Late United equaliser rescues 4-4 draw, but Carrick’s future remains uncertain

Manchester United came from two goals behind twice to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa, but the late equaliser did little to ease the pressure on manager Michael Carrick as his side remained in the Premier League relegation zone.

Patrick Dorgu scored in the 96th minute to secure a point after United had trailed 4-2 in stoppage time. The result leaves them 18th, and they head into the international break without a league win since beating Ipswich on 30 August. They have conceded 15 goals in their past five league matches.

Carrick dismissed the suggestion he might walk away when asked after the match, but gave no indication of how long he expects to remain in charge. “I’m quite clear what direction the club needs to go in. It’s got to win games,” he said.

The draw followed a turbulent afternoon at Old Trafford. United fans booed at points, and full-back Diogo Dalot was jeered when he was substituted in the 66th minute. A banner at the Stretford End read: “We don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners.”

United have shown fight in recent matches, recovering from two-goal deficits in each of their past two games to take a win and a draw. But defender Dorgu said the team was in “a bad situation” and needed to “fight together to get out of it”.

Villa manager Unai Emery was angry at his side’s late collapse, which denied him a first win at Old Trafford. He said United had the players and ability to overcome their difficulties.

United’s next league match is away to Liverpool on 22 November. Carrick said his players were focused but that they needed to improve “drastically” in dealing with moments that had been costing them.