Manchester United fans who came to Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense left disappointed. Their own problems were too pressing for that. Tottenham Hotspur scored a 92nd-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw, despite playing the final stages with 10 men.
The chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud before kickoff. When United overcame a largely nervous, disjointed performance to take the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half, the home 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, United supporters had largely forgotten the scandal engulfing their neighbours. As they streamed out of the stadium, they were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a equaliser after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” Carrick said afterwards. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.
“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 cost United again
The spotlight will inevitably fall on Carrick after a result that leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. He is not the type to throw his players under the bus, and he chose not to do so again in his post-match news conference. He does, however, have every right to expect more.
Dominic 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 them four points.
“It’s a couple of times now when, in different ways, 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. It points to a fragile mentality and an inability to deal with pressure when it matters most.
Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again. Only he knows what he was doing when Sandro Tonali’s cross was floated towards Solanke. Perhaps rather than dancing around the Spurs striker, he should have headed the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Spurs join City in finding the net at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have now 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.”
Pressure mounts on Carrick
There were boos at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the focus off United during the international break, but the frustration soon flooded back as Carrick’s team were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The mood began to shift only when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His energy and intent changed the feel of the game. It was a positive debut, but it was overshadowed by United’s inability to get over the line in a game they should have won.
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, before heading to Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another tough European assignment at Como.
After another late equaliser, Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if they are to head in the right direction.