Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United: Erik ten Hag’s side earn battling draw at Villa Park

Manchester United simply had to avoid defeat at Aston Villa to ensure the focus on manager Ten Hag did not become more intense, perhaps to the point where the Old Trafford hierarchy felt it was time for a change.

It was hardly a sparkling performance, indeed for long periods this game was bogged down in a morass of mediocrity, but at least United fought for their manager and actually had the better opportunities to win.

Ten Hag’s quest for defensive solidity after shambolic performances against Spurs and Porto saw him turn to 36-year-old Evans and Maguire as his central defensive partnership with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez dropped.

The pair performed creditably, especially Evans – despite losing Maguire alongside him at the interval.

Villa were kept at arm’s length throughout as United showed increased discipline against Unai Emery’s side, always formidable at home, as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich found out in the Champions League.

Ten Hag will be satisfied with what he saw and may feel aggrieved United did not collect more than a point, especially when Fernandes beat Martinez with a fine free-kick, only to see it strike the woodwork.

United’s top brass will now have time to take stock in the international break, which they will go into on the back of a decent result before they return to Premier League action against Brentford at Old Trafford.