By user7374013242149013546 
Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham Hotspur level in the 92nd minute, rescuing a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday despite Spurs playing with 10 men for most of the game. Bryan Mbeumo had given Manchester United the lead midway through the second half.
The United fans who arrived hoping to mock Manchester City, whose scandal has dominated headlines, left frustrated with their own side. Before kickoff, they sang “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” at their neighbors. Once Mbeumo scored, they turned a chant on Tottenham: “You’re going down with the City.” By the final whistle from referee Stuart Attwell, though, the crowd had moved on. Fans streamed out asking how United had let the lead slip.
Tottenham had started the day at the bottom of the table, and they played brightly from the opening minutes. Boos rang around the ground after just 20 minutes as United struggled to control the game in the first half. Spurs were reduced to 10 men when Rodrigo Bentancur received a red card for head-butting Luke Shaw, yet United could not hold on.
Late Goals Costing Points
The result leaves Michael Carrick’s side with their worst start to a season after six games since 1986. Carrick chose not to blame his players in his post-match news conference, but he made his frustration clear.
“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,” Carrick 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.”
Solanke’s header was the third time already this season that United have conceded in stoppage time. Two of those late goals, against Everton and Tottenham, have cost the club four points. The pattern points to a fragile mentality and an inability to handle pressure when it matters most.
Defensive Errors Under Scrutiny
Lisandro Martínez will not want to watch the equalizer again. He let Sandro Tonali’s cross drift toward Solanke, and the Tottenham striker was left free to score. Perhaps Martínez should have headed the ball clear instead of dancing around Solanke. Senne Lammens could also have done better.
Solanke’s goal means Tottenham joined City as the only sides to find the net at Old Trafford this season after having a player sent off. United have 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 playing with 10 men after Idrissa Gueye was sent off for slapping his own teammate.
Carrick said the team must manage games better when ahead, regardless of the numbers on the pitch. “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.”
A Debut Overshadowed
United’s Carlos Baleba, a £70 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, made his first appearance just before the hour mark. His introduction brought more energy and intent to the side. His debut was positive, but it was overshadowed by the team’s failure to close out a game it should have won.
United face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, then travel to Leeds United next weekend. After that comes another difficult European test at Como.
Carrick insists that United’s biggest problem is losing on the wrong side of fine margins this season. With the pressure mounting, he needs that to change quickly if the club is to start moving in the right direction.