Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford, with Dominic Solanke scoring in the 92nd minute to rescue a point for Spurs after they had been reduced to 10 men. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but the result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986.
The home fans had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, chanting “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kick-off. When Mbeumo put United ahead, they turned their attention to Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle, though, the scandal engulfing their neighbours had been forgotten. Supporters streamed out of the stadium puzzled by how Tottenham, who had been without Rodrigo Bentancur since his red card for head-butting Luke Shaw, had levelled the score.
Carrick Searches for Answers
The United manager said afterwards: “Massively disappointed with the result for sure. A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He added: “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 pressure on him is growing. Carrick is not one to blame his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from his side. Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those late goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost them 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,” Carrick said. “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.”
A Fragile Mentality
The late collapses raise a bigger concern: United appear unable to cope with pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch Solanke’s goal again, as he allowed the Spurs striker too much space when Sandro Tonali’s cross came in. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. 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 dismissed, and in November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being sent off for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick acknowledged the problem. “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,” he said. “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 Offers Hope
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the frustration soon returned. The change came when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who had joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, was introduced just before the hour mark. His energy and intent lifted the side, and his debut was positive, though it was overshadowed by United’s failure to win a game they should have won.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European fixture at Como. Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if his side are to start moving in the right direction.