Manchester United hold on to Aston Villa, leaving Ten Hag's future uncertain | Premier League

What exactly this draw means for Erik ten Hag is unknown, but it could spare him the humiliation of what seemed inevitable when Manchester United suffered a crushing defeat at Aston Villa. Perhaps. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, United's best players, had the best seats in the house and will certainly check Ten Hag's position during the international break. Bruno Fernandes hit the bar with a lovely free-kick and United's performance was by no means a disgrace, but their last win came against Barnsley and they are now five games without a win in all competitions.

United are in 14th place after picking up eight points from their first seven games. This is their worst start to a Premier League season and their lowest record at this point since 1989/90, when they finished mid-table under Sir Alex Ferguson, also in the Premier League season here. Ten Hag consoled himself with the positives: Fernandes' 20-yard free-kick, a clean sheet in the fourth division, the reward for an organized performance, resilience and an unlikely man-of-the-match performance from Jonny Evans, a bizarre beacon of hope End of his career. But who is he really kidding?

United have failed to score in their last three league games and have scored five goals in seven games – only Southampton have fewer – and although United could have won, they did not dazzle but flattered to deceive.

Rasmus Højlund was tied up, Diego Carlos pushed him aside like a nightclub bouncer, and the second-half additions of Antony and Joshua Zirkzee never looked like they would spook Unai Emery's side. However, Villa appeared exhausted from the exertions of midweek and the small matter of maintaining their 100 per cent start to the Champions League by beating Bayern Munich.

At first glance, United's line-up looked like a strange act of self-sabotage by Ten Hag, with Evans and Harry Maguire dropped into the middle of the defense in place of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez. Ten Hag's team selection prompted Gary Neville to joke that he thought he and his brother Phil might play at full-back. De Ligt was in demand at half-time, but after Maguire limped off the pitch during the break with the help of two United medical staff and the England international left the game in a protective boot, there was another headache that Ten Hag could do without.

Villa's dynamic attack were probably licking their lips at the prospect of confusing Evans and Maguire. But while Morgan Rogers had a lot of fun on the half-turn, driving into holes behind Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen, things didn't quite go to plan.

A gray afternoon in Birmingham took an ominous shape for United when, within two and a half minutes, Eriksen was booked for Rogers' heel bite and a few minutes later Rogers stormed forward and fired a shot that hit the barriers and rattled the back of André Onanas Network. Some of the Villa fans in the north stand at the other end thought it was in. United conceded a series of cheap free kicks, a dangerous move considering Villa's record from set pieces, although it was Fernandes who went closest after a dead ball in the second half. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford flickered but struggled to penetrate Villa's defence.

Evans, an emergency signing last year, wasn't supposed to be here anymore, heading away crosses in the center of this sputtering United machine, but was arguably their best player. Dimitar Berbatov, who works as a television pundit, said Evans taking home the man of the match award would likely embarrass his teammates. “Every other player on this pitch should be ashamed of themselves,” the former United striker said.

“Jonny Evans is a Red,” croaked the away team as he emerged with the ball after a timely tackle on Rogers, before stopping Ross Barkley moments later. It was Evans who sensed danger when Rogers, again exploiting the space behind United's defense and midfield, released Ollie Watkins. Onana later saved well from Youri Tielemans, who was unmarked on the edge of the D after United defended from a corner.

Rashford had the first try of the game, snatching the ball from Matty Cash halfway before driving forward down the left side. Rashford entered Barkley and shot with his right foot, prompting a clever save from Emiliano Martínez. The Villa goalkeeper made a similar stop minutes after the break after Mainoo played inside Rashford on the left. Midway through the second half, Martínez was beaten by Fernandes, whose free kick hit the crossbar. Antony, who came on as a substitute for Rashford who was booked, sent his first attempt wide from the rebound. Ten Hag rocked back in his chair. Emery did the same when Diogo Dalot parried Jaden Philogene after Ian Maatsen's cross dribbled to him at the back post.

As the game entered injury time, there was a delay due to referee Rob Jones' faulty headset. It remains to be seen how much battery life Ten Hag has left.