Late Dominic Solanke strike rescues 1-1 draw for 10-man Tottenham at Old Trafford

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday in a Premier League match after Dominic Solanke scored an injury-time equaliser.

For the second successive home league game United failed to beat opponents reduced to 10 men and now have six points from their opening six Premier League matches, their fewest at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87 when they amassed four under Sir Alex Ferguson. They have failed to win five of their six Premier League games this season (D3 L2), the same number as in 17 league games under Michael Carrick last season (W12 D3 L2), and have collected two points from their last two matches against teams who began the fixtures at the bottom of the table; in points terms they are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League places.

Tottenham took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo and, just five minutes after his opener, Rodrigo Bentancur made a headfirst charge at Luke Shaw which left Spurs reduced to 10 men. The equaliser came in injury time when Solanke outmuscled Lisandro Martinez and the striker's deft touch crept in at the far corner with goalkeeper Senne Lammens failing to read the attempt.

The defeat compounded frustration around United: the anguish on players' faces was noted in the stadium and on television, with former United captain Gary Neville saying, "A worrying day for Michael Carrick," on Sky Sports. Four weeks earlier Manchester City had benefited from an incorrect video assistant referee (VAR) decision after Phil Foden was shown a red card in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, but on Saturday the damage was self-inflicted by United.

Pundits highlighted physical and midfield issues 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." Ex-Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Match of the Day: "There was a lethargy about Man Utd, this midfield can't control games. It is partly tactical and partly personnel. I don't understand it. We saw at the end of last season Man Utd were much more organised and much more difficult to play against. The space in midfield was incredible and if they were playing against a more competent side, they would have been beaten. Play like that against good teams and they will be cut wide open."

Michael Carrick acknowledged the lack of points and called for urgency: "I'm not happy with he amount of points we've got so far, for sure, you know," he 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. 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."

Carrick addressed the crowd reaction and the emotional toll: "Obviously, it hurts," he said. "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." On responsibility and the players he added: "I don't feel let down. You can make mistakes. We've all got standards; we've all got levels. The players hold their hands up at times when something goes against them. It's not like everyone walks off into the distance tonight like everything's fine and it's left on me. It's not that at all. The players care, for sure. I don't feel let down by them for making a mistake. We've just got to all help each other be better, and it's on me to help them and guide them through it."

United are now winless in four league games and face a trip to Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October, with Champions League fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Como scheduled either side of that match.