Manchester United were denied a much‑needed win at Old Trafford when Tottenham Hotspur, down to ten men, snatched a 1‑1 draw on Saturday. A stoppage‑time header from Dominic Solanke gave Spurs the point, leaving United at the bottom of the Premier League with just six points from six matches – the poorest start in the club’s 40‑year history.
The match began with United looking to snap a three‑game winless run. After a dominant first half from Spurs, the visitors were still in control when Bryan Mbeumo struck for Tottenham in the 73rd minute, giving the hosts a slender advantage. Five minutes later, Rodrigo Bentancur was dismissed for a head‑butt on Luke Shaw, reducing Spurs to ten men. United, however, failed to capitalise on the numerical edge. A late corner from Solanke found the back of the net two minutes into added time, turning a 1‑0 deficit into a 1‑1 draw.
The result has dropped United to 12th place, with only one win this season, and has left them with the same number of victories as Tottenham. The Spurs side, who could have been two or three places higher before Mbeumo’s goal, now sit 18th, while Fulham have fallen to the bottom of the table. United’s poor start is a stark contrast to their earlier season, and the club’s manager, Michael Carrick, has yet to outline a timeline for the return of striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both teams made tactical changes early in the game, with United introducing debutant Carlos Baleba. The match swung back and forth, with United’s Mohammed Kudus narrowly missing a chance from a Sávio cross and Tottenham’s Youri Tielemans having a goal ruled out after a defensive cut‑back. Despite the setback of Bentancur’s dismissal, Spurs managed to keep the pressure on and ultimately secured the point that keeps them in the relegation zone.