Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Tottenham at Old Trafford, with Dominic Solanke's stoppage-time equaliser cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo's opener.
Another lukewarm display
Michael Carrick promised Manchester United would deliver the "fire" following a review of his squad's displays before the international break. The sole occasion his players exceeded tepid against Tottenham came while clashing with opponents near the touchline. This was another lukewarm performance lacking in both intensity and quality.
Bryan Mbeumo's clever turn and finish had handed United a fortunate advantage and when Rodrigo Bentancur received his marching orders for a reckless challenge on Luke Shaw, one which triggered that touchline fracas, they ought to have secured victory. Tottenham had dominated proceedings throughout almost the entire evening, and being reduced to 10 men failed to deter them from exploiting vulnerabilities in a leaky United defence.
Carrick's review proves ineffective
Carrick is attempting to build a side capable of dictating matches, but doing so requires possession. He utilised the three-week interval to identify what had malfunctioned during a disappointing start to the campaign. His acknowledgement that his squad required greater fire constituted an acceptance that drive and determination had been absent.
Whatever changes Carrick made proved ineffective. This was arguably even worse and Solanke's stoppage-time leveller means United have now registered 1-1 draws against the side languishing at the foot of the Premier League in consecutive fixtures.
Concerns ahead of Atletico trip
It's reasonable to suggest Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid squad won't be worrying about Tuesday's fixture. This may be a new-look Atleti outfit, but they remain capable of unleashing intensity on European nights, and, presently, United appear to prefer virtually anything to a visit to the Metropolitano.
With away fixtures against Atletico, Leeds and Como now approaching consecutively, Carrick's concerns mount. "Soft, soft," the Spurs analysts repeatedly observed as their 10 men seized possession from and overpowered a lacklustre United side.
Six points from six matches
This represents six points from six matches for United. Fulham and Tottenham occupied the bottom positions when facing United. Everton and Hull City have started promisingly but will inevitably decline and ought to have been straightforward opponents for United. Carrick recognises it requires significant improvement.
The final whistle was met with some boos, in sharp contrast to the atmosphere at kick-off. There had been three choruses of 'you cheating b***ards, we know what you are' before the match, including a thunderous rendition as the teams prepared to commence.
Alongside the ticker banner returning to mock Manchester City's '51 years' without a legitimate trophy, a banner honouring Football Leaks mastermind Rui Pinto was positioned above the tunnel. That enthusiasm from the fans wasn't matched on the field as United produced a woeful opening.
Woeful opening stats
A display devoid of urgency was epitomised by the sight of Lucas Bergvall strolling between Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha to gather possession 25 yards out. Fernandes and Cunha scarcely lifted a finger in reaction.
Matters deteriorated so severely that jeers echoed around the ground halfway through the opening period. At that stage, Spurs had controlled 66 per cent of the ball, registered five attempts to none and enjoyed 13 touches in the box compared to United's zero.
The most damning figure? United had managed just one pass in the attacking third during that spell. Youri Tielemans was floundering, Senne Lammens was causing alarm with some erratic distribution, and Harry Maguire was being repeatedly exposed.
Solanke ought to have netted within the opening minutes and Mohammed Kudus was at fault for blazing wide when he should have found the bottom corner.
Substitutes spark improvement
United were failing to generate any sort of danger at the opposite end, and the second period began in comparable fashion. Solanke directed a Savio delivery over the bar from six yards when he ought to have finally opened the scoring.
Carrick looked to his substitutes approaching the hour mark, with £70million signing Carlos Baleba among three fresh faces, alongside Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee.
Baleba's initial contribution was to swivel away from a Tottenham forward while under duress and deliver a cultured pass to set Fernandes free down the left.
The midfielder's introduction triggered an improvement in United's performance, proving crucial in launching another offensive move when he once more created space under pressure, resisted a shirt tug and delivered a pass to spark another assault, beginning a period of dominance that culminated in a goal.
Cunha performed impressively down the left flank to locate Mbeumo, whose swivel and strike represented the match's first genuinely incisive moment. It was a goal United scarcely merited, yet it provoked a reckless response from Spurs' players.
Jean Paul van Hecke was fortunate to escape punishment when he lunged at Fernandes, while Bentancur received his marching orders for a headbutt on Shaw, who had responded to a reckless challenge upon him, for which Bentancur might equally have been dismissed.
Tottenham ought to have been completely finished at that juncture. 'You're going down with the City', jeered the Stretford End, yet there remained a nagging sense of a late sting, which materialised when Solanke overpowered a hesitant Lisandro Martinez to nod home an equaliser.
