Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute to earn Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo’s second-half goal for Manchester United, even though Tottenham had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Before kickoff, the home fans had taunted Manchester City with chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are”, referring to the scandal engulfing their neighbours. When United took the lead midway through the second half, they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, though, most United supporters were focused on how their side had let the lead slip.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” Carrick said afterwards. “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
The spotlight will inevitably fall on Carrick. The result means United have their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick did not blame his players in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from them.
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 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.”
The repeated collapses suggest a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He was dancing around Solanke when Sandro Tonali’s cross floated towards the Spurs striker, and it is unclear what he was doing at that moment. Perhaps he should have headed the ball clear instead. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggling against ten men
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 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.
“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,” Carrick 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.”
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 and a debut to build on
Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The damning guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had taken attention away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned as Carrick’s side were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance just before the hour mark. His energy and intent lifted the home side. On another day, his cameo, which provided much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead, would have been the main story. Instead, it was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on in a game they should have won.
United 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 at Como.
After another late equaliser, 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 United are going to start moving in the right direction.