Manchester United must grant Erik ten Hag his wish to stop making life harder for themselves

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Manchester United winning by a one-goal margin.

Saturday's slender 1-0 triumph over Luton Town at Old Trafford marked United's seventh Premier League victory of the season, each of which have been secured by just a one-goal margin. Victor Lindelof scored the only goal of the game, lashing the ball home after 59 minutes, to ensure the Reds signed off for the international break with three points.

Had it not been for a collection of wasted opportunities, however, United would have given the scoreline a much more convincing look. They squandered a whole host of chances either side of half-time that ought to have been taken.

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But missed opportunities have been the story of United's season so far. Eight of their nine wins in all competitions so far this season have been secured by just one goal - their 3-0 Carabao Cup triumph over Crystal Palace in September the only exception.

United have squeezed past Wolves, Burnley, Fulham, Luton and Copenhagen with 1-0 wins, while their triumphs over Nottingham Forest (3-2), Brentford (2-1) and Sheffield United (2-1) were all secured by one-goal margins, albeit without a clean sheet as an added bonus. Slender margins of victory are all said and good, and they can be reflected on with fondness come the end of the season, but United, as a club of their stature, have an obligation to entertain.

Of course, like any club in any division anywhere in the world, United are not going to blow every team out of the water week-in, week-out, recording rampant 4-0 or 5-0 victories. It would