Sir Alex Ferguson was present for some more Fergie Time. This time, it was inflicted on his boyhood club.

Ferguson chuckled once he had got his breath back and sat down in the directors' box. Manchester United should not have needed a 92nd-minute winner yet their victory over Rangers was celebrated euphorically.

Cyriel Dessers almost caused more chaos than William Wallace with his 88th minute equaliser. Darren Fletcher was so sick he vacated his seat and missed Bruno Fernandes' heart-stopping winner.

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The away team equalised and there were unabashed celebrations in the away section that held 3,2000 Glaswegians. And in the home section.

Like thousands of Galatasaray supporters 15 months ago, thousands of Scots had infiltrated the designated home blocks of Old Trafford 17 years on from their infamous visit to the city for the Uefa Cup final.

Many United fans were as furious with the stewards as they were with Harry Maguire for losing Dessers. Deflation was swiftly upgraded to elation. After Fernandes won it, a few fans in front of the press box unfurled an Irish flag and displayed it to the Rangers monarchists.

The Rangers fans sprinkled across the home sections were brazen in their support. Some sang on the concourse while those standing the other side of the segregation choreographed their clapping with those in the away section.

A season-ticket holder friend saw it coming, claiming on Wednesday night that United had repackaged normal tickets as corporate and sold them to Rangers fans in the home sections. Glaswegians stood proudly in the home section, goading their hosts with a rendition of "Who the f**k are Man United?"

The Old Trafford stewards will have been praying for a rare United clean sheet. Celtic had the temerity to take the lead at Old Trafford in 2006 and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's goal sounded the bell for dust-ups in numerous home blocks as Celts broke rank. An 88th-minute equaliser was worse.

United insist they took the strictest possible measures to prevent sales to away fans in home areas and that tickets were only allocated to those who existed on their database prior to the Europa League draw in August. The club has promised an investigation.

The Stretford End has become used to witnessing howlers from a United goalkeeper. This time, they were treated to one from a former United 'keeper.

Jack Butland never played for United during his five-month loan yet had an impact 18 months on from his departure. Butland, a substitute in the 2023 FA Cup final, miscued a punch and the ball floated into the Stretford End net.

United could have been forgiven for feeling sorry for themselves, having been denied a seemingly legitimate goal from a corner in the first half. This was a rare stroke of luck for the team lacking goals and goalscorers.

For the second successive European tie running, the team with the joint-worst record from set pieces in the Premier League were alive from a dead-ball kick. Maguire and Manuel Ugarte could and should have also converted from free kicks. That was on Maguire's mind as Dessers lapped up the chorus of "Nice one, Cyriel".

United are back in the top four - of the Europa League table. They will likely have to maintain their unbeaten record in Bucharest against FCSB next week to ensure automatic passage to the round-of-16 and avoid a two-legged play-off in February.

Ruben Amorim is already craving those possible free midweeks as he continues to deprogramme a squad languishing in 13th in the Premier League. The Europa League, with the promise of Champions League football for the winner, has to be the priority.

Keeping Alejandro Garnacho was a priority in the summer. Not any more. This could conceivably have been his swansong amid concrete interest from Chelsea and Napoli.

Garnacho was United's best player in by far his most effective game under Amorim. A cynic would point out it is merely Rangers, also-rans in the Scottish Premiership and 13 points adrift of Celtic.

Amorim applauded one curling cross from Garnacho and demanded to know why a teammate had not anticipated it. Garnacho had two shots saved, another goalbound effort deflected behind and hit the post. In the 77th minute, Garnacho was demanding the ball and Amorim, standing feet away, was demanding a teammate find him.

The United hierarchy have admitted to supporters they are at risk of breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules. Still, compromising on a fee for Garnacho would be taking a knife to the club's academy identity. United are fuelling more interest in their present and future than Marcus Rashford, all but consigned to their past.

The overlooked Rashford publicised that he was in attendance as he watched on from his hospitality box in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. United were permitted 12 substitutes and only named nine. Two of them were goalkeepers.

Toby Collyer, another homegrown product, was entrusted in a fervent atmosphere over the five-time Champions League winner Casemiro. Collyer started so nervously he apologetically raised his hand after he was robbed of the ball but settled and received a standing ovation when he was substituted.

They played 'What's My Name?' by Rihanna before kick-off, a song with the chorus 'Oh-na-na'. Oh no no. Andre Onana was benched for Altay Bayindir on his first European start for United. Amorim predictably framed it as rotational but it could yet be significant if the Turk's '1' squad number is matched by the No.1 status.

Buoyed by his man of the match performance in the FA Cup at Arsenal, Bayindir was a steady presence and dealt dependably with some awkward moments. It is not a knee-jerk statement to suggest that he remain between the sticks at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Managing United and relocating away from the Lisbon sunshine has aged Amorim and he went through the ringer again. He was on his haunches more often than usual and did not conceal his disappointment with United's usual profligacy in the opponent's penalty area. Amad, a scorer against Rangers in pre-season, had an easier chance but smacked the ball at Butland.

The Polish referee did not help, penalising Leny Yoro for a phantom foul when Matthijs de Ligt connected with Amad's corner. The ham-fisted Butland rendered that moot and executed a knee-slide to greet Dessers's strike.

Then United entered Fergie time.