Manchester United’s winless run extended to six games as Leeds United denied Michael Carrick a much-needed Premier League victory at Elland Road.
A trip to the home of long-standing bitter rivals Leeds promised to provide a stern test of Manchester United’s mettle under head coach Carrick, at the end of a tumultuous week in which defender Lisandro Martinez was fined after criticising the club’s hierarchy.
Amid a raucous atmosphere, and with Martinez starting, a fiery opening featured more bookings than attempts at goal as both Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Gudmundsson were shown yellow cards for poorly timed challenges.
The game sparked into life before the half-hour mark with quick-fire action at both ends, but an unmarked Bryan Mbeumo failed to hit the target with a free header shortly after a full-stretch save by Senne Lammens denied Nico Elvedi.
Mbeumo made amends when he gave the visitors a half-time lead by battling past James Justin to meet Youri Tieleman’s excellent pass into the box 10 minutes before the break.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin reignited the home crowd shortly after the interval, beating Mbeumo to a loose ball after Tarik Muharemovic was first to meet a corner.
Manchester United captain Fernandes pulled a shot wide, while Anton Stach failed to keep a first-time strike down as neither side managed to force a winner.
It meant Manchester United, 13th in the table, went a sixth game without a win in all competitions for the first time since the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
Leeds remain unbeaten at home in all competitions since March – and sit three points above Carrick’s side in seventh.
Carrick needs wins after slow start
Carrick does not appear to be in must-win territory yet, but the Manchester United boss will know he must quickly start delivering positive results.
The club’s single league win so far this season represents their fewest victories after seven games of a top-flight campaign for 40 years.
It is just five months since Carrick, who stepped in after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, was rewarded for an impressive interim spell with a two-year deal.
Amorim was dismissed after taking aim at the club’s senior figures in an explosive post-match news conference here at Leeds in January, and internal tensions at the club resurfaced with Martinez’s public comments on Tuesday.
A trip to a hostile ground in the aftermath of the painful Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid threatened to expose any unresolved issues.
However, Carrick’s side displayed the necessary unity to stand up to the challenge.
Unfortunately for the visitors, an otherwise solid, collective defensive display was undone by a lapse at a set-piece.
They appeared more robust in midfield – owing to the much-needed zest provided by summer signing Carlos Baleba, who provided a cool head during an encouraging first league start for the club.
