Man United draw at Fulham after Fernandes misses penalty

Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes was left to count the cost of his missed first-half penalty as Emile Smith Rowe earned Fulham a point at Craven Cottage.

Fernandes must have thought his blushes would be spared by Leny Yoro’s deflected second-half header that put United ahead after the break and officially went down as a Rodrigo Muniz own goal.

However, Smith Rowe, on as a substitute, had other ideas, pouncing on an Alex Iwobi cross from the touchline that had bounced into the visitors’ six-yard box.

The equaliser just heightened the sense of regret at Fernandes’ failure from the spot.

The Portugal playmaker seemed the calmest man in the stadium as referee Chris Kavanagh took an age to review Calvin Bassey’s challenge on Mason Mount at a corner. It had been an incident that few seemed to complain about as play initially continued.

But Fernandes was unsettled as he collided with Kavanagh when getting ready to take the kick and, after resetting himself, sent his penalty soaring over the bar.

It was Fernandes’ first penalty miss since December 2023 and came on another day when United played well but were unable to secure their first win of the season.

In contrast, Fulham showed plenty of battling qualities in the 1-1 draw as they ended a run of eight straight home defeats to United, although they too are still waiting for a first win of the campaign.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and Manchester United counterpart Patrick Dorgu in an aerial duel at Craven Cottage

Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation is the subject of huge debate because there is so much uncertainty about it.

United have kept abreast of Senne Lammens’ situation at Royal Antwerp for most of the summer. They have advanced talks over the past few days to the extent Antwerp opted to leave the 23-year-old out of their Belgian Pro League victory against Mechelen a couple of hours before United took the field against Fulham.

The precise reason for that is not known. Neither is it clear if anyone will leave to make way for the former Belgium youth international.

It had been assumed Andre Onana would return at Craven Cottage, but when the teams were confirmed it emerged that Altay Bayindir had kept his place.

The Turkey international duly showed both sides of his character. Calm with the ball at his feet, it was Bayindir’s superb 70-yard floated pass downfield that went straight towards its intended destination, allowing Matheus Cunha to brilliantly control on the run first time and get a shot off with his second touch, which Bernd Leno did well to save. Cunha earlier hit the post with a low strike.

But Bayindir also looked weak when dealing with corners. He tended to pick the wrong time to come for them and also allowed himself to be crowded out, just as happened against Arsenal seven days previously when another positive United performance failed to bring any reward.

Even with his saves, there were good and shaky moments.

Bayindir had to be alert to deny Josh King with an excellent feet-first save. Less convincing was the manner in which he shoved a low Iwobi shot from the edge of the area round the post.

Marco Silva is one of the Premier League bosses for whom judgement on his side should be reserved until after next month’s international break, by which time he will know which members of his squad are staying put.

Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz was included in Silva’s starting line-up on this occasion despite interest from Serie A outfit Atalanta and, closer to home, Leeds.

Former Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira was omitted altogether and Fulham did seem to struggle in the creative element of their game.

Unlike their opponents, though, Fulham’s goalkeeping position is secure.

In a frantic period of injury time, United’s Bayindir came for a corner, then checked and finally ended up in no man’s land as Fulham’s Joachim Andersen failed to take advantage by missing the ball with his intended header as it whizzed across goal.

Seconds later, United tried to exert pressure on Fulham with a superb ball to the edge of the six-yard box.

Bernd Leno showed no hesitation as he decisively came to punch well clear of his area.

Fulham have work to do before the window closes. But in Leno they have someone Silva can rely on.

(BBC Sport)