UNITED STILL GOING BACKWARD

Forwards come up short despite £206m splurge

- John Cross

DESPITE spending £206million on forwards this summer, Manchester United are still reduced to sending on Harry Maguire up front for set pieces.

But even supersub Maguire could not provide any late salvation at Craven Cottage.

What a sorry state of affairs for head coach Ruben Amorim that Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have yet to find the net.

Instead, for the second week running, United were undone by their own frailties at the back as Fulham substitute Emile Smith Rowe scored with his first touch just 96 seconds after coming on.

That ended United's eight-game winning streak at Craven Cottage. Amorim's new-look lineup has gained only a point from their opening two games.