Erik ten Hag must pass his first Sir Jim Ratcliffe test at Manchester United

Manchester United have won 18 of their 19 meetings with Wigan. Since their sole defeat to the Latics in 2012 they have an aggregate score of 14-0 in four meetings.

Yet Monday's trip to the DW Stadium is being undertaken with a sense of trepidation. There is a fear the Reds could be ripe for a giant killing while there are wider issues at play.

Erik ten Hag's misfiring side are under the microscope just now following a dismal season to date. Out of Europe and the Carabao Cup before Christmas, the FA Cup is their last realistic chance of silverware.

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That has heaped the pressure on the manager and his squad, while the January transfer window means the whiff of signings and sales is also in the air. Add in several players being woefully short of form and a lengthy injury list and there is plenty to concern United fans.

And that is before we get to Ineos. Sir Dave Brailsford, who will be part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's team when his 25 per cent investment is ratified by the Premier League, watched on from the stands on Boxing Day as United came from behind to defeat Aston Villa. Ratcliffe has met Ten Hag for talks since and visited the Carrington training ground this week.

He will assume control of sporting matters and as such will hold power when it comes to Ten Hag's future. There is no suggestion the axe is being readied for the Dutchman - who has credit in the bank from an encouraging first season at the helm even if he is shedding plenty of it this time around.

But the stats of United's season are hard to ignore. The Reds have lost 14 games