Manchester United’s winless run stretched to nine matches after a second-half collapse condemned them to a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
United had chances to take the lead before the break but failed to convert them.
Bruno Fernandes sent a clear opportunity over the crossbar, while Amad Diallo was denied twice by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders.
The visitors were made to pay five minutes into the second half.
Morgan Rogers drove through United’s defence and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens to put Chelsea ahead in the 50th minute.
United’s afternoon unravelled further when defender Lisandro Martínez was sent off in the 63rd minute after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted a minute later to make it 2-0.
Carrick under growing pressure
The result leaves Manchester United provisionally 17th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, and adds to the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick.
Chelsea moved provisionally into fourth place with the win.
Carrick said United had not carried their first-half performance into the second half.
“Then, the second half just kind of got away from us,” he said after the match.
He added that the team had struggled after Rogers’ goal and Martínez’s dismissal.
United’s nine-game winless run in all competitions is their longest since 1988.
They have also lost four of their last five matches, increasing scrutiny of Carrick’s position as the team approaches the next stage of its season.
Carrick said his immediate focus was preparing for United’s Champions League match against Roma on Tuesday.
The defeat at Chelsea leaves the team under pressure to halt its slide and move away from the relegation zone.
