Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth: Michael Carrick on the brink of being sacked

Michael Carrick’s job looks untenable after another humbling loss

Michael Carrick may well have overseen his final match as Manchester United head coach after his players’ feeble Old Trafford display led to a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth and boos at the final whistle.

The former Red Devils midfielder’s position was already hanging in the balance as their poor start to the season was compounded by Wednesday’s calamitous 4-1 loss at Champions League upstarts Como.

Under-fire Carrick spoke with defiance and hope ahead of hosting Bournemouth, but Sunday’s meek loss extended United’s winless run to an eighth straight match in all competitions and leaves their boss facing the sack.

Rayan and Marcus Tavernier scored avoidable first-half goals for the well-drilled Cherries at Old Trafford, where home fans displayed a banner reading “standards” as the players trudged off at the break.

Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson featured on the sign brought out of storage for a match that current captain Bruno Fernandes was dropped for days after his critique of Carrick’s approach in Italy.

The head coach claimed it was a “pure football” decision rather than punishment, but he remained on the bench throughout a tepid second half that saw Evanilson punish a wandering Senne Lammens.

United fans expressed their fury at the Glazers and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe towards the end of a game that brought anger as Bournemouth celebrated a third 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the last four seasons.

Marco Rose’s men followed up Thursday’s famous Europa League win by the same scoreline against an AC Milan managed by Ruben Amorim, whose successor could soon be following him out of Old Trafford.