On a night when Old Trafford’s concourse caterers went down, Manchester United made an undeniable hash of what had appeared an easy cruise to victory over Middlesbrough. They were knocked out 8-7 on penalties and so unless Ralf Rangnick’s half-cocked side somehow win the Champions League, United’s trophy drought will stretch to six years, at least.

If the unfortunate Anthony Elanga missed the vital spot-kick in front of the Stretford End – the 19-year-old was devastated – this, really, was a defeat born from United seriously losing the plot in the second half.

Matt Crooks’s 64th-minute strike that leveled out Jadon Sancho’s opener was controversial as it came courtesy of a Duncan Watmore handball ruled accidental and thus legal. But United’s serial missing of chances – including a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty – and failure to control their foe were to blame for the reverse.