Manchester United conceded a 92nd-minute equalizer to Tottenham Hotspur, which had been reduced to 10 men, and settled for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
The home fans arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, with chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” ringing out before kickoff. After Mbeumo’s goal, they added a dig at Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the scandal engulfing their neighbors had faded. Fans streamed out preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a late equalizer after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Carrick admitted the performance was not good enough. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said afterward. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He pointed to the second half as a sign of progress. “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 for Carrick
The result means United have their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick has not thrown his players under the bus, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from his side.
Dominic Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost the team four points in total.
“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 watch the goal again. He was dancing around Solanke when Sandro Tonali’s cross floated toward the Spurs striker, and he could have headed the ball clear instead. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against 10-man teams
Solanke’s goal meant Spurs joined City as the only sides to find the net at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have failed to win any of their past three games 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 having Idrissa Gueye 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.”
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, played with energy. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The pressure was mounting even though the damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the focus off United during the international break.
Baleba’s debut offers hope
The change came just before the hour mark, when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance. The energy and intent of United began to shift. His cameo offered much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead, and it was a positive debut. It was overshadowed, however, by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
What comes next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European assignment at Como.
Carrick insists that United’s biggest issue is that they have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to start heading in the right direction.