Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday after Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer, even though Spurs had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
United fans arrived hoping to mock Manchester City, whose scandal dominated the headlines, but they left frustrated by their own team. Before kickoff, the crowd sang “You cheating bastards, you know what you are.” After Mbeumo’s goal, they taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” As referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, however, the fans were focused on how Tottenham had found a late equalizer.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
Late goals costing points
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986. Carrick, who did not blame his players in his post-match news conference, faces growing scrutiny. Solanke’s header was the third time this season 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.”
The defensive lapse on Solanke’s goal drew attention. Lisandro Martínez was involved as Sandro Tonali’s cross came toward Solanke, and Senne Lammens could also have done better. Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now scored at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off, as City did earlier. United have failed to win any of their past three games against teams with 10 men. They lost 2-1 at Newcastle United in March after Jacob Ramsey’s red card, and in November under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being dismissed.
“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.”
Pressure builds on Carrick
Spurs, who started the day at the bottom of the table, began brightly, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes as United struggled in the first half. The Premier League’s guilty verdict against City during the international break had briefly shifted attention away from United, but frustration returned quickly.
The mood began to change when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave United a lift, and his debut was positive. That story was overshadowed, however, by United’s failure to secure a win in a game they should have won.
United next travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United at the weekend. After that, they face another demanding European test at Como.
Carrick insists United’s biggest problem is that they keep falling on the wrong side of fine margins. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to head in the right direction.
