Bryan Mbeumo gave Manchester United the lead against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, but Dominic Solanke headed an equaliser in the 92nd minute to earn Spurs a 1-1 draw. Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United fans arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, given the scandal engulfing their neighbours. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. After Mbeumo’s goal midway through the second half, the home supporters turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the crowd had moved on. As they left the stadium, they were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a late equaliser.
“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.
“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 Costly Pattern
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will fall on Carrick. He has not thrown his players under the bus and chose not to 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 this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the team 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.”
That inability to close out games points to a fragile mentality and a struggle to cope with pressure when it matters most.
Defensive Errors and Numbers Against Ten Men
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. Only he knows what he was doing as Sandro Tonali‘s cross floated towards Solanke. Rather than dancing around the Spurs striker, he could have headed the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham join Manchester 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 teams 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 having Idrissa Gueye 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 Offers Hope
Tottenham, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly, and there were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the focus off United during the international break, but the frustration soon flooded back as Carrick’s team were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The energy and intent changed when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. On another day, his cameo would have been the story, offering 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.
Looking Ahead
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 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 heading in the right direction.
