Tottenham Hotspur snatched a 92nd-minute equaliser at Old Trafford to earn a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, despite having been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
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 their neighbours’ troubles.
The chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kick-off against Tottenham. When Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, the home fans also taunted Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” Yet even that moment of levity could not mask a largely nervous, disjointed performance.
By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the scandal engulfing City had been forgotten. As the crowd streamed out, supporters were preoccupied with how Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, had managed to salvage a point.
Carrick Admits Mixed Performance
Carrick did not hide his frustration after the match. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He pointed to a clear improvement after the interval. “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 means United have suffered their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. The pressure on Carrick is growing, although he has never been one to blame his players publicly and again chose not to do so in his post-match news conference. He has every right, however, to expect more from his side.
Late Goals Costing Points
Dominic Solanke‘s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those goals, against Everton and Tottenham, 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 matches, which points to a fragile mentality and an inability to cope with pressure when it matters most.
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. Perhaps rather than dancing around the Spurs striker, he should have headed the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham join City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after having a player 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,” 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.
Baleba Offers Hope
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes as Tottenham began brightly, and Carrick’s side were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The frustration returned quickly, despite the guilty verdict against City in the Premier League taking the spotlight away from United during the international break.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to United’s play. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by the team’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 comes another tough European assignment, away 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 his side are to start moving in the right direction.