Gary Neville made a highly questionable claim about Manchester United’s performance at Fulham
Gary Neville came up with another incendiary soundbite during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Neville called the opening phase of the second half “the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen” from a United side. He added: “Absolutely pathetic. I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must [Michael] Carrick be thinking?”
It was certainly a poor passage of play from the team, but the worst 15 minutes since 1980 (around the time Neville, 51, would have started watching United)? It doesn’t stand up to scrutiny when you rate it against other collapses over the years. And, sadly for United fans, there were numerous examples in the recent past alone.
There’s an argument that it wasn’t even the worst performance of the week following the Carabao Cup capitulation against Brighton. Here’s a round-up of 10 more embarrassing collapses from United during the Premier League era…
10. Chelsea 4-3 United (April 4, 2024)
Leading 3-2 deep into stoppage time, United capitulated in the final minutes. Diogo Dalot conceded a penalty that Cole Palmer converted in the 100th minute, before Palmer scored a deflected winner 82 seconds later. United went from securing three points to a soul-crushing defeat in less than three minutes of injury time.
9. United 1-6 Tottenham (October 4, 2020)
After Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the second minute, United contrived to concede two quick goals before the 10-minute mark. Following Anthony Martial’s red card in the 28th minute, United hit the self-destruct button again, conceding twice more in 10 minutes to go 4-1 down by the break at an empty Old Trafford.
8. United 2-2 Sevilla (April 13, 2023)
Cruising 2-0 at home in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, United completely unravelled in the final 10 minutes. Tyrell Malacia scored an own goal before Lisandro Martínez suffered a season-ending injury, leaving United with 10 men having used all substitutions. Then, in the 92nd minute, a Youssef En-Nesyri header deflected off Harry Maguire into United’s net, completing a disastrous eight-minute spell.
7. Leicester City 5-3 United (September 21, 2014)
Louis van Gaal’s side were comfortably leading 3-1 against Premier League new boys Leicester before a soft penalty, scored by David Nugent, on 62 minutes triggered a total collapse.
Esteban Cambiasso equalised two minutes later and Jamie Vardy made it 4-3 before Leonardo Ulloa added a penalty after Tyler Blackett’s red card. United had conceded four goals in barely 20 minutes.
6. Arsenal 3-0 United (October 4, 2015)
United were blown away in the first 10 minutes. Alexis Sanchez back-heeled in the opening goal on six minutes and Mesut Ozil doubled the lead barely a minute later. Sanchez (if only he could have found that form at Old Trafford) hammered home the third before the 20-minute mark to end the game as a contest.
5. Southampton 6-3 United (October 26, 1996)
Six days after a 5-0 drubbing at Newcastle, United were thrashed again. The match was in the balance late in the second half with the Saints leading 3-2 but United fell apart after Roy Keane’s red card.
Amid a chaotic six-minute spell, Eyal Berkovic and Egil Ostenstad netted, Phil Neville put through his own net and Paul Scholes scored at the right end. A second heavy defeat in a row saw United become the butt of jokes for weeks. However, it was Ferguson’s side were laughing at the end of the season as they retained their title.
4. Manchester City 6-3 United (October 2, 2022)
Losing 1-0 at the Etihad, United conceded three goals in 10 minutes before half-time. Erling Haaland scored twice in quick succession, followed by Phil Foden’s second goal as the first half ended 4-0. A second-half fightback added a tinge of respectability to the scoreline but the damage had been done.
3. Brentford 4-0 United (August 13, 2022)
Early in Erik ten Hag’s tenure, United conceded four goals in the opening 35 minutes. The worst stretch came between the 18th and 35th minutes as 1-0 quickly became 4-0.
Mathias Jensen capitalised on a David de Gea error, Ben Mee bundled in a third from a corner and future United star Bryan Mbeumo finished off a rapid counter-attack. The match was followed by an anti-Glazer tirade from Neville and a feisty exchange with Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports.
2. United 4-4 Everton (April 22, 2012)
Thought Sergio Aguero cost United the 2011/12 title? It was arguably this late collapse against Everton instead.
United looked comfortable at 4-2 until Nikica Jelavic pulled one back in the 83rd minute following a mix-up between Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans. Just 120 seconds later, Steven Pienaar scored an equaliser. City beat United a week later to go ahead on goal difference. You know the rest.
1. Liverpool 7-0 United (March 5, 2023)
This has to be the collapse against which all others are judged. This day of hell at Anfield featured more than one.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, United were still in the game, only to concede twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half. It was 4-0 midway through the second half, which was bad enough. But three more goals inside the final 15 minutes condemned United to their heaviest defeat since Boxing Day 1931.
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