Lammens rescues United's point as Sesko injury concern clouds 1-1 Fulham draw

Manchester United were forced to settle for a 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens the primary reason the visitors were not beaten by a Fulham side propping up the table.

Lammens made four saves before half-time alone, the most eye-catching of which came when Josh King beat Luke Shaw far too easily and appeared certain to score, only for the Belgian to produce a leg save that drew comparisons with David de Gea at his best. Without those interventions, United’s afternoon could have been irretrievable by the interval — a damning reflection on a defence that has been a persistent problem this season.

Even Fulham supporters in the press box area were audibly surprised by the volume of chances their side created. “That’s the most chances we’ve created all season,” one home supporter was overheard saying at the break. Fulham had managed just four league goals in the entire campaign heading into the fixture, making United’s defensive openness all the more alarming.

Manager Carrick had acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that his side “needed to improve” defensively, though he did not explain why United continue to be so exposed. Sunday’s performance offered no answers.

Absent from the squad was striker Benjamin Sesko, who felt pain in his shin ahead of the trip to London — the same issue that kept him out of pre-season entirely. Sesko had suggested the problem was behind him in recent weeks, but his withdrawal forced Carrick into a striker-less attacking setup. The concern is growing: Sesko also missed over a month last season with a knee injury and sat out three games at the end of the campaign with the shin complaint.

Lammens, who made his first appearance at Craven Cottage having been a Royal Antwerp player when United last visited, was warmly congratulated by teammates after his key saves. Early-season criticism of the goalkeeper now looks misplaced. The more pressing question for United is why a goalkeeper who only recently joined the club is being asked to carry so much of the defensive burden — and how long Sesko’s latest setback will last.