Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute to earn Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, despite the visitors having been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. The result left Manchester United frustrated after Bryan Mbeumo had given them the lead midway through the second half.
The home supporters had arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at the expense of neighbours Manchester City, whose case has been engulfed in scandal. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kickoff against Spurs. After Mbeumo’s goal, they added a dig of their own: “You’re going down with the City.” Yet by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the fans were discussing how Tottenham had found an equaliser so late.
United had struggled to a largely nervous, disjointed performance before going ahead, and Michael Carrick admitted the afternoon had been difficult.
“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 result means United have their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the pressure on Carrick is growing. He has never been one to blame his players publicly and again chose not to do so in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from his side.
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,” 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.”
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. He appeared to be dancing around Solanke as Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in, rather than heading the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
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 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,” 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.”
Glimpse of hope from Baleba
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, played with real purpose. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the frustration soon returned after the damning guilty verdict against City had briefly taken the focus off United during the international break.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to United’s play. His debut was a positive one, though it was overshadowed by his side’s failure to see out a game they should have won.
United face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then travel to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment, at Como.
Carrick insists his biggest concern is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He will need that to change quickly if his side are to start moving in the right direction.
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