can be true: Martínez made the decisive mistake, and United did not defend the situation well enough as a unit.

The broader issue for Michael Carrick is that this draw extended a winless run to four games, as reported by The Standard. That does not settle anything about his longer-term future, but it does keep the pressure on a side that looks fragile too often when matches turn chaotic.

Cunha's equaliser stops the night from reading as another defeat, and Lammens' six saves are the main reason United had that chance at all. The record shows a 1-1 draw at Fulham, with Martínez's own goal in the 63rd minute and Cunha replying in the 89th.

FAQ

Why did Manchester United only draw at Fulham despite Matheus Cunha scoring late?

United needed a late goal because they spent long spells under pressure and fell behind when Lisandro Martínez turned the ball into his own net in the 63rd minute. Matheus Cunha rescued the point with an 89th-minute equaliser, assisted by Patrick Dorgu, but the game felt more like an escape than a controlled away performance.

How well did Senne Lammens play for Manchester United against Fulham?

Lammens was central to United taking anything from the match. He made six saves and produced several important stops in the first half to keep the score level. Some reports still felt he could have done better on Fulham's goal, so the night was strong rather than spotless, but without him United were heading for defeat.

Was Lisandro Martínez solely at fault for Fulham's goal against Manchester United?

Martínez is officially charged with the own goal in the 63rd minute, so he carries the main mark against his name. The coverage was not unanimous on the wider blame, though. Some reports also argued Lammens should have handled the moment better, which makes it more complicated than pinning everything on one player.

Did Matheus Cunha play well as Manchester United's No.9 at Fulham?

Cunha had a mixed game. Manchester Evening News judged that he started slowly and was not convincing as a No.9, but he still made the decisive contribution by scoring the 89th-minute equaliser from the left. That summed up his night: quiet for stretches, then decisive when United needed one moment.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →