Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur played to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, as Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer for Tottenham after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. The result left United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986.
United fans had arrived hoping to mock Manchester City, whose case with the Premier League produced a damning guilty verdict during the international break. Before kickoff, they chanted at their neighbors, and when Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” However, United had struggled with a nervous, disjointed performance, and by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the home supporters were focused on how Tottenham had found a equalizer while down to 10 men.
Carrick Faces Questions After Late Collapse
Carrick said he was massively disappointed with the result. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely,” he said. “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 pressure on Carrick is growing. He does not blame his players publicly and again chose not to in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more. Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those late 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,” 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.”
Defensive Errors Decide Equalizer
Solanke’s goal came after Sandro Tonali’s cross floated toward him. Lisandro Martínez was closest to the danger, and he appeared to be dancing around the Tottenham striker rather than heading the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
The goal means Tottenham joined Manchester City as the teams 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 sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being 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.”
Baleba Debut Offers Hope
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half until Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His introduction changed the energy and intent of the home side. His cameo offered much-needed hope, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
United next travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then visit Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment 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 they are going to start moving in the right direction.