Manchester United could not hold on to a late lead against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, slipping to a 1-1 draw after Dominic Solanke headed Spurs level in the 92nd minute. The visitors had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United fans had arrived hoping to mock their neighbours, Manchester City, over the scandal engulfing the club. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kickoff. When Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, the home supporters turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, though, the crowd was focused on how Tottenham had found an equaliser so late.
Carrick admitted the performance had been far from convincing. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he 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.”
A worrying pattern
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games of a season since 1986, and the pressure on Carrick is growing. He has never been one to blame his players publicly, and he again declined to do so in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from his side.
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 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,” 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 concern is that United cannot close out games, which points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most. Defender Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He was closer to the Spurs striker than he needed to be when Sandro Tonali‘s cross was floated towards Solanke, and United’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now become the second side, after City, to score 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 won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye 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,” 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.”
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.
A positive debut, but little comfort
Spurs, who began the day bottom of the table, looked the brighter side early on, and boos rang around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had taken the focus away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned as Carrick’s team were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The energy began to change when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His cameo offered 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, then head 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.