Michael Carrick is a dead man walking after 10-man Manchester United fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Red Devils boss has now overseen a winless run of nine games in all competitions - their longest run without a victory since 1984.
Rumours circulated all week around his future as Man Utd manager, with former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe believed to be the United hierarchy’s number one choice.
But like Gloria Gaynor, he survived for Saturday’s early kick-off, with Bruno Fernandes brought back in from the cold after making up with Carrick.
Chelsea moved up to fourth place after the win, earned courtesy of goals from England duo Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, while Man Utd are 17th and staring relegation in the face.
Poor old Robert Bore has been there and back while supporting Man Utd for over four decades - and here, Sports News Blitz’s resident Man Utd fan looks at the latest shambolic display.
Chelsea (a) October 31
In a week where Carrick was expected to be fired, many eyebrows were raised after news came out of Carrington that he would retain the hot-seat for the trip to Chelsea.
Would he get much longer should things go south down south? Who knows?
But it did feel somewhat apt when ‘The Last Post’ rang out pre-match. With Remembrance Day on the horizon, Stamford Bridge rightfully and respectfully paid tribute to the fallen of yesteryear.
Being winless in eight games, Carrick’s men were in real danger of finishing the weekend in the relegation places. It was 1986 all over again.
After the furore, Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez were back in the starting line-up, everyone friends again, at least on the surface.
Slates clean, everyone together, we are the world... Let's go.
First shot in anger
Estevao had the first real shot in anger, firing well wide from the edge of the box while United worked their way up the other end and former Chelsea man Andrey Santos curled one a little closer, but still wide, moments later after some lovely football from the visitors.
United had started well to be fair. Amad Diallo, Matheus Cunha and Bruno all looking switched on. Maybe there had been a week of healing behind the scenes after all.
Diogo Dalot made his first balls-up before the quarter hour, a truly Sunday League touch/clearance on halfway and before the move died Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net.
Thankfully, Esteban had gone too soon as Senne Lammens palmed out Pedro Neto’s shot and the flag rescued the visitors.
Next it was Dalot and Leny Yoro getting in a muddle. Painful to watch.
Then it was United’s turn, on the break, Amad nicking the ball outside his own box and releasing Bryan Mbeumo on the right.
Perfect first touch
Fernandes was steaming into space on the other side of the pitch and the former Brentford man wafted a ball into the Portuguese, who took a perfect first touch but the ball sat up a little on his strike and he blazed it over. It would have been a fabulous goal.
Amad looked to have the beating of Marco Palestra at will while Mbeumo maybe should have got on the end of Fernandes’ dangerous ball across the six-yard box as we reached the midway point.
The game wasn’t as much wide open as gaping.
Amad forced a save low down with a fierce effort from the edge of the box and Cunha couldn’t get onto the rebound.
Wesley Fofana was then a lucky boy, Amad robbing him just inside the Chelsea half but the defender recovered well to tighten the angle where the United man maybe should have tried to centre and not shoot.
A minute or so later United thought they were ahead.
Maguire got on the end of the corner to head goalwards and Cunha ducked in to nod it home - but the defender got a big enough nudge to bump Cunha narrowly offside.
Encouraging signs
It was another tough break for Carrick but more encouraging signs from United, who were playing some good stuff.
They came again, Cunha finding Amad in acres of space on the right edge of the Chelsea box but his effort was blocked again.
Chelsea were still there, though, and almost edged ahead with another stroke of luck, the ball coming off Moises Caicedo’s arm and onto a post.
And Amad again, oh Amad. The Ivorian got in behind Fofana and raced in on goal but ballooned his shot over the top, albeit with Colwill getting a little bit back on the ball.
Moments later Neto robbed Harry Maguire but flashed his effort across the face of Lammens’ goal.
Entertaining half
How was this game still goalless? Both sides looked about as secure as Bonnie Blue’s underwear. Peter Bankes’ whistle ended a thoroughly entertaining half.
All the optimism evaporated inside five second-half minutes.
Romeo Lavia did brilliantly on halfway to win the ball and Morgan Rogers just set off running, straight through the middle of the United defence who were woefully out of shape, drawing Lammens and dinking the ball into the back of the net.
Wonderful from Rogers, woeful from the visitors. Rogers may as well have moonwalked to goal for the pressure applied.
Carrick waited until the 58th minute to make his first change, Kobbie Mainoo back on the pitch for Carlos Baleba.
Silly hack
Martinez went into the book after failing to hack down Rogers, a silly caution and, frankly, embarrassing to watch as Rogers giggled at the attempt.
Then the Calamity Button started blinking…
The resulting corner was swung over and Martinez just jumped into Fofana, no real eye on the ball, just leapt into the Chelsea man, who dropped to the turf and made sure he stayed down.
VAR intervened after Bankes looked to have made an error by not punishing.
He made no mistake with his second bite, trundling over to the monitor and returning with his card pocket unbuttoned and the Argentinian's fate decided.
Red card, game over.
Carrick didn’t even look at him. A World Cup-winning defender guilty of two self-inflicted yellows in the space of 122 seconds.
Shocking behaviour
It felt intentional. It probably wasn’t, just frustration and petulance, but shocking behaviour from a senior pro.
I hope when the January sales start, he’s front and centre.
Cole Palmer was fortunate to double the lead from the spot, Lammens getting hands on the ball but unable to keep it out.
Everyone thought it was 3-0 with 20 minutes left.
This time it was Fernandes at fault, trying to flick the ball round the corner on halfway but giving it away.
Chelsea countered with a big hole through the middle, Estevao smashing the ball past Lammens.
The Chelsea fans celebrated, some United fans started to walk, but this time Carrick caught a break as VAR determined his was three millimetres offside.
We were back to a two-goal deficit but it felt like five.
The lesser-spotted Mason Mount was already on the pitch as Joshua Zirkzee was prepared but it felt pointless.
One of his first actions was to piss around on the edge of his own box and give it away.
Woodwork rattled
I stopped looking beyond that, mildly interested when Mbeumo rattled the woodwork on the volley from 25 yards - the crossbar is probably still shaking.
Zirkzee, meanwhile, was proving to be dangerous around the box, unfortunately it was his own box. Another who needs shipping out with the Christmas decorations.
Where to start?
United were good for 45 minutes, then fell behind due to an equation of shabby defending multiplied by inspired play from Rogers.
The game was lost when one of the senior players, one who instigated dressing room chaos by complaining about the club’s standards, left his own level in the dustbin. Which is where he can stay.
Never give him the shirt again.
Fernandes, I genuinely don’t know. He’s been the best player for years and has also been let down by the lack of direction above, but again today, the histrionics, the mardy arseness.
They were better with him, no doubt, but watching him was tough.
Lemmings FC
It’s just a complete mind f**k, how the team have fallen off a cliff.
And it all appears to be self-inflicted - Lemmings FC - hauling themselves over the edge and plummeting into oblivion.
And there is every chance it gets worse before it gets better.
I’m dreading Roma on Tuesday, unbeaten this season in Serie A, and probably right up for it as reminders of that 7-1 spanking at Old Trafford back in April 2007 will no doubt provide irritation.
Carrick should have thrown Martinez under his own bus post match but relented. I guess he feels there’s no point.
I’m starting to feel the same.
READ NEXT: Premier League: Arsenal’s attacking questions face dangerous test v Liverpool at Anfield
