It's difficult to take away the positives when an outcome has been negative, but Erik ten Hag's job over the next few days is to make sure Manchester United build on a performance that finally showed signs of promise this season.

The 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday was a ninth in 17 games this season, a truly desperate record in a season threatening to run horribly out of control. But at the Parken Stadium, there were significant straws to clutch at for those of a United persuasion.

Without the loss of Marcus Rashford to a red card on 42 minutes, United would have won that game, although the sending-off doesn't excuse another lamentable collapse, having led 2-0 at that stage and then 3-2 with seven minutes to play.

ALSO READ: Two identical moments in two games typify this United side

ALSO READ: Eight goals in 27 minutes explain United's European problems

But in the way, United played when the game was 11-a-side and for large parts of the second half, there was enough promise to just hint at the possibility of a corner being turned. Certainly far more so than any other recent performance.

There has been a desire to hail scrappy, edgy and unconvincing wins against Brentford, Sheffield United and Fulham as turning points recently, but that was wishful thinking based on results when the performances had been lacking. As soon as the pressure got dialled up the confidence gleaned from those games would disappear, because there was little behind it other than the comfort of a win.

When analysing how their team are playing, coaches and managers will often use soundbites such as seeing "a future in the performances". It takes away the outcome and if you know performances are being delivered, then long-term the results will look after themselves. For almost all of this season, there has been no future in United's performances.

Recently that has manifested itself in the way they've played without the ball. Having looked fairly threatening going forward in the first few weeks of the season, they have started to look like a side without a plan, struggling to create anywhere near enough chances and relying on set pieces or individual moments to score goals.

It had been six games since a forward scored for United until Wednesday, when for most of the first half they put together what was arguably their strongest attacking display of the season. Even with a man down after the break, they fairly regularly looked like a threat and moved the ball about very well at times.

The approach yielded three goals and the frustration will be that they let FC Copenhagen score four to leave their Champions League campaign on the brink. It was another body blow in this season, but if anything is to be salvaged from it then results have to turn imminently.

United should at least be able to head into the final international break until March with a win under their belts. Luton Town visit Old Trafford on Saturday and Erik ten Hag's side will be strong favourites.

But they shouldn't be seeking just a win, they should be looking to take another step forward with their performance and again produce some better attacking play. Key to that will be sticking with the trio of Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.

Antony has been almost undetectable of late, but it was a bold decision to replace him with Garnacho, rather than using Bruno Fernandes or Mason Mount on the right. It mean shifting Rashford to the right but until his red card he had played well.

The pace of that trio was a threat on the counter and while Luton won't offer up the same spaces, the wide players should have the ability to cause problems once again. United haven't won by more than one goal in 15 Premier League and Champions League fixtures this season, but Saturday has to be an opportunity to change that.

Bringing Antony back into the side will certainly feel like a retrograde step after recent displays and after another two goals in Europe, Hojlund should have his confidence restored and be ready to break his Premier League duck.

The Champions League defeat didn't feel like it had much blame attached to Ten Hag, but there's no doubt pressure is building on the Dutchman. In Copenhagen he would have seen signs of life in the performance of his team, but now they must build on that.