ANY PORT IN A STORM!

Maguire gets woeful United out of jail with late header as the pressure mounts on under-fire boss len Hag

- DAVID MCDONNELL

HARRY MAGUIRE rescued Manchester United - but Erik ten Hag was still nudged closer to the sack.

Whatever Ten Hag may say about him and United's hierarchy being aligned and on the same page, one thing his players are is clear most certainly not.

How else to explain how United managed to blow a 2-0 lead, when in control of the game, to leave Ten Hag (left) once again looking like a dead man walking despite Maguire's stoppage-time equaliser.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off again, experienced central defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, and midfield duo Casemiro and Christian Eriksen played as if they know Ten Hag is already on his way.

After last Sunday's 3-0 mauling at home to Tottenham, which could have been an even more humiliating scoreline, United needed to be tight defensively and ensure, at the very least, they did not leave Porto defeated.

But after establishing a two-goal advantage, United reverted to type, ceding possession cheaply, failing to carry out the very basic principles of defending.