Manchester United’s frustrations boiled over into a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, as Dominic Solanke headed in an equaliser deep into stoppage time, 92 minutes in. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Tottenham had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kickoff, and after Mbeumo’s goal they taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. Yet by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the fans had little interest in the scandal engulfing their neighbours. They were left stunned by how Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, had found a way back.
Carrick, speaking afterwards, did not disguise his disappointment. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said. “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.”
A worrying pattern
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will inevitably fall on Carrick. He has never been one to blame his players publicly, and he again chose not to do so 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. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them four points in total.
“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.”
The concern is that United cannot close out matches. It points to a fragile mentality and an inability to cope with pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He allowed Sandro Tonali’s cross to reach Solanke, and perhaps he should have headed the ball clear rather than dancing around the Spurs striker. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggling against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham have joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have now failed to win any of their past three games against sides with 10 men. In March, they lost 2-1 at Newcastle United after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being sent off 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.”
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 mounting.
Baleba’s arrival offers hope
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham began brightly and United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the focus away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned.
The mood began to shift when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, was introduced just before the hour mark. His arrival brought more energy and intent. Had the result gone differently, his cameo would have been the story of the day, providing much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to get over the line in a game they should have won.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment, away at Como.
Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. With another late equaliser conceded, he needs that to change quickly if his side are to start heading in the right direction.
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