Tottenham Hotspur scored a 92nd-minute equalizer to hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday, even though they had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
United fans arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, chanting “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” before kickoff. The home supporters then took a dig at Spurs when Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead midway through the second half, singing “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the fans had forgotten about the scandal engulfing their neighbors. They were preoccupied with how Tottenham had found a late goal.
Late Goal Costs United Again
Dominic Solanke headed in the equalizer, the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Spurs, have cost United four points.
Head coach Michael Carrick was clearly frustrated. “Massively disappointed with the result for sure,” he said afterward. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest. I think it was tough. It was challenging for the first period, definitely.”
He also pointed to the improvement after halftime. “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.”
Carrick did not blame his players publicly, choosing again not to throw anyone under the bus in his post-match news conference. He acknowledged the stakes, however. “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,” he 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.”
Defensive Errors Under the Microscope
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986. The late concession also raised questions about the team’s mentality under pressure.
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. He was closest to the danger as Sandro Tonali‘s cross floated toward Solanke, and he appeared to let the Spurs striker dance around him. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only teams to find the net at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have also 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.
Carrick said the solution is clear. “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,” he 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 Builds on Carrick
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who started the day at the bottom of the table, played with energy. United were outplayed for large parts of the first half, and the frustration returned quickly after the international break had briefly shifted attention to the damning guilty verdict in City’s case.
The biggest lift came when Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on for his first appearance just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to United’s play. He made a positive debut, but the story was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
United now travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment at 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 the team is going to head in the right direction.
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