Erik ten Hag has suggested that he will hold talks with the Manchester United hierarchy after this afternoon's uninspiring 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. United stopped leaking goals at Villa Park but extended their winless run to five games in all competitions as Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched on from the stands.

The INEOS boss attended his second match of the season after witnessing last month's 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool at Old Trafford.

He joined Sir Dave Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox in the directors' box.

The high-ranking United presence two days before a club meeting in London, for which co-chairman Joel Glazer will fly in from the United States, intensified the pressure on Ten Hag to find a result.

But while defensively resilient, in part courtesy of a Man of the Match display from Jonny Evans, the visitors were toothless and devoid of ideas in attack.

United are 14th in the Premier League after the dull stalemate, having won just two of seven games, scoring five goals.

Accumulating just eight points at this stage confirms the club's worst start to a league season after seven fixtures since 1989, when they finished 13th.

So the scrutiny of Ten Hag won't disappear heading into the October international break, and the Dutchman was open when asked whether he'd be holding talks with club bosses in the aftermath.

"We always speak, every week we speak," Ten Hag told Sky Sports following full-time in the West Midlands.

"We are all on board together, on one page. We know what we are working through. It's a long-term project and we have to keep improving the process.

"We had two very tough away games and we showed the belief and the spirit that we have."

United have failed to score in their last three Premier League games, a run of 308 minutes without a goal.

But Ten Hag has defended his team's attacking output, insisting it's only a matter of time before players are up to speed and chances are converted.

He added: "We create loads of chances in our seven games, but we have to step up.

"But also, we have to take into consideration that Hojlund is returning and not up to full speed.

"But also others have to step up. I'm very pleased with the performance of Rashy. Garnacho is already the whole season a threat. And Antony came in and was lively."