Solanke's Stoppage-Time Header Earns 10-Man Spurs A Draw At Old Trafford

Dominic Solanke rose late to cancel out Manchester United's opener as 10-man Tottenham, after a first-half red card, fought back for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford and deepened the pressure on Michael Carrick.

Solanke's Stoppage-Time Header Earns 10-Man Spurs A Draw At Old Trafford

Dominic Solanke headed a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man Tottenham Hotspur fought back to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, deepening the pressure on United manager Michael Carrick and sparing Spurs a defeat their numerical disadvantage had seemed certain to deliver.

United had taken the lead through an earlier goal and looked in control of the contest, but their task grew harder after a first-half red card reduced Tottenham to ten men. Solanke rose highest in the closing minutes to beat the United goalkeeper, sending the travelling supporters into celebration and silencing the home crowd that had grown increasingly restless.

The result leaves United short of momentum in a campaign where scrutiny on Carrick's project is intensifying. Home supporters booed at full-time, and Carrick told the BBC afterwards that he "understood" the crowd's reaction, adding that the pain of the result was felt inside the dressing room as much as in the stands. The BBC's report from the match described the occasion as a "worrying day" for the United manager, with patience among the home support visibly thinning.

Tottenham's response to adversity was framed in positive terms by their manager, who said the team "requires that level of fight and intensity" and defended the commitment that led to the dismissal. The point is a useful one for the visitors, earned in difficult circumstances and a minor statement of character from a side forced to defend for long spells.

Solanke's goal was the headline moment of a match more memorable for its late drama than for any period of sustained quality. United, who failed to convert their man-advantage into a decisive second, were punished at the death.