Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, but they left disappointed. United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur, and a 92nd-minute equalizer from Dominic Solanke cost them two points they seemed certain to take.
The home supporters had sung “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff, targeting their neighbors over the scandal surrounding City. When Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, the crowd turned its attention to Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” United had struggled to produce a convincing performance, however, and by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the fans were focused on how Tottenham had found a equalizer after being reduced to 10 men. Rodrigo Bentancur had been sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Carrick Under Pressure
Manager Michael Carrick was frank about the performance. “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 pointed to the improvement after the break. “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 after six games since 1986. Carrick does not blame his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he expects more. Solanke’s header was the third time this season 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 and a Pattern of Late Collapses
Solanke’s goal came from a Sandro Tonali cross. Lisandro Martínez was caught out as the ball floated toward the Tottenham striker, and he could have headed it clear rather than allowing Solanke to get around him. Senne Lammens could also have dealt with the situation better.
The equalizer means Tottenham joined City as the only sides to score at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have also failed to win any of their last three matches 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.
Carrick acknowledged the problem. “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,” he 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.”
A Debut Overshadowed
Tottenham, who started the day at the bottom of the table, began brightly, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. United were outplayed for long periods of the first half, and frustration returned quickly, even though the damning guilty verdict against City in its case with the Premier League had dominated the headlines during the international break.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, United’s £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave the team a lift. On another day, his first appearance for the club would have been the main story, but United’s failure to close out a game they should have won overshadowed his positive debut.
What Comes Next
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, away at Como.
Carrick insists his main concern is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction.