Manchester United stretched their winless streak to six matches as Leeds United denied Michael Carrick a much-needed Premier League win at Elland Road.
A visit to the home of their longtime bitter rivals Leeds was a stern examination of Manchester United’s character under head coach Carrick, capping a turbulent week in which defender Lisandro Martinez was fined for criticizing the club’s hierarchy.
In a raucous atmosphere, with Martinez in the starting line-up, a fiery opening produced more bookings than shots on goal, as Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Gudmundsson both received yellow cards for mistimed challenges.
The match came to life before the half-hour mark with action at both ends, but an unmarked Bryan Mbeumo headed a free chance off target shortly after a full-stretch save by Senne Lammens kept out Nico Elvedi.
Mbeumo made amends 10 minutes before the break, battling past James Justin to convert Youri Tieleman’s excellent pass into the box and give the visitors a half-time lead.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin brought the home crowd to life shortly after the interval, beating Mbeumo to a loose ball after Tarik Muharemovic was first to reach a corner.
Manchester United captain Fernandes dragged a shot wide, while Anton Stach failed to keep a first-time strike down, and neither side could force a winner.
As a result, 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 does not yet appear to be in must-win territory, but the Manchester United boss knows he must start producing positive results quickly.
The club’s only league win this season against promoted Ipswich Town in August is their fewest victories after seven games of a top-flight campaign in 40 years.
It is only five months since Carrick, who took over after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, was rewarded for an impressive interim spell with a two-year deal.
Amorim was dismissed after aiming criticism at the club’s senior figures in an explosive post-match news conference here at Leeds in January, and internal tensions resurfaced on Tuesday with Martinez’s public comments.
A trip to a hostile ground in the wake of the painful Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid threatened to expose any unresolved issues.
However, Carrick’s side showed the unity needed to meet the challenge.
Unfortunately for the visitors, an otherwise solid collective defensive display was undone by a lapse at a set-piece.
Notably, they look more robust in midfield thanks to the much-needed energy supplied by summer signing Carlos Baleba, who kept a cool head during an encouraging first league start for the club.
