"Evening Tim," says Simon McMahon. "Is relegation the logical and inevitable conclusion to the post-Fergie years at Old Trafford? I don't know, but it feels like has to happen, either at managerial or board level..."

Here's another email, in its entirety. "Hello Tim. Football, bloody silly. Best wishes, Kári Tulinius."

A glance at the inbox. "Emery," says John Delaney, " putting out a good advert that he's got what it takes to be a United manager!"

Unai Emery seems to have stormed down the tunnel. Sky are looking at whether, in the melee at the corner, Suzuki was fouled – by his opposite number, Senne Lammens, who may have backed into him. The consensus is no.

Where does that leave us? United rise from 19th to 18th, edging out Sunderland on goal difference. Villa sneak up to 10th, above Spurs and Newcastle.

It's a funny old table. You can be eighth with three wins out of 10, as Brentford are. You can be 13th with only two wins, as Hull are. You can be any of the promoted sides and spend this international break sitting above the once-mighty Man United.

The players are now wandering around looking daxed and confused, as well they may. Carrick, calm as ever, applauds the crowd and his men join him. It sounds as if the fans are singing Carrick's name.

Sorry not to have had a moment to look at the mail. On the plus side, if you wrote in when United were two goals down as they were for most of this match, at least you are spared any embarrassment regarding hostages to fortune.

It is 40 years to the day since Alex Ferguson took over at United. And they have just scored twice in Fergie time to salvage a draw. Football, bloody hell.

90+7 min The biggest roar of the night goes to the VAR, who confirmed the equaliser.

They've got one of the two! Suzuki messes up a corner and Dorgu nods the ball home.

90+5 min United have one minute to get two goals. It's not going to happen.

90+3 min Cunha goes down in the box … no pen! And then a loose ball comes out to Mount, who slices his half-volley. Omar Berrada throws up his hands in a rare show of emotion.

90+3 min United pile forward again. Fernandes to Mount, who tries a one-two but sells his captain short.

Ooh! A simple cross from Dorgu, a simple finish for Zirkzee. The last throw of the dice has worked.

90 min Fernandes tries to slip the ball in behinf fopr Mainoo, who has run out of puff. He's been better than most in red shirts.

87 min United hit the bar! It's Mount, timing his run like Frank Lampard and doing well to help Fernandes' chip on its way.

87 min Lacey sends in a cross that is overhit. Behind the dotted line Carrick is pensive, Emery animated. I suspect the home crowd, fond as they are of Carrick, would now be happy to see Emery take his place.

87 min Unai Emery sends on his fifth sub, Madjo for Jackson. Barkley gets a shot away, saved by Lammens.

85 min Mount gives the ball away to Mbaye, who spares his blushes by returning the favour.

84 min Fernandes should be running the show, but it's actually Ross Barkley. He sends a fine through ball down the right, where Dorgu has to pull off a sliding tackle.

83 min Michael Carrick decides it's time for one last throw of the dice. He removes Mbeumo, who has been tireless but toothless, and sends on Joshua Zirkzee, who would be an unlikely saviour.

82 min A few United fans are trickling out. The rest are still making plenty of noise, but it feels as if they're amusing themselves rather than rousing the troops for another famous fightback.

80 min Fernandes sends a through ball to Dorgu, who is too rusty to control it.

79 min Villa knock the ball around, which is all they have to do now to secure their fourth league win at Old Trafford in 70 years.

78 min Two more Villa subs, both alliterative: Mbaye for Manzambi, Gomes for Goretzka.

76 min Lacey wins a corner, which leads to another. Eventually there's a half-chance for Mbeumo, who sends it wide.

75 min United's passing has become disjointed, not that this is their biggest problem.

72 min … and another: Alysson off, Ross Barkley on. So three goalscorers have now left the stage.

71 min Villa sub: McGinn, after playing well and getting an assist as well as a penalty, gives way to George Hemmings…

71 min A box shows that United have now conceded 30 goals this season, making them joint top of the Leakiest Defence League – in Europe. They share this dubious honour with Palace and Sassuolo.

70 min Cunha gets a shot on target, and then Fernandes finds Row Z.

69 min Lacey gives the ball away near the half-way line and concedes a free kick as he tries to make amends.

67 min Lacey has already sent in a cross. A moment later, Mbeumo slides a shot past the near post.

66 min Here come the subs, as advertised. Off go Tielemans (who scored), Dalot (who had, sad to say, a shocker) and Amad (who was better than the other night).

64 min Carrick, who has nothing to lose now, is preparing three subs: Mount, Dorgu and Lacey.

62 min Fernandes plays a square pass to Cunha, whose shot goes wide. There seems to have been a deflection as it brings a corner, which comes to nowt.

61 min Amad wins a free kick off Goretzka. A chance for Fernandes to get a rare assist?

60 min A United attack, patient by the standards of this crazy match, leads to another left-foot shot from Tielemans, not nearly as good as the one that supplied the equaliser.

60 min United, who had crept up to 18th, are now 19th again, saved from the bottom only by their goal difference. It's bad (-7), but only half as bad as Palace's (-14).

57 min Mbeumo, slipped in by Cunha, gets a shot on target but (a) it's easily saved and (b) the flag is up.

56 min Tielemans, who was so good for half an hour, now plays a hospital pass and the upshot is that Heaven goes into the book for stopping a quick break.

55 min Carrick, seeing that, bowed his head and pinched the furrow between his eyes, as if he couldn't believe them.

You couldn't make it up. Yoro almost heads into his own net, there's a goalmouth scramble, Goretzka keeps calm and puts it away. And once again, United have conceded two at the start of a half.

52 min McGinn wins a free kick off Fernandes, whose reaction you may just be able to guess.

51 min Mazraoui gets away down the right, only to send his cross curling out for a goal kick.

50 min That wasn't in the script. But it was on brand for poor Dalot.

John McGinn slams it in, and yet again United have started a half badly.

Dalot lunges at Alysson, who goes down – and the whistle goes. It's unlikely to be overturned.

46 min United sub: Maguire is off, presumed injured. Ayden Heaven is on – not the more experienced Matthijs de Ligt.