Manchester United are proving to be victims of their own success somewhat in the early weeks of the new Premier League 2 season. Following the exit of popular manager Neil Wood to Salford City in the summer, they are winless from their opening four encounters, their latest being a 2-2 draw with Fulham on Friday night.
If they played their strongest side, they'd win every week. Instead, their brightest young sparks are either on loan in the Football League or away with the first team, gaining priceless senior experience.
In their place is an exciting young team, even for this level, who are learning valuable lessons every week and are now fighting until the very end to rescue points. Five players who started against Fulham also started in the FA Youth Cup final win over Nottingham Forest back in May, while there were another two on the five-man bench.
READ MORE: United take teenage forward on trial
Fulham came into the meeting full of confidence with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches, and it showed. Radek Vitek came to United's rescue twice in the first five minutes to keep out a low effort from Terry Ablade and then a firm header from Matthew Dibley-Dias.
It wouldn't be long before the pressure got too much either. Right-back Charlie Wellens was beaten too easily and when Tyler Fredricson tamely headed the ball to the edge of the box, Fulham midfielder Adrion Pajaziti had time to take a touch and rifle the ball into the top right corner of the net.
The goal seemed to give United the kick up the backside they needed, though. Moments later, captain Dan Gore, Kobbie Mainoo and Charlie Savage all had shots blocked, and the former almost gave his side the lead when he latched onto a brilliant ball from Wellens, but dragged his effort wide.
United's improvement was clear to see, and ten minutes before half-time they got their reward. The impressive trialist, Ollie Bray, pressed at pace and forced the Fulham defence into an error. He won the ball and smartly cut it back for Omari Forson who clinically fired the ball into the top left corner of the net.
"Ollie, move forward with the ball!" screamed manager Mark Dempsey from the bench. It worked. Bray once again battled in the final third and forced a corner out of nothing. The ball was whipped in towards the back-post, but Mainoo could only head over the bar.
It only took two minutes in the second-half for the visitors to make United pay for their profligacy. Once again, it was far too easy for a cross to come in from the left wing, and Ablade poked in at the back-post. The United players were annoyed at the linesman for letting the goal stand, but should have been even angrier at themselves for how easily they were opened up.
United would soon have two golden opportunities of their own to level, though. First, captain Gore was played through on goal but somehow fired wide with just the keeper to beat.
Then, moments later, it was Bray who should have scored. Channelling the words of Dempsey, he raced forward from the half-way line with the ball but was denied in the one-on-one by Fulham 'keeper George Wickens. It would be the last chance he'd have before being replaced by Charlie McNeill.
In his three weeks at the club, Bray has impressed with his work rate and physicality in attack, but ultimately, most young strikers are judged on the goals they score.
The 19-year-old hasn't managed one of those in his time with the U21s yet, though the fact he took his manager's advice on board so quickly certainly indicates he has the right attitude to succeed, wherever he ends up in the game.
At the other end of the spectrum is new player-coach Tom Huddlestone, who came on for his United debut when he replaced Charlie Savage with twenty minutes left in the match. The 35-year-old is not expected to feature in many other games this season, but despite that, he is arguably still the fittest player at this level, boasting some of the highest fitness levels in United's regular tests at academy level.
His experience will be key in ensuring United's heads don't drop after a tough start to the season, but even if results don't pick up immediately after the defeat to Fulham, these youngsters are gaining priceless experience from the perfect role-model.
There are some things you can't teach, though. In the fourth minute of added time, it was Forson, the best player on the night, who stood up when it mattered, salvaging a point with an incredible strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It was no less than United deserved, and a worthy reward for a side that is getting better by the week.
United XI: Vitek; Wellens (Pye '86), Hardley, Bennett, Fredricson; Mainoo, Forson, Savage (Huddlestone '71); Bray (McNeill '64), Gore (C), Hansen-Aarøen.
Unused subs: Mastny, Kambwala.
NEXT UP:
