3 things we learned Fulham vs Manchester United as Red Devils get away with one

LONDON — Manchester United fought back to salvage a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, but the pressure continues to build on Michael Carrick despite rescuing a late point to stop the rot after a horrible week. A comical own goal put Fulham ahead in the second half and Alvaro Arbeloa's side deserved to win as they took the game to a lackluster United throughout. But Matheus Cunha's deflected effort in the 89th minute grabbed a point for United. As Carrick breathed a tiny sigh of relief. Here's what we learned from Craven Cottage after another dour outing, and result, for Manchester United. Sluggish United waiting for things to happen After an awful start to the season, and coming off a truly woeful week, everyone was expecting a response from United. They looked sluggish and disinterested for most of this game but when they went 1-0 down the urgency picked up. That was a reflex action. Only then did they start to make things happen because they had to. It can't be like that. For most of this game there was no drive and desire to prove everyone wrong. Carrick is still under pressure after picking up just five points from United's five games to start the season, four of which were supposed to be relatively easy wins. United are struggling for rhythm and any kind of confidence so perhaps this three-week international break comes at a good time to reassess things? A lot has to change when they come back in October, as they face Spurs at home in a battle between struggling giants. Carrick has credit in the bank after his fine salvage job last season but he needs his players to step up, big time, in terms of intensity and accountability, in a huge October. These kind of displays won't be good enough against Atletico Madrid, Leeds, Como, Bournemouth and Chelsea in October. Energetic Fulham will be more than fine this season Plenty questioned Fulham's transfer policy this summer but Affengruber, Charles and Garcia have all settled in really well and youngsters King and Bobb are a massive threat in attack. Even though this will feel like a defeat, back-to-back draws with Liverpool and Man United are nothing to sniff at. Alvaro Arbeloa's new-look side were brave on the ball, took the game to United and they kept plugging away even when United's goalkeeper Senne Lammens made plenty of big stops in the first half. Fulham are younger, fitter (no team has covered more ground in the league than them) and sharper this season and they are more exciting to watch. But crucially they need to learn to see out games. They have played better than their points tally suggests and Arbeloa's side will be just fine if they can stay confident and trust that they're on the right path. Lammens is getting no protection Given his heroics in the first half to keep United in the game, Lammens pushing out Bassey's shot tentatively, and then making a mess of Lisandro Martinez's deflection, was very harsh. But he wasn't the main reason United didn't win this game. Fulham peppered United's goal and Lammens made a number of top saves to keep his side in the game. He will be disappointed he couldn't push Bassey's shot away from danger but it wasn't a massive error. The biggest issue for United was not stopping Fulham from having shot after shot and getting space around the box so easily. If the first month of the season has taught us anything it is that Lammens is going to be very busy between now and May. United have to stop these chances mounting up and be more solid at the back. They got away with one on Sunday at Fulham.