Bryan Mbeumo scored again for Manchester United, but the 1-1 draw at Leeds did little to ease the bigger concern around Michael Carrick's side. They led 1-0 at half-time after Mbeumo struck in the 35th minute, yet they still left Elland Road looking like a team that cannot manage games for long enough.
Mbeumo's start and United's league form
Mbeumo's finish took him to four Premier League goals in seven appearances for United, the clearest positive in a start that has otherwise been flat. United's league record after seven matches is 1-4-2, and they sit 13th with seven points. The goals column is level too, with 10 scored and 10 conceded.
That is why Ian Ladyman's line after the game carried some weight. Speaking to dailymail.com, he said: "It may not have looked, felt or smelled like it, but this was a good result for Manchester United." He also added: "They simply cannot control games."
Leeds had the control United wanted
Leeds had 62 per cent of the possession, which lined up with what the eye test suggested at Elland Road. United had the lead, but they spent too much of the match chasing the ball and too little time setting the tempo themselves.
Ladyman's point about control cuts through the argument over whether this was a decent point or another missed opportunity. The draw does keep United from leaving empty-handed, and it does not change the broader pattern either. Carrick's team have won just once in seven Premier League games, and that kind of return keeps them in mid-table frustration rather than any real push up the table.
Mbeumo has given United a reliable scorer, but the side around him still has to do the harder part. The next league outings will tell us whether this point at Leeds was the start of steadier form or just another stop in a run that has already gone on too long.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
