Bryan Mbeumo gave Manchester United a second-half lead at Old Trafford on Saturday, but Tottenham Hotspur, down to 10 men, scored a 92nd-minute equalizer through Dominic Solanke to earn a 1-1 draw. The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986.
The home fans had arrived hoping to mock Manchester City over the scandal engulfing their neighbors, and their chants before kickoff reflected that. “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out loudly. When Mbeumo put United ahead midway through the second half, supporters added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” Those jibes soon gave way to frustration, because United had struggled through a largely nervous, disjointed performance.
By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the mood had shifted. Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw, yet they still found a way back. Fans streamed out of the stadium discussing how Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, had snatched a point.
Carrick Demands Better Game Management
Carrick admitted the afternoon had been difficult. “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.”
The result puts pressure on Carrick, but he did not blame his players publicly. He chose not to do so again in his post-match news conference. Still, he has every right to expect more from his team.
Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost the club 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.”
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 floated in, rather than heading the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better. The concern is that United cannot close out games, which points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have 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 dismissed. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye sent off for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick stressed the need for a better approach. “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 Debut Overshadowed
Spurs began the brighter side, and boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the frustration returned quickly after the international break had briefly shifted focus to the damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League.
The energy and intent changed just before the hour mark, when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance. His cameo offered hope for the weeks and months ahead. On another day, that debut would have been the main talking point, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to see out a game they should have won.
Fine Margins and Tough Fixtures Ahead
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European assignment at Como. Carrick insists the core issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is going to start moving in the right direction.