Man United ought to have beaten Spurs, and failing to do so shows how much trouble Carrick and his staff are in
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Dominic Solanke converting a 92nd-minute equaliser for the visitors despite having Rodrigo Bentancur sent off earlier for head-butting Luke Shaw. Spurs were down to 10 men for much of the second half, yet they left with a point after United had taken the lead through Bryan Mbeumo midway through the half.
Before kickoff, the home supporters had been ready to enjoy the scandal engulfing Manchester City, chanting at their neighbours and directing a jibe at Spurs. By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the mood had soured, and most fans were talking about how their side had let the win slip.
Head coach Michael Carrick was frank about the performance. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said afterwards. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
Carrick saw signs 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.”
A worrying start to the season
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986, and the pressure on Carrick is growing. He has not been one to blame his players publicly, and he did not do so again in his post-match news conference, but he has every right to expect more from his squad.
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 the club 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 repeated late collapses point to a fragile mentality and an inability to cope with pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the goal again, as he allowed Sandro Tonali‘s cross to reach Solanke unchallenged. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against ten men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have now joined Manchester City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was 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 dismissed. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing a man down 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.”
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.
Baleba offers a glimmer of hope
Spurs, who began the day bottom of the table, started the brighter side, and Old Trafford was booing after only 20 minutes. The guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had taken attention away from United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned as Carrick’s side were outplayed for large spells of the first half.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His energy and intent lifted the home side, and his first appearance for United was a positive one. However, his cameo was overshadowed by United’s failure to hold on to a lead 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 demanding European fixture at Como.
Carrick maintains that his main concern is that United have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club are to start moving in the right direction.