Man Utd ought to have beaten Spurs, and their failure to do so highlights how deep a hole Carrick and his side are in
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Dominic Solanke scoring a 92nd-minute equaliser for the visitors, who had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, given the damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff, and after Mbeumo’s goal they taunted Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. Yet by the final whistle, referee Stuart Attwell had ended the day with United’s own problems firmly in focus.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he 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.”
Another late blow for Carrick
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will inevitably fall on head coach Michael Carrick. He chose not to 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 goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost the club 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 see the goal again, as he allowed Sandro Tonali’s cross to drop toward Solanke. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have 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 sent off. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being dismissed 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.”
There were boos at 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, and the frustration soon returned.
Baleba’s debut offers hope
The mood began to shift only when the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, Carlos Baleba, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to United’s play. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by the club’s failure to get over the line in a game they should have won.
What comes next
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. Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season, and he needs that to change quickly if the club are to start moving in the right direction.
