As the clock ticked over 90 and into injury time, it looked as though Michael Carrick had thrown all he could do to save his Manchester United job. But six minutes later his substitutes had pulled it out of the fire to score twice in stoppage time and rescue a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa.

It was another dramatic comeback at Old Trafford that leaves Carrick holding onto the job by his fingernails.

The 3-2 win over Roma last week gave him one final chance to save his job before the international break against Villa. But following a match that looked destined to have the answer, the late salvage leaves an already baffled United board absolutely stumped over what to do next.

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Carrick survived a crisis meeting last month when the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox put their heads together after the 3-0 battering by Bournemouth and came out the other end kicking the can down the road.

United then lost to Chelsea before a staggering comeback against Roma, only to have to come from two goals down again, this time twice, against Villa on Sunday.

Berrada and Wilcox were in the stands and attempted to head home an equaliser as they both leapt for an imaginary header as the ball went into the box. Hoping United would pick up three points and also potentially save their skin.

The two were behind Carrick’s appointment as permanent manager in May after his brilliant tenure as interim boss, but they now face the decision of whether to sack him or continue treading on eggshells every week after missing their chance to back him in the summer window.

Carrick wasn't delivered any new defenders in the summer and United have started the season by conceding the joint third most in the league with 19 goals shipped in 10 games. In comparison, going forward, they’ve scored 14 – just one less than Arsenal. It’s not difficult to see where the problem lies.

If United hadn’t staged a last-minute comeback on Sunday, it’s almost impossible to think Carrick would have kept his job with the club joint bottom of the league. If United had won, and won well, Carrick would surely live on past the international break.

But now the late draw was rescued and the players showed they are still willing to fight for him, even if the incompetent defence seem on a one-way path to getting Carrick the chop, Berrada and Wilcox are in a position of stick or twist they desperately didn’t want to be in.

They’ve got virtually every decision wrong since Ratcliffe and INEOS assumed control of the football operations of the club in 2024 with United possibly set to be on their fourth permanent manager under their boss-eyed watch.

Everyone can see that Carrick isn’t the problem. Even rival fans who love to tease United about their ownership are admitting the circus that is above the manager.

And, what makes it even more baffling, is they have the best seats in the house to see the fans again protest against the owners and their failing involvement. But Berrada and Wilcox won’t resign themselves, despite it being another failure under their watch.

Instead they will have to stop dragging their feet and make a call on Carrick. Eddie Howe and Kieran McKenna are waiting down the other end of the line.

For all Carrick’s good work last season and being set up to fail in the summer, something has to change to save their season.

The board and owners won’t relieve themselves of their position, meaning Carrick must ultimately take the fall for one league win in 10 games and give a more experienced manager the chance to find sense in those above him.

If Carrick goes he will leave with his head high and still a legend. This is not his mess to clean up nor his ship to sink with.