Manchester United are out of the FA Cup after they were beaten by Fulham on penalties at Old Trafford, with Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee seeing their spot-kicks saved by Bernd Leno in the shoot-out.
Calvin Bassey had given Fulham the lead on the stroke of half-time, with United conceding from a corner once again. Rodrigo Muniz won the first header and Bassey had the simple task of heading home from inside the six-yard box.
Bruno Fernandes drew the hosts level with a left-footed shot from a Diogo Dalot cross in the second half, with the captain integral to United scoring for the seventh game in a row, but it wasn't enough.
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Obi pep talk
After celebrating his goal in the corner, Fernandes made his way to Chido Obi ahead of the game resuming and offered a few words of encouragement and tactical advice.
It was a reminder of Fernandes at his best, helping out his younger teammates and leading from the front. He was determined to try and encourage the 17-year-old, who was making his first senior appearance at Old Trafford.
He could have been the hero as well. He was barely involved in the game for large stretches, but still had three good chances to score. Twice he fired wide from close range with what weren't easy chances by any stretch of the imagination, and then in extra-time he forced Leno into a smart save.
It was an encouraging sign for Obi that he managed to stay alert for those chances when United were struggling to find him in build-up play and a sign of the player he could become as his game develops.
As the players then lined up on the centre circle ahead of the penalties, Lindelof walked there with his arm around Obi, building up his confidence and offering him some words of advice. It looked like a sign he was taking a penalty.
Goal kick criticism
You wouldn't think goal kicks would cause such consternation, but United's bizarre approach late in the second half certainly wound up the Stretford End.
The introduction of Lindelof seemed to unsettle plans and Andre Onana had no idea what was going on. After one of them, Lindelof screamed at Onana amid the confusion.
First time around neither seemed ready to take it, then second time Onana waved everyone forward and punted it up-field only to see it come straight back. The decision around what to do was taking an eternity and it was a strange set-up when the hosts were finally in the ascendancy. It's the kind of slow and laboured football that is winding United fans up.
Onana made some vital saves against Fulham, especially at 1-1, but the incident showed supporters are beginning to get frustrated with him.
Hit and hope
The game was ticking over the hour mark when Fernandes decided the only course of action left was to smash a hit-and-hope pass up the pitch from just outside the centre circle, aimed at nobody in particular. None of United's forwards decided they had the inclination to chase it and it was another attack easily stifled by Fulham.
Old Trafford simmered with frustration at what they were seeing and on the touchline Amorim slouched his shoulders and looked down at the floor. He looked like a coach reaching the end of his tether with a group who are incapable of either taking his instructions on board or carrying them out.
Fernandes' deep role
United built up in more of a 3-1-3-3 shape on Sunday, with Fernandes sitting deepest of all the midfielders and Manuel Ugarte pushing further forward.
It was an interesting switch from Amorim and did help United look a little more fluent in possession. Fernandes was more comfortable taking possession in those deep areas and finding players ahead of him.
The problem for Amorim and United is that there is only one Fernandes. They need him picking the ball up deep but they also need him in possession on the edge of the area. He is creative force in this team and when Amad and Alejandro Garnacho are also absent, having him closer to his own penalty area than the opposition's can be an issue.
Fan protest
Representatives from the two sets of fans gathered outside the ground to hold up the Football Supporters' Association's #StopExploitingLoyalty banner, which was visible again as the two teams came out of the tunnel at the Stretford End before kick-off. There was also the 'Your Debt Not Ours' banner, which has been visible a lot lately and will no doubt form a key part of the protests against Arsenal next week.
There was plenty of mileage in the FSA-related protest this week, given United's decisions to charge excessive prices for their FA Cup ties at home this season. Leicester City and Fulham fans have complained at being charged in excess of £50 for cup games, when Premier League away tickets are capped at £30.
It is the type of cynical and greedy move we have come to expect from the Ineos-led era at United and it is why home supporters are fearful of being hit in the pocket themselves when next season's prices are revealed.
There was a rousing rendition of 'stand up if you hate Glazers' midway through the first half, before the Stretford End broke out into '66 quid, you're taking the p**s'. It suggests there will be plenty of mutiny at Old Trafford next weekend.
