It took just under three minutes for Harry Maguire to receive a yellow card against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Maguire was caught out by a simple long ball forward and he hauled Taiwo Awoniyi down to deny a counter-attacking opportunity. The City Ground responded with chants of 'Leicester reject' and his calamitous start was almost made worse shortly after that.
In the 20th minute, Maguire attempted to clear a Forest corner and the ball touched his trailing arm in the box. VAR checked the incident and a penalty wasn't given, but the replays suggested that he was fortunate not to be penalised.
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Roy Keane, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports, said during half-time that perhaps Maguire 'deserved' that bit of luck for the penalty not being given and that was a legendary United captain empathising with the current club captain.
Maguire endured the worst season of his career last year but he was certainly not the only player guilty of that in the dressing room. He's since unfairly become a convenient scapegoat and the butt of jokes when those displays should be behind him.
Keane was among the most prominent voices to criticise Maguire last year, but the club has moved on and so should the narrative surrounding a player who might be limited but who can still have a crucial role to play this season.
Although Maguire was only handed his seventh league start of the season against Forest because of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane and he made a poor start to the game, he admirably recovered and was solid throughout.
Forest have scored the joint fewest goals this season, but they were not allowed to record a single shot on target in the match and Maguire played his part, alongside his former regular partner Victor Lindelof, in contributing to the clean sheet.
The centre-back's recovery in the game was made more impressive by his mental resilience, which was previously questioned.
Just 18 months ago at the King Power Stadium, Leicester defeated United 4-2 and Maguire was arguably culpable for all four of the goals. Leicester fans booed Maguire's every touch from the first whistle and he looked unnerved by the jeers.
Last season would have certainly taught Maguire some valuable lessons and in the past,he mightn't have recovered after his disappointing start. He deserves credit for making that mental improvement.
The business end of the season is approaching and Maguire, who is third choice centre-back, will be needed. He is suspended for the semi-final of the FA Cup, but he is set to play an instrumental role in the Premier League and Europa League.
It's possible the coming weeks could be Maguire's last at Old Trafford and, with the first-choice centre-backs sidelined with injury, he has a chance to salvage his reputation to some extent among fans, who defended his display at the weekend.
There is recognition among level-headed supporters that Maguire can receive unjustified criticism and there has been pushback against the scapegoating of him, but the player needs to keep on delivering on the pitch for that to continue.
Maguire finally won his first trophy since joining the club in February and the FA Cup and Europa League remain realistic avenues for more silverware, which means if he does leave this summer, he will depart on the back of a successful season.
His time at the club won't be remembered with great fondness, however, Maguire's performances in what could be his potential last few weeks at United, which could help decide whether another trophy is won, will have an impact.
The away support sang 'you've seen Maguire, now f*** off home' at the end of the match against Forest on Sunday. United fans were defending their own and the relationship between both parties could yet heal some more.
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