Dominic Solanke’s stoppage-time header earned Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo‘s second-half lead for Manchester United. Spurs had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Before kickoff, United supporters had chanted about their neighbours’ off-field scandal, and after Mbeumo’s goal they taunted Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the home crowd was focused on how United had let the points slip.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” was the immediate reaction. “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.”
Carrick under pressure
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will fall on head coach Michael Carrick. He has not blamed his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he expects more from his side.
Solanke’s header was the third time this season 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.”
Carrick’s concern goes beyond one result. The repeated late collapses point to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Defensive errors
Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He was tangled up as Sandro Tonali‘s cross floated towards Solanke, and he allowed the Spurs striker room to finish. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Spurs became the second side this season to score at Old Trafford after having a player sent off, following Manchester City. United have now failed to win any of their past three matches against teams with 10 men. In March they lost 2-1 at Newcastle United after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed, and in November, under Ruben Amorim, they lost 1-0 at home to Everton, who had 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 glimmer from the bench
Boos rang around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, played with purpose. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the frustration grew. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had briefly drawn attention away from United during the international break, but that focus did not last.
The change came just before the hour mark, when Carlos Baleba made his first appearance for United. The £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion brought energy and intent to the side. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a game they should have won.
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 to Como.
Carrick insists United’s biggest problem is that they keep falling on the wrong side of fine margins. To start heading in the right direction, they will need that to change quickly.