FALTERING REIGN ENTERS CRITICAL PHASE AS REDS FAIL TO MOVE ON

AS the clock ticked down at Selhurst Park you could hear the sound of defiance coming from an away end who deserve better than this. Soon, that is surely what they will get.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

If the FA Cup semi-final collapse was a dagger in the heart of Erik ten Hag's chances of staying on as United manager, this was the night any possibility of that happening was surely snuffed out.

On May Day Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to be sending out a Mayday for a new manager at Old Trafford.

At least they put themselves into a position from which to collapse against Coventry at Wembley. At Selhurst Park they were just humiliated from start to finish and in every area of the pitch. They were flattered by only losing 4-0.

Ten Hag will again point to the injury situation he has had to fight against all season. He will rail against the injustice of a disallowed goal in the first half.

But this team contained 10 internationals in the starting XI and five players signed for fees of more than £47million. The excuses won't wash any more and time is up for the Dutchman.

United look unlikely to qualify for European football next season and unless they opt to change manager sooner rather than later then they are heading to Wembley to be toyed with by City.