Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday after Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer, leaving the home side frustrated with another late concession. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Tottenham were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Before kickoff, United supporters directed chants at neighbor Manchester City, whose scandal dominated headlines. Once United took the lead, the home fans also sang “You’re going down with the City” at Spurs. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, however, the fans had moved on from City and focused on how Tottenham had escaped with a point.
Carrick admitted that his side had struggled. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said afterward. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He pointed to a better second half. “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 of Late Goals
The draw leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986, and the pressure on Carrick is growing. He rarely blames his players in public, and he did not do so again after this match, but he has every right to expect more from his team.
Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those 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.”
The goal also exposed defensive errors. Lisandro Martínez let Sandro Tonali’s cross reach Solanke, and Senne Lammens could also have done better. Instead of dealing with the danger, Martínez allowed the Tottenham striker to get past him.
Struggles Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only teams to score at Old Trafford this season after an opponent had been sent off. United have now failed to win any of their past three matches against sides with 10 men. In March, they lost 2-1 at Newcastle United after Jacob Ramsey was sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton beat them 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,” 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 mounting.
Early Frustration and a Debut Spark
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after only 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, played with energy. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the fans’ frustration returned quickly after the international break had briefly shifted attention away from them.
The mood began to change when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave United a lift. The positive debut was overshadowed, however, by the team’s failure to hold on to a lead in a game it should have won.
Next Up: Europe and Leeds
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that, they have another demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick insists that United’s biggest problem is their inability to win the fine margins this season. To start moving in the right direction, they must turn those narrow losses and late draws into points, and they need to do it quickly.