Manchester United’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday left the home side with another late setback, as Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute to rescue a point for a Spurs team that had played the final stretch with 10 men.
The chants were loud before kickoff, with United fans mocking Manchester City over the scandal that has engulfed their neighbors. United took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half, and the home supporters added a dig at Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” But by the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, fans were talking about how Tottenham had found an equalizer after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Carrick said afterward that the performance was mixed and that the first half was challenging. “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.”
Late goals raise questions
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and it puts more pressure on Carrick. He did not blame his players in his post-match news conference, but he expects more from his side.
Solanke’s header was the third time 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,” 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 concern is that United cannot close out games, which 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 after he appeared to be unsure of how to deal with the cross from Sandro Tonali, and Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs joined Manchester City as the only teams to find the net 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. They lost 2-1 at Newcastle United in March after Jacob Ramsey was sent off, and Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford in November under Ruben Amorim 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,” 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.”
Early signs from a new signing
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, played brightly. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the energy only changed when the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, Carlos Baleba, came on just before the hour mark. His debut was positive, but it was overshadowed by United’s inability to hold on to a lead in a game they should have won.
United next travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then visit Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment against 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 is going to move in the right direction.