Manchester United drew 1-1 at Elland Road on Sunday, a result that offered more encouragement than the scoreline suggested and handed Michael Carrick a platform to ride out a difficult period, despite a run of just two wins in 10 games.
The draw at Leeds follows a Champions League defeat in Madrid, after which Lisandro Martinez turned his anger on the club's board and threatened a messy public civil war. Martinez spent hours on Thursday negotiating the wording of his public apology, which did not actually see him apologise for what he said.
United's last visit to Elland Road was 288 days ago, when they arrived with a manager under pressure, Jason Wilcox the public face of internal criticism and a back three formation causing more problems than it was solving. This time, Carrick got the kind of performance from his players that Ruben Amorim rarely could.
A performance full of grit
Martinez had made clear the dressing room did not blame the 45-year-old for their struggles this season, a view shared privately by other senior players, and this was a display full of grit and commitment, if not the quality you would expect.
Carrick's selection at Elland Road, with Ayden Heaven unwell, looked routine, but it soon became clear this was a set-up with a difference. Having used his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 system since January, he felt he had to roll the dice in West Yorkshire, with the pressure building just nine games into the season.
It was a back three out of possession, with Amad and Diogo Dalot reprising their wing-back roles under Amorim, while Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo played close to each other in attack.
Mbeumo atones for misses
United took a while to get to grips with the game, although they were not under any real pressure either. They did not have a touch in the Leeds penalty area until the 27th minute, but it should have produced a goal. Mbeumo, guilty of missing two glorious chances in Madrid, spurned another, heading Youri Tielemans' cross wide when under no pressure.
He looked unsure again when racing on to a long pass from Carlos Baleba, but made no mistake a few minutes later. Tielemans and Amad combined well down the right-hand side, with the midfielder sending in a low cross which Mbeumo poked beyond James Trafford at the near post.
United ended the half on top after arguably their most complete 45 minutes of the season, but it took just six minutes of the second half for that to be undone. Leeds' only first-half chance came from a set-piece, and when half-time arrival Noussair Mazraoui needlessly conceded a corner, the worst was feared.
Character shown in adversity
Tarik Muharemovic won the first header and Dominic Calvert-Lewin escaped the attentions of Baleba to control the ball and thrash home a volley. In a season full of them, this was another test of United's character, with Elland Road finding its voice.
Again, however, they managed to find a measure of control. The patience of this midfield three has been an ideal antidote for a team feeling the pressure. Gradually, United worked their way back to a strong position, aided by their desire to match the home side's intensity.
United could have wilted at times, but they showed the character and spirit that Carrick had talked so glowingly about on Friday. They never shirked a tackle and were happy to get into the trenches when required.
Having rediscovered some control, Fernandes and Amad flashed efforts wide, and United had moments when they could have found a winner. They lived on the edge in injury time, with an unconvincing Senne Lammens punch turned back towards goal by Anton Stach, only for the goalkeeper to clutch the loose ball at the second attempt.
Carrick might have seen the last 10 months flash before his eyes at that moment, but he quickly waved his players forward for one final attack, and unlike Amorim in January, he will live to fight another day.
