Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to mock Manchester City, but they left frustrated by their own problems. United led through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half, yet they settled for a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur after Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute, even though Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men.
Before kickoff, the home supporters sang loudly about City’s scandal. When Mbeumo put United ahead, they taunted Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the fans had moved on from City’s troubles. As they left the stadium, they talked about how Tottenham had earned a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Carrick said he was “massively disappointed with the result” and called the performance mixed. “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.”
Pressure builds on Carrick
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will fall on Carrick. He has refused to blame his players publicly, and he did so again in his post-match news conference, but the club expects more.
Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them four points in total. “It’s a couple of times now when, in different ways, that’s two late, late goals against us to throw away two wins really,” Carrick said. “That changes a lot of things. 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 drew criticism. Lisandro Martínez appeared to be caught off guard when Sandro Tonali’s cross reached Solanke, and United could have cleared the danger more decisively. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
A recurring problem against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only sides to score at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have 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. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing a man down after Idrissa Gueye was 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,” Carrick said. He pointed to keeping possession, controlling the match, looking after the ball in the opponent’s half and pinning them back, and defending moments better. “Certainly, we need to improve that.”
Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly, and United’s supporters booed after just 20 minutes as their side struggled in the first half. The verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had briefly shifted attention away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned.
A positive debut and a demanding schedule
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 lifted the team, and his first appearance for United was encouraging. Under different circumstances, his impact would have been the main story, but United’s failure to close out a game they should have won overshadowed it.
United face a demanding run. They travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then visit Leeds United the following weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment against Como.
Carrick insists that United’s main problem is that they 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.