Ruud van Nistelrooy makes his presence felt as Manchester United salvage draw vs Porto

"Attack, attack, attack" the Manchester United supporters implored in the 74th minute. So Erik ten Hag sent on Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the 78th minute. It worked.

Maguire, introduced to freshen up a stale defence, made the difference in attack with a 91st-minute header. He was not considered fully fit enough to start due to a sore calf from a dead leg. Maguire has kept Ten Hag alive with his equaliser.

Two-nil up only to cock it up. That was the story of United away from home in Europe last season and it is also the United of this season.

This was more Galatasaray away than Copenhagen, at least. United avoided defeat on a night of another particularly shambolic even by their dire standards of the past 14 months. This was additional evidence that the season is spiralling into an extension of last season.

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"Forever and ever, we'll follow the boys," the United supporters sang ardently at full-time. The manner of this result raises morale a notch before an invidious test at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ten Hag's body language is more worrying than some of the players. He stood motionless, with his hands stuffed into his pockets, as Samu Omorodion scurried away in celebration five minutes into the second half. After a few seconds, Ten Hag turned and skulked back towards the dugout.

He looks defeatist and resigned. He is unlikely to resign. The onus is on the errant power brokers at United to make amends for their dicey decision in June.

United have now shipped two goals in four minutes at Bayern Munich, two in ten against Galatasaray, two in four at Copenhagen, two in nine at Galatasaray and now two in seven in