Ruben Amorim remains confident his underperforming Manchester United attack will start scoring goals soon.
Amorim's expensive £200m front trio of Benjamin Cesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all came on for the final 40 minutes of Sunday's Premier League clash with Fulham.
However, the only result of their efforts was a ricochet from a header from young defender Leni Yoro that deflected off the back of Rodrigo Muñiz, leaving the final score at 1-1.
Cunha hit the post in the second minute, but Mbeumo remained virtually invisible, while Cesko, a £73m substitute from RB Leipzig, failed to make a single shot on target.
Bruno Fernandes also missed a first-half penalty, which made it natural for Emile Smith-Rowe to score 18 minutes from time to earn Fulham a deserved draw.
“It was a difficult game. After our goal we went out of our way to try to hold on to the lead. We are desperate for wins,” commented United manager Amorim.
“After we scored, we focused on keeping the score, but we failed. The team needs to seriously mature.
“There is confidence. The goals will come, because we create chances – that's the main thing.”
He (Cesco) needs to adapt. It is not easy to get into a fast game from the bench. He is aware that the tempo here is higher than in the Bundesliga, but he has already established interaction with his teammates.
The game came into focus in the 30th minute after VAR intervened, recording a foul between Calvin Bassey and Mason Mount.
Replays showed the Fulham defender throwing Mount to the ground with a move worthy of WWE wrestling.
Referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot but Fernandes fired wide of the Hammersmith End goal.
United took the lead in the 58th minute through Yoro's unorthodox header from Mbeumo's corner, which deflected off Bernd Leno's back after a touch from Muñiz.
Fulham equalised in the 72nd minute when former Arsenal substitute Smith Rowe fired home after De Ligt was lost in the penalty area.
The Cottagers' head coach Marco Silva expressed doubts about the legality of United's goal and was critical of the penalty decision: “Everyone saw how VAR interpreted the episodes.”
He added: “After the first 20 minutes we didn't allow the opponent to create any dangerous moments.
“After their goal, our reaction was perfect. The players kept their cool, followed the tactics and scored a decent goal.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
