Man Utd news: Fernandes inspires spirited Man Utd

Manchester United’s mediocrity is clear for all to see – but while they have Bruno Fernandes there is hope as the captain once again led from the front.

It was the Portuguese who gave United something to protect with that trademark free-kick seconds before half-time, and he almost won it at the end when he arrived in the penalty area only to see his effort blocked by David Raya, who somehow regained his ground to claw the ball off the line as it look destined to be the winner.

Fernandes is United’s leading Premier League scorer with seven goals and also leads the combined goals and assists chart with 14.

In among the struggles under head coach Ruben Amorim, Fernandes has been the shining light and was the inspiration again here.

United were desperately poor in the first half, but Amorim will be heartened by what he saw in the second half, when United mounted a spirited response as Raya – at fault for Fernandes’ goal – became the hero with stops from Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee to deny the home side a victory that seemed unlikely for long periods.

It was a draw that moved United to 14th place in the Premier League, the most obvious measure of their current reduced status.