The darkest point is supposedly before dawn. Did Harry Maguire’s late equaliser cast Manchester United’s 3-0 loss against Tottenham as this? Because beforehand, Erik ten Hag was leading his men into an ever bleaker gloom. From 2-0 up to 2-2 in seven first-half minutes, to allowing a third that seemed to kill off United, then to Bruno Fernandes’s second red card in two matches. This seemed to have Ten Hag’s tenure heading for oblivion.
It may still do: the Dutch manager likes to quip he is no Harry Potter. The escape here with a draw has him, for tonight, as Harry Houdini. But for how long can he escape the Sir Jim Ratcliffe axe? It is now only one victory in 10 European outings, so for the next episode of the Ten Hag soap opera tune into United’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday. Unlike against Spurs, United had the dream start, thanks to Marcus Rashford. Zigzagging in from the left, his package of pace and tricks took him into Porto’s area. The shot was fierce but on Diogo Costa’s near side so he should have repelled it. Instead, the ball squeezed under the goalkeeper’s body and in.
