The point matters because United had been heading towards a result that would have intensified scrutiny. Martínez’s error gave Fulham an advantage they could not protect, while Cunha’s deflected effort underlined the narrow margins that shaped the contest.
A draw is still a limited return for a club expected to challenge higher up the Premier League table. United’s attacking response arrived late, and the equaliser did not fully erase concerns over their ability to control matches or turn pressure into victories.
Cunha, however, delivered the moment United needed. His finish spared Martínez’s night from becoming the defining story and gave Amorim’s side a platform to rebuild momentum.
For Álvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham, the disappointment is sharper. They remain without a Premier League win under the manager, despite taking the lead and moving off the bottom of the table.
The result offers evidence of progress in one sense: Fulham were close to holding a major opponent at home. Yet the failure to close out the match leaves the central problem unchanged. Until a lead becomes three points, improved performances will bring limited reward.
The own goal created the opening, but Fulham could not respond to United’s late pressure. That weakness will remain the immediate focus around Arbeloa’s team.
The next Premier League fixtures will test whether United can turn a late escape into a sustained improvement, while Fulham need a first win under Arbeloa to convert competitive displays into momentum. For both clubs, the Craven Cottage draw feels less like a conclusion than another warning.