Man Utd find positives despite dropping more points

Manchester United left Everton with a point, but the mood around Michael Carrick's team was far less positive than the performance might suggest. United led twice at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and controlled long stretches, yet conceded two powerful strikes to draw 2-2.

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It's not that bad, you know.

There were clear signs of progress. Benjamin Sesko scored his first goal of the season after a shin injury delayed his campaign. Kobbie Mainoo has continued to impress, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens has shown no obvious mental hangover from his unhappy World Cup experience. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, has returned to the club with renewed purpose.

But the defensive record is difficult to overlook. United have now dropped five points from their opening three Premier League matches after a European-based pre-season that was supposed to help them start quickly. They have conceded twice in every game, against two promoted sides and an Everton team whose supporters remain distraught after a botched deadline day.

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We were that close to coming away with three points. That's football. There were little moments we can deal with a bit better, but we'll be fine.

Everton's equalising goals were both outstanding. Tyrique George's first was a fierce strike, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a blistering effort in stoppage time after coming on for his debut. It was the first time an Everton player had scored from outside the penalty area on his Premier League debut. Lammens may have done better at his near post for the first goal, but neither goal had one obvious culprit.

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I thought it was good away performance.

Carrick said the start was “not that bad, you know,” and insisted United had been close to taking all three points. Wayne Rooney, analysing the match for BBC Sport, also praised the away performance and United's midfield. Yet Carrick admitted the result “feels like a defeat” because of the work required to reach winning positions. United now turn to their Champions League return against Azerbaijan's Sabah FK, followed by Manchester City. The demanding week they wanted a year ago has arrived, but so has the pressure.

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It feels like a defeat.