Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Tottenham grabbing a 92nd-minute equaliser from Dominic Solanke despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, chanting “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff. When United took the lead, they turned their attention to Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle, though, referee Stuart Attwell had ended the day on a different note entirely. Fans streamed out of the stadium frustrated, preoccupied with how Tottenham had salvaged a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United had been largely nervous and disjointed for long spells, and Tottenham, who began the day bottom of the table, started brightly. Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had dominated the international break, but it did not take long for frustration to return to the home crowd as Michael Carrick‘s side were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
Carrick Points to Late Goals
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick did not blame his players, though he acknowledged the difficulty of the afternoon.
“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.”
Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those goals, against Everton and Spurs, 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,” 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.”
Defensive Errors and a Pattern of Frustration
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. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. Only he knows what he was doing as Sandro Tonali‘s cross was floated towards Solanke. Perhaps he should have headed the ball clear rather than dancing around the Spurs striker. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. United have now failed to win any of their past three games against sides 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 building.
A Bright Spot from the Bench
United’s sense of unease was briefly eased when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. The energy and intent began to change. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to get over the line in a game they should have won.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another demanding 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 moving in the right direction.