Manchester United ought to have beaten Spurs, and failing to do so shows how deep a hole Carrick and his side are in
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, after Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equaliser for the visitors, who had been reduced to 10 men. Bryan Mbeumo had given the home side the lead midway through the second half, but the result leaves them with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986.
The home supporters arrived hoping to mock their neighbours, Manchester City, who are embroiled in a scandal. Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff, and the United fans added a dig at Spurs when Mbeumo put them ahead with a chant of “You’re going down with the City.” By the time referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle, however, the focus had shifted to United’s own failings.
Tottenham had been bottom of the table when they began the day, and they had started brightly. They had been forced to play most of the closing stages with 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw, yet they still found a way to level the score.
“Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” the United manager 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 continue to haunt United
The pressure on Michael Carrick is growing. He has not been one to blame his players publicly, and he again chose not to do so after the match, but he has every right to expect more from his side. Solanke’s header was the third time this season that United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost them 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,” said Carrick. “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 keep failing to close out games, which points 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. He appeared to dance around Solanke when Sandro Tonali‘s cross came in, rather than heading the ball clear, and Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Struggles against teams with 10 men
Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after an opponent was sent off. United have now failed to win any of their past three games against sides with 10 men. In March, they lost 2-1 at Newcastle United after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed, and in November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite having Idrissa Gueye 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,” said Carrick. “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 mounting.
Baleba’s debut offers hope
Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Carrick’s side were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The damning guilty verdict in City’s case with the Premier League had taken the spotlight off United during the international break, but the frustration soon returned.
The mood began to shift when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His energy and intent gave United a lift. On another day, his cameo would have been the main story, offering much-needed hope for the weeks and months ahead. Instead, it was overshadowed by United’s failure to see out a game they should have won.
Fine margins and a difficult run ahead
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 test away to Como.
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 going to start moving in the right direction.
