Figure caption,

Man United extend winless run to six games after draw with Leeds

ByHarry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United's winless run extended to six games as Leeds United denied Michael Carrick a much-needed Premier League victory at Elland Road.

A trip to the home of long-standing bitter rivals Leeds provided a stern test of Manchester United's mettle under head coach Carrick, at the end of a tumultuous week in which defender Lisandro Martinez was fined for criticising the club's hierarchy.

Amid a raucous atmosphere, and with Martinez starting, a fiery opening featured more bookings than attempts at goal as Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Gudmundsson were shown yellow cards for poorly timed challenges.

The game sparked into life before the half-hour mark with action at both ends, but an unmarked Bryan Mbeumo failed to hit the target with a free header shortly after a full-stretch save by Senne Lammens denied Nico Elvedi.

Mbeumo made amends when he gave the visitors a half-time lead by battling past James Justin to meet Youri Tieleman's excellent pass into the box 10 minutes before the break.

But Dominic Calvert-Lewin ignited the home crowd shortly after the interval, beating Mbeumo to a loose ball after Tarik Muharemovic was first to meet a corner.

Manchester United captain Fernandes pulled a shot wide, while Anton Stach failed to keep a first-time strike down as neither side managed to force a winner.

It meant 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 needs wins after slow start

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Man Utd showed 'unity' in draw with Leeds - Carrick

Carrick does not appear to be in must-win territory yet, but the Manchester United boss will know he must quickly start delivering positive results.

The club's single league win this season - achieved against promoted Ipswich Town in August - represents their fewest victories after seven games of a top-flight campaign for 40 years.

It is just five months since Carrick, who stepped in after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, was rewarded for an impressive interim spell with a two-year deal.

Amorim was dismissed after taking aim at the club's senior figures in an explosive post-match news conference here at Leeds in January, and internal tensions at the club resurfaced with Martinez's public comments on Tuesday.

A trip to a hostile ground in the aftermath of the painful Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid threatened to expose any unresolved issues.

However, Carrick's side displayed the necessary unity to stand up to the challenge.

Unfortunately for the visitors, an otherwise solid, collective defensive display was undone by a lapse at a set-piece.

Notably, they appear more robust in midfield - owing to the much-needed zest provided by summer signing Carlos Baleba, who provided a cool head during an encouraging first league start for the club.

Leeds maintain early-season confidence

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Farke pleased with 'dominant' Leeds after Man Utd draw

For the first time since September 2002, Leeds sat ahead of Manchester United in the table heading into a Premier League meeting of the teams.

While their impressive five-game unbeaten start was ended by Arsenal last weekend, the nature of the performance ensured the hosts' confidence remained high before one of the club's most eagerly anticipated matches of the season.

That was reflected in their superior possession and territory as they attempted to take the game to Manchester United, although they struggled to create clear-cut chances until Muharemovic and Calvert-Lewin combined to level the contest.

The goal was the combative Calvert-Lewin's seventh in his latest seven matches at Elland Road - and his fourth goal in seven league games this term.

Daniel Farke's side ultimately could not find a winning goal to deliver a first victory over Manchester United at Elland Road since 2002 for their fans.

But the foundations for a season of significant progress are in place, and they extended their unbeaten home league run to eight games - their longest such stretch since December 2001.

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Why Gudmundsson was 'lucky' not to be sent off

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