Erik ten Hag insisted he still has the backing of Manchester United’s hierarchy after his struggling side were held to a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, while Tottenham Hotspur squandered a two-goal lead in a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

Ten Hag is battling to save his job following United’s poor start to the Premier League season, but their latest lacklustre performance offered little hope that he can reverse their fortunes.

United captain Bruno Fernandes rattled the crossbar with a second-half free-kick, but the visitors required a crucial block from Diogo Dalot on Jaden Philogene’s effort to avoid a damaging loss.

After finishing eighth last season — their lowest position since 1990 — United are currently languishing in 14th place this term, with just two wins from their first seven league matches.

Ten Hag’s side have now gone five matches without a win in all competitions since defeating third-tier Barnsley in the League Cup.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to guarantee Ten Hag’s future on Friday, admitting the club is not where he expected it to be.

The British billionaire, who watched from the stands at Villa Park alongside his team of advisors and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, will hardly have been reassured that the Dutchman is the right choice to steer United out of their slump.

Nevertheless, Ten Hag remains confident he will be granted the time to turn things around after winning the FA Cup last season and the League Cup in his debut campaign.

“We always speak, we speak every week. We are all united, on the same page,” Ten Hag said when asked if he had planned discussions with Ratcliffe and his associates. “We know what we are working towards; it’s a long-term project, and we must keep improving the process.

“We have proven in two very tough away games that this is a team, showing togetherness, spirit, belief, and faith in what we are doing.”

At the Amex Stadium, Brennan Johnson gave Tottenham the lead after 25 minutes with a clinical strike from Dominic Solanke’s pass. It was the Welsh forward’s sixth goal in as many appearances.

James Maddison doubled Tottenham’s advantage in the 37th minute when his shot slipped past Bart Verbruggen’s weak attempt to save.

However, Yankuba Minteh pulled one back for Brighton with a close-range effort following Destiny Udogie’s poor clearance in the 48th minute. Georginio Rutter then evaded three Tottenham defenders to score from Kaoru Mitoma’s pass in the 58th minute with a composed finish from 12 yards.

Tottenham’s collapse was completed eight minutes later when Danny Welbeck was left unmarked to head in Rutter’s cross.

Tottenham’s third defeat in seven league matches raised fresh concerns about manager Ange Postecoglou’s reluctance to alter his attacking approach, even as their defensive vulnerabilities were ruthlessly exposed.

Earlier, Noni Madueke’s equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw for Chelsea against 10-man Nottingham Forest, ending the Blues’ five-match winning streak.

Enzo Maresca’s side fell behind to Chris Wood’s strike early in the second half at Stamford Bridge.

England winger Madueke brought Chelsea level, but despite their numerical advantage in the closing stages, the hosts couldn’t find a winner.

Forest were forced to play the final 12 minutes with 10 men after James Ward-Prowse was sent off.

Chelsea had won their previous three league matches — and five across all competitions — raising optimism that Maresca might be the man to end the west London club’s long-standing troubles.

The draw with Forest was a setback, but Chelsea still head into the international break in fourth place in the Premier League.

In Saturday’s late match, Newcastle United missed the opportunity to break into the top four after a 0-0 draw at Everton, with former Everton player Anthony Gordon having a penalty saved by Jordan Pickford. Newcastle remain in sixth, while Everton sit in 16th.