Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham Hotspur level in the 92nd minute, earning a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, despite Spurs having been reduced to 10 men. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The Manchester United supporters who arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense left disappointed. They have too many problems of their own to dwell on the scandal engulfing their neighbours.
Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. When United overcame a largely nervous, disjointed performance to take the lead, the home fans added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” But by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the mood had soured. As fans streamed out, they were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found an equaliser after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” Carrick said afterwards. “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.”
Pressure builds on Carrick
The spotlight will inevitably fall on Carrick. The result condemns United to their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. He is not the type to throw his players under the bus, and he did not do so again 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. Two of those goals, against Everton and Spurs, 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.”
That inability to close out games raises concerns about a fragile mentality and an struggle to cope with pressure when it matters most.
Defensive errors costly
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. Only he knows what he was doing when Sandro Tonali’s cross was floated towards Solanke. Rather than dancing around the Spurs striker, he could have tried to head the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City in finding the net at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was 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.”
The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager. Carrick is not there yet, but the pressure is mounting.
Baleba offers a glimmer
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the focus off United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned as Carrick’s side were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The energy and intent began to change when the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, Carlos Baleba, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. On another day, his cameo would have been the story, offering much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s inability to get over the line in a game they should have won.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face 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. He needs that to change quickly if they are to start heading in the right direction.