Manchester United have spent so much time and money looking to move on from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign. It was hard to tell as they ground out a gritty win over Luton on Saturday afternoon.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were the partnership in central defence, Scott McTominay was required in midfield and they once again suffered from the lack of a proven scorer in the Premier League.
Visiting teams have become so used to winning at Old Trafford that it felt like a throwback to see Luton arrive with a clear gameplan of sitting back and absorbing pressure.
PLAYER RATINGS: Lindelof and Onana good
MATCH REACTION: Ten Hag selection pays off at both ends
This wasn't an approach that paid respect to Manchester United, though; it was one that was clearly designed as their best chance of winning the match themselves. Luton didn't look to press when United had possession; instead, they challenged the hosts to break them down with patient play, something that was rarely seen.
Erik ten Hag's side looked comfortable whenever they played out from the back, though when the ball reached midfield, there was little cohesion between the forward line, resulting in a barrage of long balls that proved bread and butter for the Luton backline.
In a week that Bruno Fernandes quoted Solskjaer in saying 'mountains are there to be climbed' following the defeat to Copenhagen, this was a throwback to the Norwegian's time in charge of the club.
It is true that things might have been very different had Rasmus Hojlund's early improvised effort not been clawed out by the impressive Thomas Kaminski but they still had an abundance of other openings from which to do their damage.
As the game went on, fan frustration grew, Luton hope rose, and United, bereft of ideas, got desperate. It always felt like a moment of magic or a slice of luck would be their only way of breaking down the well-drilled defensive line.
The ball was worked well for Victor Lindelof's opening goal, but there was indeed an element of luck as the ball dropped kindly to him following Scott McTominay's initial scuffed effort.
After such a stop-start season, results have to be prioritised over playing style, but the fact that United struggled for so long at home to Luton can't simply be glossed over either.
United's best football this season has often come when they have played on the break, from Rashford's strike at Arsenal to Hojlund's excellent opener in midweek. A style of play that was never going to be possible against a Luton side who sat back and welcomed the pressure on their goal.
Indeed, one of their best chances in the second half came after they won the ball up high before substitute Antony found Rashford, who really should have done better than fire a shot straight at Kaminski.
Yet whenever there was an onus on United to breakdown a stubborn defensive line, they often ran out of ideas, resorting to type with helpless hoofs into the box that brought little joy.
United's unfortunate injury record has certainly been a contributing factor in their poor performances this season and struggles to implement a clear style of play, though those have largely been defensive absentees rather than attacking ones.
Even with a fully fit side, the front three against Luton would likely have been the same as they were, if not the entire front six if you include the midfielders as well.
It means there is less excuse for having so many issues with their attacking play and their struggles of breaking down a team that looked to sitback and offer them very little space to exploit on the counter-attack.
United should take the positive that they managed to find a way through, but they will be riding their luck if they have to rely on such a limited approach later in the season.
Two years and £400 million later, United are still struggling with the same problems that they did under Solskjaer.
