Analysis: Late goal eases pressure on Carrick

[Getty Images] It is too early in the season for Michael Carrick's position to be under serious threat. But after back-to-back home defeats and, crucially, the manner of them - losing a Manchester derby having played 10 men for the majority and surrendering a two-goal lead to exit the Carabao Cup - a third league loss in five would have invited plenty of unwanted scrutiny on the Englishman. With a three-week international break to come, there will be no escaping a certain amount of criticism and it is a long time to wait before Manchester United can attempt to start putting things right on the pitch. But without Matheus Cunha's somewhat fortuitous goal, it would have been a lot worse. Overall, United were good value for a point and might even argue snatching all three would not have been unwarranted given their strong finish. It is the 63 minutes leading up to the Fulham goal that others will focus on, though, in particular the start of the second half in which they allowed the game to drift prior to the horrendous own goal. Senne Lammens and Lisandro Martinez will be grateful to Cunha that it did not prove the game's decisive moment. Carrick can now regroup and plan for a crucial stage of the season, starting against Tottenham on 10 October, knowing that if results do not pick up, it could be a defining run of his tenure.