Five games that will define United’s season

In such minor details are matches won and lost; confidence found or forgone. But win United did, and it was a fine goal from Jones, whose energy finally began to compensate for a tactical naïvety that is all too apparent when the youngster is deployed in midfield.

With victory comes a sense of renewed hope not only in European competition, where United will be paired with one of Europe’s lesser lights in the next round, but domestic fixtures to come. In a season of no genuine momentum, where performances have rarely sparkled, a quintet of victories before Tottenham Hotspur arrives on New Years Day might just create a little impetus.

Certainly, United’s 12 game unbeaten run before defeat to Everton last week brought only a modicum of renewed belief. In those dozen games five draws peppered victories that only rarely exceeded the mundane. It was a sequence that underlined a common observation: this is not the United of old. Not even the United of a year ago.

Still, there are few excuses left for short-term failure now. Moyes passes six full months in charge by the end of the year, while of the opponents to come none can claim any real form. In fact each of United’s next four league fixtures is against a team below the Reds in the Premier League table.

Paul Lambert’s Villains were beaten comfortably at relegation threatened Fulham last week. West Ham would join their capital neighbours in the bottom three but for goal difference, while Hull and Norwich have each struggled to find any consistency.

In the cup United will face a Stoke side whose focus is on ensuring Premier League status next season, with knock-out competitions a distant second priority.

Only then comes a difficult January, with Spurs at Old Trafford as the year turns, followed by two fixtures with Swansea City, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a potential Capital One Cup semi-final. If United hasn’t picked up momentum by then, Moyes’ side surely never will.