Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, as Dominic Solanke scored a 92nd-minute equalizer for a Tottenham side that had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card for head-butting Luke Shaw. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half.
United’s fans arrived hoping to mock their neighbors at Manchester City, whose scandal had dominated the international break after a damning guilty verdict in the Premier League case. Chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. Once United took the lead, the home supporters turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the focus had shifted back to United’s own problems.
A Late Collapse
United struggled through a nervous, disjointed first half, and boos greeted the team after only 20 minutes as Spurs, who started the day bottom of the table, played with real purpose. The mood improved after Carlos Baleba, the £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, came on just before the hour mark. His arrival brought energy and intent to the side, and his debut offered hope for the weeks ahead. That positive story was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
Head coach Ruben Amorim is no longer in charge, and Michael Carrick, now at the helm, spoke after the match about the late goals. “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.”
Solanke’s header was the third time this season United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the club four points. The result also leaves United with their worst start after six games since 1986.
Questions Over Defending and Mentality
Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again, as Solanke was able to get on the end of Sandro Tonali’s cross. Senne Lammens could also have done better. The concern runs deeper than individual errors, pointing to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Carrick has been careful not to criticize his players publicly, and he chose not to do so again in his post-match news conference. Still, he has every right to expect more. 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, Everton beat United 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,” 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.
What Comes Next
United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United next weekend. After that, they have another demanding European test 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 start moving in the right direction.