Michael Carrick made a direct path to the away end at Elland Road after shaking hands with the referee, in a moment that showed he retains the backing of match-going supporters.
The 3,000 Manchester United fans in the John Charles West Stand had sung Carrick songs before kick-off. The United boss was yards away on the touchline and showed his appreciation for their support after the final whistle.
Carrick's 40-Second Applause
Carrick was the first to approach the away section and applauded for around 40 seconds before he was joined by his players, a deliberate show of appreciation. A manager applauding the away section after a game is certainly nothing new, but it's difficult to recall Carrick making a beeline for the away section on his own and applauding them for so long.
Carrick has appeared unaffected by the rising pressure, but his passionate celebration for Bryan Mbeumo's goal and his thanks to the away section for their continued support were telltale signs that he has felt it.
Pressure Mounts After Worst Start in 40 Years
He should be feeling the heat. United have made their worst start to a season for 40 years. Results have been poor, and some performances have suggested it won't get better, but there were signs of life on Sunday.
A draw against Leeds is not good enough for a team that wants to challenge at the top of the table, but Daniel Farke's side look set to contend for some form of European qualification this season and securing a point in the context of United's last month was a decent result.
The second half was still frustrating, given that United had the lead at half-time, and some of the players' decision-making proved costly, particularly in the final 10 minutes when the game was there to be won.
Positive Signs and Fan Backing
However, the encouraging signs were Carrick's tactical change and the players' commitment on the pitch. Carrick changed the system to match up Leeds' five-at-the-back and red shirts did not shy away from duels. United have lost the physical battle in most of their matches this season, but they were equal to Leeds. The players understood the occasion and got stuck in, which was recognised by the travelling match-goers.
The online reaction to the draw has been pretty astonishing. There is usually a disconnect between match-going fans and the wider base, but it has been particularly pronounced over the last 24 hours.
The full-time scenes at Elland Road showed that United's away support are still behind Carrick. There have been moments when fans have teetered at Old Trafford, booing the team off, but the supporters who travel to away games are still backing United's head coach.
Carrick's Time Could Depend on Como Clash
Carrick's prolonged applause was an expression of appreciation for their support during a difficult time. He is under pressure, there is no doubt about it, and he needs wins, but retaining the backing of the away support is an indicator that he's got more time in the job.
There is a general rule that when a United manager loses the support of away fans, they are done for. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer approached the away section after his final game in charge against Watford and was booed.
United have an allocation of 730 tickets for Como on Wednesday, meaning the travelling fans at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium will be among the most loyal the club has (tickets are obtained via credits). Como are an up-and-coming side in Italy, but they are not known for their partisan crowd, so United's away support are guaranteed to be audible throughout the game, and it will be worth listening to their mood.
While Carrick said the Leeds performance "felt like a bit of a fresh start", the team's display against Como will decide whether that is the case. The United boss retains the backing of fans, but that can only last for so long without wins. There were some positives to take from West Yorkshire - and they must be built on.
