Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, after Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equaliser. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Tottenham, who started the day bottom of the table, had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United’s fans had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense. Their chants before kickoff mocked City over the scandal that has engulfed the club, and their celebration of Mbeumo’s goal came with a jibe at Spurs: “You’re going down with the City.” Yet by the final whistle, referee Stuart Attwell had little attention left for City. Supporters streamed out of the ground frustrated that a winning position had slipped away.
Carrick Admits a Mixed Performance
United manager Michael Carrick was clear about the performance. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said afterwards. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He pointed to the second half as a positive step. “There was a big improvement through the second half as it progressed and we put ourselves in such a good position towards the end of the game. To then not see it through — we should find a way of seeing that through.”
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick does not criticise his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but the pressure on him is growing.
A Pattern of Late Goals
Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the club four points.
“It’s a couple of times now when — different ways, obviously — that’s two late, late goals against us to throw away two wins really,” said Carrick. “That changes a lot of things, you know. It changes a lot of feelings for ourselves and it changes points and what [the table] looks like. We need to do better with seeing out games, that’s for sure, once we get ourselves in a good position.”
Against Tottenham, Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He allowed Sandro Tonali‘s cross to reach Solanke, who had space to head home. Senne Lammens could also have done better. The concern for United is that they are struggling to protect leads, which points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Solanke’s goal also meant Tottenham became the second side this season to score at Old Trafford after being reduced to 10 men, following Manchester City. United have now failed to win any of their past three games against teams with 10 men. In March, they lost 2-1 at Newcastle United after Jacob Ramsey was sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being dismissed for slapping his own teammate.
“It’s definitely something where — 10 men or not 10 men — if we’re ahead in the game, we’ve got to see games out,” said Carrick. “Whether that’s taking the ball, whether that’s controlling the game a little bit more, looking after the ball better in their half and around their box and pinning them in a little bit, or whether that’s defending moments better. Certainly, we need to improve that.”
Baleba’s Debut Offers Hope
United were out-played for large parts of the first half, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The energy changed when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His cameo gave supporters a glimpse of much-needed hope, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a result they should have won.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European assignment at Como.
Carrick insists that United’s biggest issue is that they have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction.