Manchester United may have been in complete astonishment when the full-time whistle blew, but for those linked with League Two club Grimsby Town, it was nothing short of chaos – and Bruno Fernandes’ actions as Mariners fans invaded the Blundell Park pitch have gone viral.
The attitude around the Premier League club’s prospects under Ruben Amorim was upbeat over the summer, with new signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko providing cause for confidence, as did the results of their pre-season tour.
However, the Red Devils have had a dismal start to the season, losing 1-0 to Arsenal in their 2025/26 season opener, drawing with Fulham the next weekend, and losing a penalty shootout to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup second round, their lowest point thus far.
Fernandes’ Post-Match Actions Following Manchester United’s Loss to Grimsby Go Viral.
First-half goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren rocked the boat, leaving United players stunned, but Bryan Mbeumo’s left-footed strike and Harry Maguire’s late equaliser – via a back post header – squared the game in the 89th minute.
Andre Onana’s struggles continued as he made touch on four of Grimsby’s twelve penalties.
Cunha, United’s summer signing, had the opportunity to win it for the Red Devils with his fifth penalty kick, but his attempt from 12 yards was stopped by childhood Red Chrisy Pym. Mbeumo struck the crossbar in the second round of penalties, bringing the contest to an end.
Watch Mbeumo’s missed penalty below:
Grimsby fans, as expected, flooded the pitch to celebrate with their players, while security rushed those wearing red down the tunnel to the dressing room. Mbeumo, limping back to his teammates, appeared dejected after missing his penalty.
Fernandes spotted that the Cameroon international, widely considered as one of the greatest players in the Premier League right now, was being mobbed and hurried over to assist him off the ground, along with security and one member of United’s staff.
The 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder replaced Manuel Ugarte at halftime as Amorim’s team attempted to get back into the game. Fernandes was heavily active, taking 65 touches (one in the opposing box) and completing 48 of 57 (84%) passes.
Since taking over the captain’s armband from Harry Maguire, he’s been chastised for his on-field antics, but his most recent acts may indicate that his leadership is what Amorim-led United require in their current situation.
In his post-match interview, Amorim felt that his players’ performance against the League Two team spoke volumes. “I think the way we played, the way we faced the competition – when everything is so important, I think the players spoke really loud about what they want today.”
When asked to elaborate on his remark, Amorim, largely considered as one of the best young managers in world football, remained quiet. The 40-year-old tactician stated: “It’s really evident. I just want to apologize to our fans, and we’ll have a game [against Burnley] immediately so we can think.”
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