Manchester United let a late lead slip in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, as Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute despite Spurs playing with 10 men for most of the match.
The home fans had come hoping to mock Manchester City, whose club is embroiled in a scandal, but United have plenty of problems of their own. Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. When Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead midway through the second half, the crowd sang “You’re going down with the City” at Spurs. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, however, fans were talking about how Tottenham had salvaged a point.
Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, had lost Rodrigo Bentancur to a red card for head-butting Luke Shaw. United still could not hold on.
Carrick Faces Questions Over Late Goals
United manager Michael Carrick admitted the performance was mixed. “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.”
He saw signs of progress. “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 leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. 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 Tottenham, 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.”
Defensive Errors Decide Late Equalizer
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. He was unable to deal with Sandro Tonali’s cross, which was floated toward Solanke. Martínez appeared to dance around the Spurs striker instead of heading the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
The goal means Tottenham joined Manchester City as teams to score 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 beat United 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 Debut Offers Hope
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham began brightly and United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The Premier League’s guilty verdict against City had shifted attention away from United during the international break, but frustration returned quickly.
The match changed just before the hour mark, when Carlos Baleba made his debut as a substitute. The £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion brought energy and intent to United’s play. His cameo offered hope for the weeks and months ahead, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to win a game they should have won.
Busy Stretch 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 test at Como.
Carrick insists United’s biggest issue is that they have been on the wrong side of fine margins this season. He needs that to change quickly if United are going to start moving in the right direction.