Sorry state of affairs for Man Utd as Ruben Amorim gets desperate despite £206m spree

Despite spending £206m on new forwards this summer, Manchester United are still reduced to sending on Harry Maguire for set-pieces. This time, even super-sub Maguire could not provide any late salvation as United’s luck finally ran out at Craven Cottage.

But what a sorry state of affairs for Ruben Amorim that between them, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, have not yet been able to find the net.

And instead, for the second week running, United were undone by their own frailties at the back as Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe scored with his first touch just 96 seconds after coming on.

That ended United’s remarkable eight-game winning streak at Craven Cottage and Amorim’s new-look line-up has only gained one point from their opening two games.

Not much of a return on their superstar front three even if Sesko had to be content again with a substitute appearance. Cunha had lovely moments in the first half, Mbeumo provided the corner for Leny Yoro’s deflected header to put United in front and yet you just cannot win games if you make big mistakes.

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Bruno Fernandes slashed a penalty way over the bar and blamed referee Chris Kavanagh for getting in his way in the process. That seems rather typical of Fernandes to blame someone else and you do have to question United’s defending on the equaliser.

United defender Matthijs De Ligt hesitated, seemed to leave the ball and it allowed Smith Rowe to sneak in and score. Amorim’s men lost to Arsenal last week, blew a lead this time and only really have a week to solve their problems which are pretty obvious.

Maguire is such a willing player, a real loyal club servant and yet it cannot be on him each week to come on and try to salvage results from last-gasp set-pieces. The forward line is showing real promise but United are undermined by no-one grasping the No1 jersey as first-choice keeper and midfield remains an issue.

Fulham gave everything, battled and scraped their way back from going behind and part of that is United still not having a midfield general to boss the game and shut it all down. The United keeper situation is a soap opera in itself. Altay Bayindir kept his place despite his howler against Arsenal last week, Andre Onana was on the bench with Tom Heaton in the squad but not among the substitutes.

They are keen on Royal Antwerp keeper Senne Lammens but that seems another quick fix when a proper one is needed. At least Bayindir did better this week. Cunha hit the post early on and Bayindir made a good save. The United keeper’s long punt then put Cunha away and he nearly scored only to be denied by Fulham’s Bernd Leno.

The real talking point of the first half came after 35 minutes. Referee Kavanagh gave a penalty after he checked the VAR screen and ruled Fulham defender Calvin Bassey had wrestled Mason Mount to the ground in a goalmouth scramble.

Fernandes is normally so reliable from the spot - only missing six from 65 in his career - and yet blasted miles over the bar. It has to be a first, blaming the ref for missing a penalty.

United went ahead after 58 minutes. Mbeumo’s corner was headed towards goal by Yoro, it hit Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz on the back and somehow went in. That was surely lift off.

But Fulham battled back and deserved their point. Smith Rowe has been underwhelming since his £34m move. And his goal was created by Arsenal’s academy.

Alex Iwobi sent in a near post cross, in nipped Smith Rowe as United’s defence hesitated and he scored to add to Amorim’s frustrations. But it was no more than Fulham deserved.

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