Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday after Tottenham scored a 92nd-minute equalizer while playing with 10 men. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Dominic Solanke’s late header denied them a win.
Before kickoff, United supporters chanted about their neighbors, Manchester City, and the scandal surrounding them. Once the match began, though, the home fans turned on Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City,” and they forgot about City’s problems as the game wore on. United’s own struggles took center stage instead.
Tottenham, who started the day bottom of the Premier League table, went down to 10 men when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. Referee Stuart Attwell then blew the final whistle on a game that United had controlled for long spells in the second half.
United manager Michael Carrick admitted the performance was mixed. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
Carrick also pointed to the improvement after the break. “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 of Late Goals
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986. Carrick faces growing scrutiny, although he has not blamed his players publicly and did not do so in his post-match news conference. Still, the pressure on him is increasing.
Solanke’s header was the third time this season United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost United four points in total. Carrick was clear about the impact.
“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 goal raised questions about individual decisions. Lisandro Martínez was caught out as Sandro Tonali’s cross floated toward Solanke, and Martínez could have headed the ball clear rather than dancing around the Tottenham striker. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggling Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal meant Tottenham joined City as the only sides 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 matches 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.
Carrick stressed that United must close out matches regardless of the numbers on the pitch. “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.”
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 mounting.
Boos and a Debut Overshadowed
Home fans booed after just 20 minutes as Tottenham began brightly and Carrick’s side struggled for much of the first half. The Premier League’s damning guilty verdict against City during the international break had briefly taken attention away from United, but the frustration returned quickly.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave United a lift, and his first appearance for the club was a positive one. However, the performance was overshadowed by United’s failure 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 face Leeds United the following weekend. After that, they face another demanding European test 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.
