Manchester United’s frustration boiled over at Old Trafford on Saturday, but not over their neighbors’ scandal. Instead, Tottenham Hotspur earned a 1-1 draw with a 92nd-minute equalizer from Dominic Solanke, even though they were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half. The home fans had arrived hoping to mock Manchester City, chanting “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff, and they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City” after Mbeumo’s goal. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the fans were focused on how their side had let the points slip away.
“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.”
A Worrying Pattern for Carrick
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight falls on Michael Carrick. He has not blamed his players publicly, and he chose not to do so again in his post-match news conference. Still, the club’s supporters have every reason to expect more.
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 Spurs, have cost the team 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 recurring problem 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. He stayed close to Solanke as Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in, and he could have headed the ball clear instead of dancing around the Spurs striker. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined 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 dismissed. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton beat them 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.
Boos, Debut and a Tough Schedule
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The damning guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had taken the focus off United during the international break, but the frustration returned quickly.
The mood began to shift 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. On another day, his cameo would have been the story, offering much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. Instead, it was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
United face a demanding run of fixtures. They travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment at Como.
After yet another late equalizer, 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 the team is going to start heading in the right direction.