Carrick demands Man Utd response after ‘pathetic’ jibes

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Michael Carrick struck a defiant tone after Manchester United equalled their worst start to a Premier League season, but Sunday’s woeful 1-1 draw at Fulham left the beleaguered boss under mounting pressure. Trailing to Lisandro Martinez’s farcical own goal, United were just moments away from a third-successive defeat on another dispiriting afternoon for Carrick. Matheus Cunha’s deflected, 89th-minute equaliser spared United from fresh humiliation.

But escaping with a barely deserved point against a winless side sitting second from bottom of the Premier League was hardly cause for celebration. With only one win so far this season, United have matched their lowest points total after five matches in the Premier League era. Sitting in 12th place with five points, Carrick’s men equalled the mark set by Louis van Gaal’s United in 2014-15 when they went on to finish fourth.

The statistics are damning enough in their own right but the eye test during their moribund performance at Craven Cottage provided an even more insightful look at what ails United. Lacking a cutting edge in attack, bereft of defensive organisation and, in the words of Cunha, short of energy and drive until they fell behind, this was the kind of flawed display that has scarred so many United seasons since their last title in 2013. Carrick was expected to build on last season’s climb to a third-place finish during his spell as interim boss.

But having hauled United from the wreckage of Ruben Amorim’s self-destructive reign, Carrick is in danger of losing his way in his first season as permanent boss. A wretched 0-2 defeat at promoted Hull City on the opening weekend set alarm bells ringing among the United faithful. Beaten in the Manchester derby by an Erling Haaland goal that should have been disallowed last weekend, United then blew a two-goal lead at home for the first time in 50 years in a League Cup meltdown against Brighton.

Already 10 points behind leaders City, Carrick’s team were so underwhelming against Fulham that even one of the manager’s former teammates took a swipe at United. Commenting on the match for Sky Sports, ex-United defender Gary Neville was scathing in his assessment of their performance at the start of the second half. Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha celebrates after his deflected goal makes it 1-1 during the English Premier League footba…