Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, but they left disappointed, with a late Dominic Solanke header salvaging a 1-1 draw for Tottenham Hotspur. United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half, but Tottenham were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Before kickoff, the home supporters had chanted “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” at their neighbors. After Mbeumo’s goal, they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, though, the scandal engulfing City had faded from view. Fans streaming out of the stadium were focused on how Tottenham, who started the day bottom of the table, had equalized in the 92nd minute.
Carrick was blunt about his side’s display. “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. 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 Worrying Start to the Season
The result means United have their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick is under scrutiny, but he has refused to blame his players publicly, choosing again not to do so in his post-match news conference. Even so, he has every right to expect more from his side.
Solanke’s goal was 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. “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 recurring pattern points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He moved toward Solanke as Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in, rather than heading the ball clear, and Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham join 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 won 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.”
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham started brightly and United were outplayed for long periods of the first half. The energy began to change when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His debut was positive, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European assignment at Como. Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United keep losing out on fine margins this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction, and the pressure on him is mounting.