Manchester United's under-siege manager Erik ten Hag will clutch gratefully at any small mercy as he battles to present a convincing case that he should have a long-term future at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag faced games at Porto in the Europa League and away to Aston Villa in the past week, which were flagged as potential defining moments as United's restructured managerial hierarchy plotted their next moves.
United may not have won either of those games - the concession of a two-goal advantage to draw 3-3 in Porto typical of the disorganised chaos that has characterised much of Ten Hag's tenure - but a battling goalless draw at Aston Villa at least means he did not lose any.