Solanke injury-time strike earns draw for 10-man Spurs at Old Trafford

Manchester United were held to a draw by Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday after Dominic Solanke scored in added time for a Spurs side reduced to 10 men, a result that left interim manager Michael Carrick under increased scrutiny.

United have collected six points from their opening six Premier League matches, their fewest at this stage of a league campaign since 1986-87 when they had four under Sir Alex Ferguson, and have failed to win five of their six Premier League games this season (D3 L2), already as many as in 17 league games under Michael Carrick last season (W12 D3 L2). They have taken two points from their last two matches, both against teams who began the match at the bottom of the Premier League, and in points terms they are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots; United are winless in four league games and club officials have repeatedly offered their backing to Carrick in recent weeks.

Tottenham took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo before Rodrigo Bentancur's headfirst charge at Luke Shaw, committed five minutes after Mbeumo's opener, left Spurs reduced to 10 men; despite that numerical disadvantage Solanke produced an injury-time equaliser after Lisandro Martinez was outmuscled and goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to read the striker's deft touch that crept in at the far corner, a finish that prompted audible anguish around Old Trafford. "A worrying day for Michael Carrick," observed former United skipper Gary Neville on Sky Sports.

Carrick responded to the draw by underscoreing the need for rapid improvement, saying: "I'm not happy with he amount of points we've got so far, for sure, you know," and adding, "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 listed specific recent errors he wants corrected, including the defending for Solanke's goal, "the lack of pressure put on Everton's Ainsley Maitland-Niles when he smashed another injury-time equaliser at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 6 September," and "the preventable Martinez own goal that nearly gave Fulham victory at Craven Cottage just before the international break." 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 stressed: "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."

Pundits highlighted United's physical shortcomings and midfield issues, with Jamie Redknapp saying: "The stats don't lie when every time the other team runs more than you. 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." Danny Murphy added: "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." Fans showed frustration during the match, with boos at the end of each half and forward Matheus Cunha gesturing to the crowd during the opening period; Carrick, whose family are season ticket holders, said: "Obviously, it hurts," and "I don't feel let down," followed by, "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 face an immediate challenge in their next league game, travelling to Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October, with Champions League trips to Atletico Madrid and Como scheduled either side of that fixture.