Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag went after a decisive result at Villa Park but a drab goalless draw changes little when it comes to the Dutchman's future

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already dodged the question over Erik ten Hag's future. And after a frustrating stalemate at Villa Park, we probably still do not know the answer.

Manchester United were better, more solid and nicked a point from a game they could have won or lost. It is fine margins. United boss Ten Hag might get a stay of execution but, equally, it surely cannot be healthy to have a manager's future decided from game to game.

They now sit 14th in the table, it is their worst start to a Premier League season and it still feels United are just delaying the inevitable with ten Hag. It is eight points from their first seven league games.

United co-owner Ratcliffe insisted on Friday that ten Hag's future was "not his call" and the billionaire was in the directors' box alongside the rest of the Old Trafford hierarchy. One of them will have to make a decision sooner or later because United expect better and the travelling fans were chanting "attack, attack, attack" in the dying stages.

And even luckier that Marcus Rashford did not get sent off for two silly bookings in the space of three minutes in the second half. Rashford was booked for a foul on Matt Cash after 59 minutes, then tripped Leon Bailey three minutes later and, in the current climate, it looked a nailed-on second yellow card. But referee Rob Jones showed common sense, warned United captain Bruno Fernandes and then Ten Hag immediately replaced Rashford.

It is good to see a referee being sensible but you cannot have one official imposing one set of rules and others playing a different game. That is just typical of the standard of refereeing in the Premier League. No consistency.

Jaden Philogene had a late chance to win the game for Vill ( Image:

PA) United's biggest let-off came deep into injury time when Villa winger Jadon Philogene should have scored but his close range shot was deflected wide by Diogo Dalot. That goes back to those small margins and it feels grossly unfair on ten Hag for his future to be decided on whether a late shot goes into the net or not. But much more worryingly, United just do not look anywhere near good enough to get them back to where they want to be.

Yes, they had a day less than Villa to recover after the 3-3 draw at Porto. But they had to turn to veteran Jonny Evans, 36, to lead their defence after the capitulation in the Europa League on Thursday night.

They still look a long way from a team with an identity or direction. Harry Maguire went off injured at half time as ten Hag changed up his central defensive pairing after the kamikaze defending in Porto.

United came closest through Bruno Fernandes ( Image:

Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was equal to everything thrown his way. The closest United came to scoring was Bruno Fernandes' 68th minute free kick which crashed against the crossbar, came back to substitute Antony who steered the follow-up wide.

Tielemans saw one long range effort saved by United keeper Andre Onana. And really they will kick themselves after Philogene's 93rd minute chance.

Ultimately, it was probably a fair result. Neither team did enough to win. And it remains to be seen whether a draw will be enough for ten Hag.

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