The darkest point is supposedly always 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 pitch-blackness. 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?
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