Manchester United’s supporters came to Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to mock neighbours Manchester City, but they left with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a sense of frustration of their own. Dominic Solanke’s 92nd-minute equaliser came despite Spurs playing the last part of the match with ten men.
Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, after a largely nervous and disjointed performance. The home fans had sung about City’s scandal before kickoff and aimed a chant at Spurs, but by the final whistle, referee Stuart Attwell’s decision-making was not the talking point. Instead, supporters were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a equaliser after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
A Mixed Performance
Carrick said afterwards that he was "massively disappointed with the result for sure". He described the performance as "a mixed performance, to be totally honest", adding that it had been "challenging for the first period, definitely".
He also pointed to a clear 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," he said. "To then not see it through — we should find a way of seeing that through."
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick is not the type to blame his players in public, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but the scrutiny on him is growing.
Late Goals Costing Points
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," 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."
Lisandro Martínez will be unhappy with his part in the goal. He was dancing around Solanke when Sandro Tonali’s cross floated towards the Spurs striker, and he could have headed the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have followed City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. United have now failed to win any of their last three games against teams with ten 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," 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."
Pressure Mounting
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.
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were out-played for large parts of the first half, and the frustration returned quickly after the damning guilty verdict against City in the Premier League had taken the focus off United during the international break.
The biggest bright spot came just before the hour mark, when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance. His energy and intent changed the game, and his debut was a positive one. On another day, his cameo would have been the main story, offering hope for the weeks and months ahead, but United’s inability to get over the line in a game they should have won overshadowed it.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment, away at Como.
Carrick insists that his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. Unless that changes quickly, the club will struggle to head in the right direction.