Manchester United’s home fans went to Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy Manchester City’s troubles, but they left more concerned about their own side. Tottenham Hotspur, who had started the day bottom of the table, scored a 92nd-minute equaliser through Dominic Solanke to earn a 1-1 draw, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match.
United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half. Before kickoff, the home supporters had sung about City’s scandal, and after Mbeumo’s goal they taunted Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” Yet by the final whistle, referee Stuart Attwell had blown, the crowd was focused on how their side had let the points slip away.
Tottenham lost Rodrigo Bentancur to a red card for head-butting Luke Shaw, which left them with 10 men for much of the game. United still struggled to control the match, and Spurs were the more lively side for much of the first half. Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes.
A familiar problem
Carrick admitted the performance had been mixed. “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.”
He pointed to a stronger 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.”
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. The pressure on Carrick is growing, although he refused to blame his players in his post-match news conference. He did, however, make clear that he expected more.
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 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 equaliser also exposed questions about individual defending. Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again, as he chose to dance around Solanke rather than head the ball clear when Sandro Tonali’s cross came in. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Repeated late setbacks
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City as the only visitors to score 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 beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye sent off for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said the solution was clear. “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,” he 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.”
There was one positive. Carlos Baleba, United’s £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his debut just before the hour mark, and the team’s energy and intent began to improve. His cameo offered hope, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a lead.
United face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then travel to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment at Como. The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager. Carrick is not there yet, but as he said, the fine margins have gone against his side so far this season, and he needs that to change quickly.