Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday after Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer, even though Spurs had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The home fans had arrived hoping to mock their rivals from Manchester City, whose scandal has dominated the headlines. Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff, and after Mbeumo’s goal, United supporters sang “You’re going down with the City” at Spurs. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the fans were focused on their own team’s failure to hold a lead.
A Costly Late Collapse
Carrick said afterward that he was “massively disappointed with the result.” He described the performance as mixed and admitted that the first half was challenging. He also saw signs of progress as the game went on.
“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,” Carrick said. “To then not see it through — we should find a way of seeing that through.”
The draw leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986. Solanke’s header was the third time already 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,” 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.”
Questions Over Defending and Mentality
The goal raised questions about the defense. Lisandro Martínez was caught out when Sandro Tonali‘s cross reached Solanke, and Senne Lammens could also have done better. Instead of trying to head the ball clear, Martínez allowed the Spurs striker to get across him.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham have joined Manchester City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. United have not won any of their past three matches 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 playing with Idrissa Gueye dismissed for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said the team must manage leads better, whatever the numbers on the pitch.
“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,” Carrick 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.”
The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager. Carrick is not there yet, but the pressure is building.
Spurs Threaten Early and Baleba Offers Hope
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, played with confidence. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and frustration quickly returned after the Premier League’s damning guilty verdict against City had briefly shifted attention away from United during the international break.
The mood changed when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His energy and intent lifted the home side. It was a promising debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a result they should have won.
What Comes Next
United face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then travel to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another difficult European match, away at Como.
Carrick insists the biggest problem is that United keep losing out on fine margins this season. To start moving in the right direction, they need to change that quickly.