Key events
59 min: United have a spell on the ball but can’t find any gaps to cut through.
57 min: Gary Neville is bemused by the lack of urgency from both teams.
56 min: Fulham wheel it around at the back with little pressure from United.
55 min: It’s all a bit flat at the moment.
54 min: Rashford finds space down the left on the counter, tries to play to Mbeumo … but Robinson nips in to save Fulham.
52 min: The camera finds Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands.
49 min: Bobb weaves through United shirts as Fulham venture forward … Robinson crosses from the left but United launch their own counter. Rashford is taken down by Castagne and that’s a yellow for the right-back.
48 min: The ball is stuck in Fulham’s half.
47 min: Rashford sends in a dangerous ball, but Cunha is penalised for doing something wrong in the mixer.
46 min: And we’re back. No changes just yet as Fulham kick things off. Dalot goes on adventure down the right for United.
United had 17 shots in that half … with just two on target.
HALF-TIME: Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
United have had chances … but Fulham have been the better side.
45 min: King’s fine half is soured by a yellow for diving – he goes down after Maguire’s arm brushes him and the ref ain’t impressed.
44 min: United’s front four all combine as Mbeumo deflects a Cunha cross to Rashford in the middle … but he volleys over the bar.
42 min: Iwobi plays a one-two and looks through on goal … but Lammens, United’s player of the half, springs into action to deny the winger.
39 min: United’s best move of the game. Dalot breaks into midfield, plays to Fernandes, who works it to Rashford inside the area … but he can’t get the right placement on the strike when trying to curl it in from the left.
38 min: United work it patiently but Tielemans’ cross into the area can’t beat the first man.
36 min: Mbeumo knocks Robinson off the ball, Rashford finds it on the left and cuts in, navigating traffic before unleashing … but he can’t beat the crowd of defenders.
35 min: Rashford tries to play in Tielemans inside the area … but he was probably better off trying to whip an effort himself.
34 min: Iwobi and King are running this game.
32 min: Cunha’s deflected effort from range loops awkwardly for Leno … but Fulham are on the move again. King shifts on to his right inside the area, firing from a tight angle … and Lammens uses his right foot to make a cracking save! The United keeper has been working overtime in the last five minutes.
30 min: Fulham are causing some serious bother now. García fails to connect properly inside the area again, Berge forces Lammens to make a good save low to his right, and Bobb fires wide not long after a smart turn.
28 min: Iwobi picks up a long ball and crosses from the left, and King is at the far post for a poking half-volley … but he can’t get enough power on it and Lammens palms it away.
25 min: Fernandes hits the post! Cunha outmuscles Affengruber inside the area, cuts back for Fernandes, who can only find the left post. United have suddenly found some energy, some intensity after a lethargic start.
24 min: Mainoo finds the ball in that left pocket by the edge of the area where he likes to shoot from – but he can’t find enough room for an effort. Dalot eventually tries his luck, but Leno doesn’t need to stress about it.
22 min: Fulham’s fluid front four – Iwobi, King, Bobb and García – are combining well.
21 min: Mbeumo breaks into the area and crosses for Rashford … but he can’t keep his header down.
19 min: Bobb has room on the right for Fulham, and the ball soon finds the lively King, who drives into the area and fires over the bar. He’s been the best player on the park so far.
18 min: Fuham build nicely from the back, Iwobi breaks free on the left and plays in García … but he fluffs his first-time effort inside the area, the ball deflecting well wide of the goal.
16 min: Rashford gets United moving forward … until they recycle and wheel it around at the back.
15 min: King holds the ball up on the right wing and wins a corner for Fulham – Bobb’s delivery is poor.
13 min: All a bit quiet so far, apart from Martínez’s rocket.
10 min: Martínez lets fly from outside the area … it’s some effort and some save, too. Leno leaps to his left and the centre-back’s piledriver doesn’t find the top corner.
10 min: United look dangerous for the first time – Tielemans whips in a decent ball to the front post and Bruno Fernandes is there for the header … and it leads to a corner.
8 min: King is enjoying himself down the right for Fulham, finding space.
7 min: United are forced to retreat as Fulham hold a solid defensive shape … Lammens goes long before Fulham build a promising attack … but Iwobi’s cross finds the United keeper.
5 min: Time for United to knock it about … but Tielemans is wayward, sending the ball out for a Fulham throw.
4 min: Fulham continue to pass it around comfortably. Robinson finds García on the edge of the area … and he drags his effort wide. It’s been a neat start by Fulham.
3 min: King drops deep for Fulham as the hosts wheel it around at the back. The teenager goes on a long dribble through midfield … and keeps it.
1 min: Leno takes his time with a goalkick before going long, down the right-hand side.
Peeeep!
Manchester United are rocking their all-blue number. They kick things off.
Craven Cottage in the sun: where would you rather be?
Andy Flintoff (not that one) writes:
If Fulham avoid defeat today, then Spurs would be bottom. Would it then be time to sound the crisis klaxon?
There should probably be a klaxon for when Spurs aren’t in crisis.
We got a thriller the last time these two met:
Here’s how we’re looking after those 2pm BST games.
Richard Hirst writes in:
Yes, please don’t let it be Cunha up front, he always scores against us.
Well, have a look at this: Cunha’s got four goals in six league games against Fulham.
Joshua Keeling writes in:
Please please please let it be Mbeumo up front, not Cunha. Playing Cunha up front just hasn’t worked so far this season.
Well it’s certainly not Benjamin Sesko. He’s still waiting for his first league start this season and missing today due to injury.
Fulham are unchanged from the side that drew at Anfield while United make one tweak from their derby loss against Manchester City: Luke Shaw replaces Patrick Dorgu.
The teams
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Charles, King, Bobb, Gonzalo, Iwobi
Subs: Lecomte, Andersen, Sessegnon, Larsson, Manuel Ángel, Smith Rowe, Palacios, Kevin, Muniz
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Tielemans, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford, Cunha
Subs: Darlow, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Yoro, Andrey Santos, Baleba, Mount, Lacey, Zirkzee
Preamble
We’re four league games in and I’m getting spammy emails about how Michael Carrick is 5/2 to get sacked before Christmas. It’s all a bit silly but a reminder of how intense his position is, the game changing now he doesn’t have that interim tag. So how does a visit to Craven Cottage sound? On the one hand, Fulham are bottom of the league, with Alvaro Arbeloa feeling some heat, too. On the other, slip up here and my inbox will probably get a whole lot louder. Let’s get stuck into it: kick-off’s at 4.30pm BST.
