MANCHESTER — Dominic Solanke struck in added time to rescue a 1-1 draw for 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, leaving Manchester United winless in four Premier League matches and head coach Michael Carrick under severe pressure.
Bryan Mbeumo had given United the lead, but Tottenham were reduced to 10 men just five minutes later when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for a headfirst charge at Luke Shaw. Spurs had offered little threat before the dismissal, yet Solanke outmuscled Lisandro Martinez and beat goalkeeper Senne Lammens with a deft touch that crept in at the far corner to salvage a point. "A worrying day for Michael Carrick," observed former United skipper Gary Neville on Sky Sports, as anguish spread across the home faces at the final whistle.
The result leaves Manchester United with just six points from their opening six Premier League matches, their fewest at this stage since 1986-87 when they amassed four under Sir Alex Ferguson. United have failed to win five of their six league fixtures this season (D3 L2), already as many as in 17 league games under Carrick last season (W12 D3 L2), and have taken only two points from their last two matches against sides who began the weekend bottom of the table. "I'm not happy with he amount of points we've got so far, for sure, you know," Carrick said. "I'm not hiding, there's no hiding from that. I think it could have been different for a couple of little things here or there, but the reality is the reality, we've got to accept it, you know. We need to put things in a direction, in a positive direction quite quickly, that's pretty plain." He added: "We've got to be a little bit more streetwise in moments, a little bit more stubborn and a little bit stronger in seeing out certain things," and insisted: "It doesn't change my belief or the confidence in the players, you know. We're a really good team and capable of being a really good team, but we've obviously got to start getting more points on the board, that's for sure."
Questions over physical output resurfaced after the match. "The stats don't lie when every time the other team runs more than you," said Sky Sports pundit and former Spurs captain Jamie Redknapp. "Tottenham ran 5km more than Man United. OK, they had 10 men but that is every game. If you outrun your opposing number, you will win games. I'm not saying they are not trying. It is that physical battle they are losing though." Inside Old Trafford, frustration was audible with boos accompanying the end of each half, while forward Matheus Cunha gestured towards the crowd during the opening period. Carrick, whose family are season ticket holders, said: "Obviously, it hurts. It hurts a lot. It's not nice to go through. I care as much as anybody about this place. Sometimes you could say too much because then it overspills. But it's coming from a good place, really, and so I understand it."
United are now closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots and face a demanding run, with a trip to Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October followed by Champions League fixtures away to Atletico Madrid and Como. Officials have repeatedly offered backing to Carrick in recent weeks, but the start mirrors recent seasons when poor early runs placed Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim under intense scrutiny before their departures. For the second successive home league match United have failed to beat opponents reduced to 10 men, having also been unable to capitalise after Phil Foden was shown a red card in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes against Manchester City four weeks ago.