Manchester United conceded a 92nd-minute equalizer to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, settling for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford despite having taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half. Spurs had been down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw, and Dominic Solanke provided the late header.
Home supporters arrived hoping to mock their rivals across the city. Before kickoff, they sang “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” at Manchester City, referring to the scandal that has engulfed the club. Once United took the lead, the fans turned their attention to Spurs with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle, however, referee Stuart Attwell had blown for full time, and the fans were focused on their own team’s failure to hold on.
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986, and it puts increasing pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. He has not blamed his players publicly and did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he expects more from his squad.
A Pattern of Late Goals
Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those 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.”
Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. He was badly positioned as Sandro Tonali‘s cross floated toward Solanke, and he chose not to head the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only teams 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 matches 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 beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing with 10 men after Idrissa Gueye was 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.”
Early Struggles and a Debut Spark
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who had started the day at the bottom of the table, played with confidence. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The damning guilty verdict against City in its case with the Premier League had dominated the headlines during the international break, but frustration returned quickly for the home crowd.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance just before the hour mark. His cameo brought more energy and intent to United’s play. On another day, his debut would have been the main story, but it was overshadowed by the team’s failure to close out a game it should have won.
What Comes Next
United face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then travel to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick insists that his biggest concern is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He will need that to change quickly if the team is to start moving in the right direction.
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