Manchester United ended a turbulent week with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday.
Michael Carrick faced scrutiny after Lisandro Martinez made headlines with his post-match comments following the midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid.
However, United showed greater resilience in Yorkshire. Bryan Mbeumo gave the visitors the lead before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised for Leeds.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Manchester United fan Robert Bore analyses the game.
Leeds Utd away, October 18
After a disappointing finish against 10-man Tottenham and a painful defeat in Spain, United faced another difficult test at Elland Road.
A trip to Leeds was never going to be straightforward. The home crowd created a hostile atmosphere, while Daniel Farke’s side had plenty of motivation to claim a big result.
Off-field drama had dominated the build-up. However, United needed to focus on the football and put their recent struggles behind them.
The biggest question before kick-off concerned Lisandro Martinez. Would Carrick leave the Argentine out after his comments about the club’s direction?
Martinez remained involved, although United had limited defensive options. His selection therefore raised plenty of questions before the match began.
Cruel intentions
Martinez’s comments left many wondering about his future. Some supporters questioned whether he wanted to leave United before the summer.
His reference to “better players” also attracted attention. I saw the comments differently, though. To me, they sounded more like a call for reinforcements than an attack on the current squad.
United clearly need more options in key positions, especially at right-back. Still, Martinez had to focus on the challenge ahead.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin offered Leeds a physical threat. His movement and strength could test United’s defence throughout the afternoon.
My attention also turned to Bruno Fernandes. He enjoyed a brilliant campaign last season, but he has yet to find that form this term.
Fernandes also had defensive duties to consider. Leeds’ attacking wing-backs have played an important role in their resurgence under Daniel Farke.
Heaven and hell
The opening minutes felt tense. I felt uneasy as United kicked off, and Dalot miscontrolled the ball within three minutes.
Leeds immediately showed their physical approach. The hosts flew into challenges and tried to unsettle United from the start.
Dalot faced another problem at left-back. Luke Shaw’s absence forced United to change their defence, with Leny Yoro covering at right-back.
Kobbie Mainoo and Ayden Heaven also missed out. Carrick therefore chose a more defensive approach after five games without a win.
Fernandes picked up a yellow card before the 15-minute mark. His late challenge on Tarik Muharemovic may have caused it, although his complaints could also have played a part.
The referee tried to let the game flow. However, the number of heavy challenges threatened to make things messy.
Gabriel Gudmundsson then caught Andrey Santos with a late challenge before the 20-minute mark. United needed to keep their discipline.
Spicy meatball
It was a spicy meatball of a match without much going on by way of action.
At least there was some bite from the visitors. They weren’t rolling over.
Nico Elvedi headed down into the right corner but the ball bounced a little too early and allowed Lammens to get down to his left to keep the ball out as the hosts pressed.
Moments later, Tielemans crossed for Mbeumo, on his own in the Leeds box, but he could only head narrowly wide. It was a golden opportunity.
Dalot used his standing leg to loft a cross over to the far post but Leeds cleared for a corner, which somehow missed everyone and went out for a goal kick.
Dalot then allowed Jayden Bogle to ghost past him but the Leeds man ran out of room.
Standard fare from our Portuguese plant pot.
We were only missing a goal.
Mbeumo magic
Then as if by magic, we had one… and it was mint!
The impressive Baleba started it, feeding the ball into Tielemans who in turn pushed it into Amad Diallo and carried on his run.
Amad wasted no time and released the former Aston Villa man on the right flank and his delicious first-time low, curling centre was met on the slide on the edge of the six-yard box by Mbeumo – as James Justin dawdled a little – and he made no mistake.
The visitors deserved it.
Let’s just end it now lads, eh?
Calvert-Lewin nodded narrowly wide but it never looked like going in while Bogle had a muted shot saved comfortably by Lammens as the half reached its dying throes, which Carrick’s men negotiated without issue.
High fives all round after 45 minutes.
The levellers
Martinez was replaced at half-time by Noussair Mazraoui, presumably due to a knock, and we were back underway with no more defenders left in the warehouse.
Leeds were level within six minutes.
Mazraoui gave away a soft corner and was then out-muscled by Muharemovic who glanced the ensuing cross downwards in the box, Calvert-Lewin alive to react quickest and prod home on a second touch.
It was simple and effective. It was meh! We would have to go again.
Dalot was left writhing after Bogle caught him – accidentally – and for once I was hoping he was ok as we’d ran out of defenders, with a backline seeing three of four playing out of position.
Maybe Martinez had a point…
Leeds were up for it again and the crowd, meek for the final 10 minutes of the first half, were happy that their red visitors had been brought back down to planet earth a bit.
Baleba had a curler from range that James Trafford watched without worry and we’d made the hour mark all square as it felt like time for some fresh legs as Leeds came again and United didn’t really have an outlet.
Leeds’ tactics, that worked for the goal, came to the fore again as Harry Maguire was blocked off by Ampadu and Muharemovic and looked to have clawed clumsily at the Welshman, but the referee thankfully saw nothing wrong.
Patient build-up
Some patient build-up play allowed Yoro to cut back for Fernandes, who flashed across the face of goal, and also put a simple one into the keeper’s arms as we moved into the last 20 minutes.
Dalot did more Dalot things to nod a cross into the path of Anton Stach for a free strike at goal but thankfully it was poor.
Carrick threw on the lesser-spotted Mason Mount – a man who could quite possibly get injured performing Jumping Jacks – for Baleba, which felt like trouble in the offing.
Dalot then did well to intercept and counter at pace, playing in Amad, but his effort was blocked for a corner which was well-worked but ultimately fluffed by a poor Mount scuffer.
As well as United (red) had played in the first half, they looked devoid of real ideas, certainly of being able to put on any sustained pressure – and with 10 minutes of regulation time remaining it felt like the hosts’ game to win.
Carrick turned to Matheus Cunha, replacing Tielemans, while Marcus Rashford warmed up.
Bruno lacking confidence
Back to Bruno, he just looked devoid of all creation, his season so far symbolised when his effort from range was blocked on the way to goal by his own player.
The board read four additional minutes as Stach had an opportunity, seizing on Lammens’ punch but not getting enough on his strike and Mazraoui was well-placed to clear.
Ampadu was carded for a cynical kick on Amad and we were now in hero time, could someone do this for town and country?
No. The ref put an end to it.
It wasn’t ritzy, it wasn’t glitzy, but it was better from the visitors.
There was at least some fight and this was a banana skin no doubt about it.
Leeds are a different proposition these days.
Point well made
While there were notable mentions for Maguire and Yoro, both putting in a real shift, and Baleba continues to build to a full 90 minutes, United are missing Benjamin Sesko at the top end, that clinical finish to win games sadly lacking at the moment.
And Bruno, dear Bruno. What has happened to our Portuguese magnifico?
If anyone is capable of turning Elland Road into a red pleasure room, it’s him.
But he looks lost at sea, like he’s been washed up on Bondi Beach after wiping out on a wave of woe.
So United leave Yorkshire with a point, averaging one per game so far and leaving a large question mark punctuating above Carrick’s head.
And another tricky away day at Cesc Fabregas’ Como on Wednesday night in the Champions League before the visit of Bournemouth next Sunday.
