Man United ought to have beaten Spurs, and failing to do so shows how much trouble Carrick and his side are in

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford, with Dominic Solanke’s stoppage-time header rescuing a point for Spurs. Bryan Mbeumo had put United ahead midway through the second half, but Tottenham had been down to 10 men since Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw.

Before kick-off, United supporters had come hoping to mock Manchester City, whose club is embroiled in a scandal. The chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” were loud, and after Mbeumo’s goal the home fans turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle, however, the talk had turned to how United had let the lead slip. Stuart Attwell was the referee.

The spotlight now falls on head coach Carrick. The result leaves United with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick does not 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.

Late goals costing points

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 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 cannot close out games, which points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most. Lisandro Martínez will not want to see the goal again. He danced around Solanke as Sandro Tonali’s cross came in, and it was not clear what he was doing. Heading the ball clear might have been the better option, and Senne Lammens could also have done better.

Solanke’s goal means Spurs have joined City in scoring at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. 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 dismissed. In November, under Ruben Amorim, Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Idrissa Gueye being 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.

Tottenham start strongly, Baleba offers hope

Boos rang out around Old Trafford after just 20 minutes, as Spurs, who had started the day bottom of the table, began brightly. United were out-played for large parts of the first half. The guilty verdict against City in the Premier League case had taken the focus off United during the international break, but the frustration returned quickly.

The change came just before the hour mark, when £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba, from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance. The energy and intent of United began to shift. His cameo was a positive debut that offered hope for the weeks and months ahead, but it was overshadowed by United’s failure to win a game they should have won.

United travel to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then head to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another tough European assignment at Como.

Carrick insists that United’s biggest issue is that they have been on the wrong side of fine margins so far this season. He needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction.