Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday leaves them with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, as Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer for a Tottenham side playing with 10 men.
The home fans 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. United took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half, and the crowd sang “You’re going down with the City” at Spurs. But referee Stuart Attwell had not yet blown the final whistle when the mood changed, and by the time the fans streamed out, they were talking about how Tottenham had salvaged a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Carrick Faces Mounting Pressure
United manager Michael Carrick admitted that his side had been far from their best. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” Carrick said afterward. “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.”
The result means Solanke’s header is the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them four points. Carrick did not blame his players, but he acknowledged the impact of the dropped 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,” he 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 Cost Points
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. He appeared to dance around Solanke when Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in, when a clearance may have been the better option. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only sides to find the net 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 beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye dismissed for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said the fix 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.”
A Positive Sign From Baleba
Tottenham, who started the day bottom of the table, enjoyed large parts of the first half. United were booed after only 20 minutes as they struggled to create. The change came just before the hour mark, when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance. His introduction brought energy and intent to United’s play. His cameo offered hope for the weeks and months ahead, but that story was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European test at Como. Carrick insists his biggest problem is that United keep losing out on fine margins this season. He needs that to change quickly if his team is going to head in the right direction.
