26 Shots, No Goals: Fulham and Manchester United Set a Premier League Record

Fulham and Manchester United produced 26 first-half shots at Craven Cottage on Sunday without scoring, setting a Premier League record for the most attempts in a single opening 45 minutes without a goal. The scoreless half came during a high-tempo meeting between two clubs seeking to revive sluggish domestic campaigns.

Fulham kept the same starting lineup that secured a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on September 12. Bernd Leno started behind Timothy Castagne, David Affengruber, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson, with Oscar Bobb, Sander Berge, Josh King, Shea Charles, and Alex Iwobi in midfield behind lone striker Gonzalo Garcia.

Manchester United changed one position at full-back, starting Luke Shaw instead of Patrick Dorgu. Shaw joined Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martínez in front of young Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Bryan Mbeumo, Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes formed the midfield, supporting Marcus Rashford and Matheus Cunha.

Bruno Fernandes had already proved highly effective in the capital, supplying five assists in his last five London appearances. Against Fulham, the United captain twice struck the frame of Leno’s goal. He first skimmed the post with a quick reaction shot inside the box after a sharp cut-back from Matheus Cunha, and Cunha later saw a deflected long-range effort clip the woodwork.

The home side’s strongest chances fell to 19-year-old Josh King, who holds the record for the most Premier League appearances by a teenager in Fulham history. Lammens made a brilliant reaction save from King’s volley, then used an outstretched leg to stop another drive. The goalkeeper also denied Alex Iwobi on a clean break, while Leno preserved his clean sheet by saving a powerful attempt from Lisandro Martínez.

Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa, the former Real Madrid and Liverpool defender, entered the match under severe pressure. The club was enduring its longest winless start to a season since 2020-21, and Arbeloa became the first Fulham manager since Scott Parker in 2019 to fail to win any of his first four league matches in charge. Fulham have also failed to score in 10 league matches during 2026, accounting for 42 percent of their fixtures.

United’s attacking volume added to an aggressive opening to the season. They had registered 84 shots across their first four games, their highest total at this stage of a season since the 2003-04 campaign. Finishing remained a problem, however, as Marcus Rashford failed to convert two clear first-half chances inside the penalty area. Rashford leads United this season in chances created with nine, touches in the opposition box with 23, and completed dribbles with 14.

Michael Carrick’s interim side had arrived after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to local rivals Manchester City. United had collected only four points from their first four league fixtures, matching their joint-worst start to a Premier League campaign. The other occasions were the inaugural 1992-93 season and the recent 2025-26 campaign; United recovered from those starts to finish first and third, respectively.

Gary Neville, speaking on the Sky Sports broadcast, called Fernandes’ near-miss “agonising” and questioned the defensive organization of Carrick’s backline when Fulham moved forward. “United’s defending when Fulham go forward is so basic,” Neville said. “It’s like they’re not moving.”

The Fulham bench consisted of Benjamin Lecomte, Joachim Andersen, Cesar Palacios, Rodrigo Muniz, Kevin, Hugo Larsson, Manuel Angel, Ryan Sessegnon, and Emile Smith Rowe. Carrick’s substitutes were Karl Darlow, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, and youth prospect Shea Lacey.

The draw extended Fulham’s difficult home run against Manchester United. The West London club remains winless in its last 10 Premier League matches against the Red Devils at Craven Cottage, with its last home victories coming in back-to-back matches in 2009. Across the last 21 Premier League meetings overall, Manchester United has lost only once, a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in February 2024.