Carrick insists Man United’s start not that bad after late Everton heartbreak

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick refused to accept suggestions of a poor beginning to the season after his side were denied victory by a stoppage-time equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday.

United twice took the lead at Hill Dickinson Stadium but were pegged back on both occasions.

Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring just after the break with a superb solo run and finish, only for Tyrique George to level with a thunderous strike in the 83rd minute.

Substitute Benjamin Šeško thought he had secured the points with an 88th-minute header, but debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a spectacular long-range effort in the sixth minute of added time to snatch a point for the hosts.

Carrick was clearly frustrated by the manner of the late concession.

“We’re bitterly disappointed. To be up in the position we were in the game twice so close to the end it feels like a defeat. We have taken a point but it feels like we should have had a lot more,” he said.

Yet the United boss pushed back against talk of a disappointing overall start.

“We haven’t started the season that bad, to be honest,” Carrick insisted.

“It could have been better, but we were that close to coming away with three points today. Little moments that we can deal with a bit better, but we’ll be fine.”

The result leaves Manchester United with four points from their opening three Premier League matches.

They began the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City, responded strongly with a 5-2 home thrashing of Ipswich Town last weekend, and now sit 11th in the table after the draw on Merseyside — already five points behind early leaders Manchester City.

Carrick’s side have shown attacking promise, scoring seven goals, but have conceded in every game so far.