Manchester United came close to a comfortable victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute. Bryan Mbeumo had given the home side the lead midway through the second half, and Spurs had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, and their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. Once the match began, though, the United fans had their own problems to worry about. Their side had put in a largely nervous and disjointed performance, and when Mbeumo scored, the crowd briefly directed a jibe at Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the scandal engulfing their neighbours had faded from their minds.
Late collapse adds to frustration
Solanke’s header was the latest in a worrying pattern. It was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the club four points.
Head coach Michael Carrick admitted he was massively disappointed with the result. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely,” he said. “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 did not blame his players for the loss of two points, but he acknowledged that the result changes the picture. “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,” he 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.”
The draw means United have recorded their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. The pressure on Carrick is growing, although he has every right to expect more from his squad.
Defensive errors and a fragile mentality
Solanke’s goal came from a Sandro Tonali cross, and Lisandro Martínez will not want to see it again. He allowed the Spurs striker to get too close, and perhaps he should have headed the ball clear instead. Senne Lammens could also have done better. The goal raised concerns that United lack the composure to protect a lead when it matters most.
Spurs now join Manchester 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 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, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye sent off for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said the solution lies in managing games better. “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.”
Boos and a promising debut
Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began the brighter side, and the United fans booed their team after just 20 minutes. The guilty verdict against Manchester City in its case with the Premier League had taken attention away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned as Carrick’s side were outplayed for much of the first half.
The mood shifted when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to United’s play. On another day, his cameo would have been the main talking point, as it offered hope for the weeks and months ahead. However, it was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a match they should have won.
United now face a demanding run of fixtures. They travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European assignment against Como.
After another late equaliser, Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins this season. Those margins need to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction.
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