Manchester United continue their winless run with a Leeds draw as Mbeumo shows signs of hope.

Manchester United’s poor start to the season, having been tied at Elland Road with Leeds United, maintained their current record with no points in 6 games this season. Bryan Mbeumo put Michael Carrick’s side ahead in the first half but Dominic Calvert-Lewin put them back into the game with an equaliser from the post break. Mbeumo’s strike of the game was a highlight but the job United gave to a goalkeeper to keep their lead revealed the issues affecting Carrick again. The outcome has put Manchester United on their back foot as the manager and others find themselves under more pressure than ever, with concerns growing over the team’s quality, fitness and consistency.

United had a disappointing run at Elland Road and tried to right their ship but it was not enough to get them the three points. The away side gave a solid performance in the first half but managed to crack open the home side’s defence with the help of Mbeumo, who remains one of the finest attacking players in the squad. But the old issues reared their head after the break and the hosts found their place in the game and shared in the points with the Magpies.

Youri Tielemans found himself in a good position to score with Mbeumo to open the game. The Cameroon international has gone on to become one of the few Manchester United attackers to be a consistent goal threat this season after opening the scoring with his fourth goal in Premier League play in seven outings. His output has come into its own as other attackers fail to make headway.

United however did not capitalise on their lead. Calvert-Lewin then evened the score after half-time as Leeds threatened from a corner. The home side picked up on the United defence weakness and the attacking airman jumped in and got the ball to the net. Manchester United were again left frustrated, after allowing a goal that turned the game.

The equaliser showed a problem that Carrick’s side often faced, loss of control once they have the lead. There were some good flashes of attacking brilliance, but it was a disjointed performance with no clear opportunities to attack in a way to make it back on target. The hosts could not afford to sit back, either, as Leeds threatened to find a winner.

Carrick’s victory was a combination of good news and bad news. Manchester United had to be a bit more competitive than in some of their recent games but another defeat serves to little extent to relieve the pressure surrounding the manager. The club are now six games without a win in all competitions, the longest losing streak since the 2018-19 season.

United’s poor week was also underlined by the draw, in which defensive masterclass Lisandro Martinez had his say in a public attack on some of the club’s recruitment methods and management. Martinez was a first-time entrant for Leeds, but was injured on the field during the first half and he was replaced with yet another problem to solve in the red half of the United squad. The lack of stability in the backline has been a challenge for Carrick to create a solid defense.

One of the other big issues is the captain, Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder has been at the heart of United’s attacking play in the past, but the side have not been as creative on the ball this season. Mbeumo is under immense pressure to come up with goals with Benjamin Sesko out due to injury.

But the former Manchester United star was optimistic at the end of the game. The performance was a chance to start afresh and he stressed that his squad could produce a good form. His message was one of unity, stability and the need to continue to work through a rough period instead of being frustrated.

However, the pressure is set to mount if Manchester United keep on losing points despite the manager’s optimism. A defeat at Leeds could show signs of improvement, but the club’s expectations go further than that of avoiding a loss. United require more attacking regularity, more defensive structure and to convert good performances into wins.

Now focus shifts to their next Champions League fixture when Carrick and his team will travel to Como, hoping to finally soak up some sun and come out of their underwhelming losing run. Mbeumo’s shape offers a glimmer of hope but Manchester United must get contributions from all parts of the team if they are to get the break they need.

Mbeumo is one of the few positive names in what has been a frustrating campaign thus far. His strike at Elland Road did help United to draw one point but only made the job for Carrick more difficult. If Manchester United are going to be any good, they need the resilience to pay off, and if it doesn’t, it is going to only be a bigger issue as the season goes on.

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