Manchester United avert a crisis, but can’t really avoid criticism. Michael Carrick got lucky against Fulham , and consequently got away with one. For now.

A game that had looked like it was edging towards a first Alvaro Arbeloa win, courtesy of Lisandro Martinez ’s bizarre own goal, instead saw another wicked deflection divert it to a 1-1 draw.

Neither club is completely unhappy, but this could have been a lot worse for both.

An exuberant Fulham at least climb off the bottom of the table, ensuring it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit there going into this three-week international window. They look the closest to the “crisis club” enduring all manner of external criticism and introspection going into an unusually long break. That was so close to being United.

Matheus Cunha’s deflected late strike, however, shouldn’t put off bigger discussions.

This was another underwhelming display, completely lacking in any kind of convincing attacking football. There is just so much off with the team right now.

An irony is that the calamitous own goal actually came in the one period of the game where what United were doing actually made some sense. Fulham are one of the most aggressive teams in the Premier League in how they push forward, almost absurdly overcommitting.

After that contributed to an entertainingly open first half, Carrick evidently realised his team should just try and hit the home side on the counter. It was logical… until your team just does something illogical.