Smith Rowe and Leno lead Fulham to a fighting point as the Cottage hoodoo ends

Craven Cottage finally exhaled. Emile Smith Rowe arrived from the bench to poke in Alex Iwobi’s cross and clinch a deserved 1-1 draw against Manchester United, a result that ends a bruising run of eight consecutive home defeats in this fixture. It was a night when Fulham’s resilience and their goalkeeper’s authority stood up to United’s early surge.

United had led through a Rodrigo Muniz own goal, deflecting in a Leny Yoro header, but Marco Silva’s substitutions changed the state of play. With Bernd Leno defiant behind them and Smith Rowe sharp in the box, Fulham took a point that felt like a small step forward in a season still forming.

Bassey’s version of justice and a VAR saga that set the tone

The first flashpoint arrived at a corner, when Calvin Bassey’s tussle with Mason Mount drew a long VAR review after play had continued. Referee Chris Kavanagh, advised by VAR Darren England, eventually awarded the penalty. In the same incident Luke Shaw had bundled Rodrigo Muniz to the ground, underlining the tangle of bodies and judgments that made the decision contentious from a Fulham perspective.

When Kavanagh then accidentally collided with Bruno Fernandes as the United captain prepared to take the kick, the atmosphere became jittery. Fernandes then skied the penalty — his first miss since December 2023. Bassey later told Sky Sports he felt the award was harsh and that the spot-kick miss was ‘justice’, sentiments that summed up the home view of a messy episode.

Iwobi’s delivery, Jimenez’s decoy, Smith Rowe’s reward

Even after United moved ahead from a corner — Yoro’s header flicking in off the unlucky Muniz, amid Bassey’s claim that he was shoved with two hands — Fulham did not sag. Silva sent on Smith Rowe and Raúl Jimenez, and the changes injected threat on the flanks and presence in the box.

The equaliser captured that energy. Iwobi’s ball from near the touchline skidded wickedly through the six-yard area; Jimenez’s air-kick wrong-footed United’s defence, and Smith Rowe stole in past a static Matthijs de Ligt to apply the finish with around a quarter of an hour to play. It was the kind of predatory moment Fulham had been missing.

Leno’s calm amid the chaos

Bernd Leno was the constant. He repelled early United pressure — turning aside a skidding drive from Fernandes and producing a superb stop from Matheus Cunha — then denied Amad Diallo after the interval. When United sought to suffocate Fulham with late corners and deep crosses, Leno took command, striding off his line to punch clear and reset his defence.

That conviction contrasted with Altay Bayindir’s uncertainty at the other end. The United keeper was exposed for the equaliser and looked vulnerable at set plays, once ending up in no man’s land from a late corner as Joachim Andersen flashed across goal. Leno’s clarity in those moments preserved what Fulham had earned.

Silva’s work in progress shows character

There is still shaping to do. Rodrigo Muniz started despite interest from Atalanta and Leeds and endured the misfortune of seeing Yoro’s header go in off him, yet his graft up front set a tone. Andreas Pereira was omitted as Silva experimented for craft in other areas, with Josh King’s ball-carrying giving United problems and Iwobi supplying the final pass when it mattered.

Fulham remain without a league win, but this performance and point felt instructive: resilience, an improved bench impact, and a goalkeeper in Leno whom Silva can trust. Against a club that had beaten them eight straight times here, the Cottage found its voice again.