Manchester United fans who came to Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense left disappointed, because their own team let a win slip away. Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham Hotspur level in the 92nd minute, and the match finished 1-1 even though Spurs had played the final stretch with 10 men.
The home supporters had sung “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff, referring to the scandal engulfing City. When Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” Yet by the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, the fans had moved on from City’s troubles. As they left the stadium, they were talking about how Tottenham had salvaged a point after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” the post-match comments began. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
The United performance had been nervous and disjointed for long stretches. The second half brought a clear improvement, and the team put itself in a strong position late on. “To then not see it through — we should find a way of seeing that through.”
Carrick Under Pressure
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986, and the spotlight will fall on head coach Michael Carrick. He has not blamed his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference. Even so, he has every right to expect more.
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 Tottenham, have cost the team 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 repeated late collapses point to a fragile mentality and an inability to cope with pressure when it matters most.
Defensive Errors Decide the Result
Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He was dancing around the Spurs striker when Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in toward Solanke. Heading the ball clear would have been the safer option, and Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham have now joined City as teams to score at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have failed to win any of their past three games against sides 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,” 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.”
The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager. Carrick is not in that position yet, but the pressure is building.
Boos and a Late Substitute
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who began the day bottom of the table, started brightly. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The frustration returned quickly, even though the Premier League’s guilty verdict against City had taken the focus off United during the international break.
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 changed the feel of the game. On another day, his cameo would have been the story, since it offered much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. It was a positive debut, but United’s failure to close out a game they should have won overshadowed it.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United keep losing out on fine margins this season. To head in the right direction, they need that to change quickly.