Manchester United fans arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday hoping to mock Manchester City, but they left worried about their own team. A late goal from Dominic Solanke salvaged a 1-1 draw for Tottenham Hotspur, who had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the second half. Before kickoff, the home supporters sang “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” about City, and after Mbeumo’s goal they mocked Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” Referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, however, and the fans streamed out talking about how Tottenham, who had started the day bottom of the table, had found an equalizer in the 92nd minute.
A Costly Late Goal
The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the club four points.
Head coach Michael Carrick did not blame his players publicly. He said the team had let two wins slip away. “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 allowed Sandro Tonali’s cross to reach Solanke, and his decision to dance around the Tottenham striker rather than head the ball clear proved costly. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
A Pattern Against Ten Men
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only sides 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 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.”
Early Struggles and a Debut
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham began brightly. The Premier League’s guilty verdict against City had taken the spotlight off United during the international break, but the frustration returned quickly as United were outplayed for large parts of the first half.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, United’s £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for the first time just before the hour mark. His cameo brought more energy and intent, and his debut was positive. It was overshadowed, though, 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 face Leeds United next weekend. After that, they face another difficult European test at Como. Carrick insists that United’s biggest problem is losing fine margins, and he needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction. The last time United had fewer than six points after six games, Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager, and the pressure on Carrick is mounting.
