Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, after Dominic Solanke headed a 92nd-minute equaliser for Spurs. United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo 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 fans had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, and their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kickoff. After Mbeumo’s goal, they also taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the scandal engulfing their neighbours had faded from view. Supporters streamed out of the stadium preoccupied with how United had let the points slip.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” said one United figure 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.”
Carrick under pressure
The spotlight will inevitably fall on Michael Carrick. The result condemns United to their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick does not throw his players under the bus, and he chose not to do so again in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more.
Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those 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 recurring problem points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. Only he knows what he was doing when Sandro Tonali‘s cross was floated towards Solanke. Rather than dancing around the Spurs striker, he could have headed the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs join City in finding the net at Old Trafford this season after having a man 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 sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye dismissed 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.
Boos and a debut
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. 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 returned as Carrick’s team were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The energy and intent began to change only when Carlos Baleba, United’s £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.
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 against Como.
After another late equaliser, 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 they are to start moving in the right direction.