Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, as Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer for a Spurs side playing with 10 men. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The home fans had arrived hoping to enjoy Manchester City’s troubles, with chants aimed at their neighbors’ scandal, but United have plenty of problems of their own. Before kickoff, supporters sang “You cheating bastards, you know what you are.” After Mbeumo’s goal, they taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, most fans were talking about how Tottenham had salvaged a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
A Late Collapse
United struggled for long periods with a nervous, disjointed performance. Carrick said the result was a disappointment and that his side had put themselves in a strong position toward the end of the game. “To then not see it through, we should find a way of seeing that through,” he said.
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Solanke’s header was the third time this season United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them four points. Carrick said the pattern changes United’s points and their position in the table, and he stressed the need to close out games once they get ahead.
Questions Over Defending
Solanke’s goal came from a Sandro Tonali cross, and Lisandro Martínez will be unhappy with his part in it. Senne Lammens could also have done better. Spurs now join City as the teams 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 sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye dismissed for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said United must do better whether they have an extra man or not. “If we’re ahead in the game, we’ve got to see games out,” he said. He pointed to controlling possession, looking after the ball better in the opposition half, and defending key moments more effectively.
Baleba’s Debut and What Comes Next
Tottenham, who began the day bottom of the table, started brightly and were ahead of United for much of the first half. Boos rang out at Old Trafford after only 20 minutes. The change in mood came when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour and brought more energy and intent. His debut was positive, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold a lead.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick insists his main issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins this season. He will need that to change quickly if United are to start moving in the right direction.