Manchester United secured a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, but only after Dominic Solanke headed an equaliser in the 92nd minute. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, and Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
The home fans had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, chanting “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff. After Mbeumo’s goal, they turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the scandal engulfing their neighbours had been forgotten. Fans streaming out of the ground were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a equaliser.
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. It also means the spotlight falls firmly on head coach Michael Carrick, who has every right to expect more from his side.
Late goals costing points
This is the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them 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.”
Solanke’s header came from a cross by Sandro Tonali. Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again, as he allowed the Tottenham striker space, and Senne Lammens could also have done better. Carrick, who has refused to blame individuals in his post-match briefings, pointed instead to the team’s broader problems in closing out matches.
Struggles against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham join Manchester City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. United have now failed to win any of their past three matches 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 Idrissa Gueye being 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.”
A tough first half and a debut to build on
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who had 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 after the damning guilty verdict against City in the Premier League had dominated the international break.
The mood began to change when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave United a lift. Under other circumstances, his cameo would have been the story of the day, offering much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. Instead, it was overshadowed by United’s failure to see out a game they should have won.
A testing run of fixtures
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. To start moving in the right direction, he needs that to change quickly.