Manchester United’s failure to beat Spurs exposes how deep the trouble runs for Carrick and his side
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, and Dominic Solanke’s stoppage-time header denied them a win they had seemed certain to take. Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead midway through the second half, but Tottenham scored a 92nd-minute equalizer despite playing with 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.
Home fans had arrived hoping to enjoy the scandal engulfing neighbors Manchester City, and they sang taunts about City before kickoff. By the final whistle, however, supporters were focused on their own team’s failure to hold a lead. Referee Stuart Attwell ended the match with the scoreline level, and United fans left the ground frustrated.
Carrick said afterward that he was “massively disappointed” with the result. “A mixed performance, to be totally honest,” he said. “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.”
A Costly Pattern of Late Goals
The result leaves United with their worst start after six games of a season since 1986. Solanke’s header was the third time this season United have conceded in stoppage time, and two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost them four points.
“It’s a couple of times now when, in different ways, that’s two late, late goals against us to throw away two wins really,” Carrick said. “That changes a lot of things. 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 be unhappy with his role in the goal, as Sandro Tonali’s cross floated toward Solanke while the defender was not competing for the ball. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens could also have done better.
United have now failed to win any of their last three matches against teams with 10 men. They lost 2-1 at Newcastle United in March after Jacob Ramsey was sent off, and in November, under Ruben Amorim, they lost 1-0 at home to Everton, who had Idrissa Gueye dismissed for slapping a 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, controlling the game a little bit more, looking after the ball better in their half and around their box, or defending moments better. Certainly, we need to improve that.”
Carrick Under Pressure
Boos rang out at Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Tottenham, who began the day at the bottom of the table, started brightly and United were outplayed for large parts of the first half. The Premier League’s guilty verdict against City during the international break had briefly taken the focus away from United, but frustration returned quickly.
The mood began to shift when summer signing Carlos Baleba, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for £70 million, came on just before the hour mark. His debut brought more energy and intent, but his contribution was overshadowed by United’s failure to close out a game they should have won.
United next travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then face Leeds United at the weekend. After that, they play another tough European fixture at Como. Carrick insists his biggest issue is that United keep losing on the wrong side of fine margins this season, and he needs that to change quickly.
