Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy their rivals’ troubles, but they left with their own problems firmly in view. Tottenham Hotspur, who had started the day bottom of the table, scored a 92nd-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw after playing the final stages with 10 men.
Before kickoff, the home crowd sang loudly about Manchester City’s off-field scandal. When Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, the fans turned their attention to Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, though, the City story had faded. Supporters streamed out of the stadium discussing how Tottenham had managed to salvage a point.
Spurs had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. United had struggled for much of the match, and their performance was described as nervous and disjointed.
The United manager was frank afterwards. “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.”
He pointed to a clear improvement in the second half. “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 leaves Michael Carrick‘s side with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. The pressure on the manager is growing, though he has not been willing to blame his players publicly and did not do so again in his post-match news conference.
The late equaliser was United’s third conceded in stoppage time this season. Two of those goals, against Everton and Tottenham, 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.”
Solanke’s header came from a Sandro Tonali cross, and Lisandro Martínez will be far from pleased with his part in the goal. Some observers felt he should have headed the ball clear rather than allowing Solanke room, and Senne Lammens could also have done better. The concern for United is that the late collapses point to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Struggling against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham have joined Manchester City as the only sides to score at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have now failed to win any of their last three matches 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.
Carrick acknowledged the problem. “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 yet in that position, but the mood around the club is tense.
Positive signs from a new arrival
Tottenham began the match brightly, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes as United struggled to get into the game. The guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had dominated the headlines during the international break, but frustration quickly returned for United as they were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The mood began to change when Carlos Baleba, the £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 the team. On another day, his cameo would have been the main talking point, as it offered hope for the weeks and months ahead. Instead, his positive debut was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a lead in a game they should have won.
A demanding run of fixtures
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. They then face another tough European assignment against Como.
Carrick insists his biggest concern is that United keep falling on the wrong side of fine margins this season. To start moving in the right direction, they need to turn those narrow losses and late collapses into wins, and they need to do it quickly.