Tottenham Hotspur scored a 92nd-minute equalizer at Old Trafford on Saturday, salvaging a 1-1 draw after playing a man down for most of the match. Dominic Solanke’s header came after Manchester United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half.
Tottenham were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. United fans had arrived hoping to mock their neighbors at Manchester City, whose case has been the subject of a damning guilty verdict from the Premier League. Before kickoff, they chanted “You cheating bastards, you know what you are.” After Mbeumo’s goal, they sang “You’re going down with the City” at Spurs. By the final whistle, though, the focus had shifted to United’s own problems. Referee Stuart Attwell ended the match with the home side still unable to close out a game it should have won.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” one United figure said afterward. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
The United side had been out-played for large parts of the first half. Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, began brightly, and boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes. The mood began to change when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent, and his debut was positive, but it was overshadowed by the late collapse.
Carrick Searches for Answers
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Manager Michael Carrick did not blame his players publicly, but he made clear that he expects more.
“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.”
Solanke’s header was the third time 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 goal raised questions about individual decisions. Lisandro Martínez was caught out as Sandro Tonali‘s cross floated toward Solanke, and he did not attempt to head the ball clear. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham have joined City as the only visitors to find 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 Idrissa Gueye being 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.”
The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager. Carrick is not there yet, but the pressure is building. He insists his biggest issue is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins this season, and he needs that to change quickly if the club is going to head in the right direction.
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.
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