Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Tottenham snatching a 92nd-minute equaliser to take a point from a game they had largely been second best in. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Dominic Solanke struck a header in stoppage time, even though Spurs were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense. Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kick-off, and after Mbeumo’s goal they taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By the final whistle, referee Stuart Attwell had blown for full time, and the fans were talking about the late goal rather than City’s scandal.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” was the reaction after the game. “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.”
Carrick under pressure
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 blamed his players publicly and 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. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Spurs, 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.”
The concern is that United cannot close out matches, which 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, as he dallied when Sandro Tonali‘s cross was floated towards Solanke. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Fine margins and a difficult record
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after a player was sent off. United have 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 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 building.
Boos greeted the home side after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were out-played for large parts of the first half, and the frustration returned quickly despite the damning guilty verdict against City in their Premier League case, which had dominated the international break.
The biggest change came when Carlos Baleba, United’s £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent, and his debut was a positive one. It was overshadowed, however, by United’s failure to hold on to a win they should have secured.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European fixture away at Como. Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season, and he needs that to change quickly if the club are to head in the right direction.