Cunha's 89th-minute equaliser cannot hide Manchester United's cracks as Carrick faces defining three weeks

Matheus Cunha's 89th-minute equaliser spared Manchester United a first defeat at Craven Cottage in 17 years, but the 1-1 draw at Fulham only papers over the cracks. Five points from five Premier League games is United's worst start in over a decade, and the international break has come at the perfect moment for Michael Carrick — or the worst one. United arrived in west London after back-to-back home defeats to Manchester City and Brighton. A third consecutive loss would have left the club's decision-makers with serious questions during the international break. Cunha's late goal stopped the bleeding, but Carrick admitted the start has not been ideal. He insisted he is not despondent and pointed to positive signs, yet the mood around Old Trafford remains fragile. Gary Neville, Carrick's former Manchester United teammate, did not hide his frustration when Fulham went ahead. He said the 15 minutes around Fulham's goal were the worst he had ever seen United play, and branded parts of the performance pathetic. The goal came from a Kobbie Mainoo pass that was intercepted by Calvin Bassey, who advanced unopposed into the box. His tame shot hit Senne Lammens, rebounded off Lisandro Martinez, and then Lammens kicked the ball into his own net while trying to clear with his feet. Fitness is another concern. Fulham covered 6 km more than United over the 90 minutes, and Cunha admitted Fulham put in more energy at the start of the second half. Carrick rejected the suggestion, saying he was happy with how his team finished and did not see fitness as an issue. United only started playing properly after falling behind. Cunha, ineffective as a No. 9, looked far more dangerous when he moved to the left. His long-range shot deflected off David Affengruber and wrong-footed Bernd Leno for the equaliser. Carrick praised the response but acknowledged the result could have gone the other way. The next three weeks will determine whether the break helps United reset or merely postpones the crisis. After the internationals, United face Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leeds and Como, with the last three away in nine days in October. Then come Bournemouth, Chelsea, Roma, Aston Villa and Liverpool. Carrick has no easy games left. The question is whether he can rebuild confidence before the fixture list delivers its verdict.