The pressure on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was upped a further notch by another insipid performance as they slumped to a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
The Cherries were superb throughout and thoroughly deserving of their victory, which extended United’s winless run to eight games.
The pre-match narrative centered on Bruno Fernandes, with the United captain dropped to the substitutes bench after he blamed Carrick’s tactics for their 4-1 defeat by Como on Wednesday, though the manager said it was a “football decision”.
But despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, Fernandes, so often United’s talisman, was not brought on.
Fernandes watched on as his side laboured through the first half, creating little as Evanilson and Rayan spurned early opportunities for the visitors.
The warning signs were there and the visitors eventually took the lead when a superb Justin Kluivert free-kick found an unmarked Rayan at the back post and he beat Senne Lammens with a well-taken volley.
United’s woes were compounded two minutes before half-time when an untimely Leny Yoro slip allowed Adrien Truffert to square for Marcus Tavernier to convert into the empty net.
Boos greeted the half-time whistle, though some home fans did their best to encourage their players as they trudged down the tunnel.
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The offside flag denied Evanilson a third Bournemouth goal early in the second half, while Rayan shot straight at Lammens, with both chances coming from Ayden Heaven mistakes.
Rayan wasted another chance to end the contest after a Lisandro Martinez stumble opened up a route to goal, but Evanilson eventually knocked in the third after more comedy defending.
Evanilson raced on to a long clearance and nipped the ball past Lammens, who had come charging out of his penalty area, before curling the ball into an empty net.
Bournemouth only won their first league game of the season last weekend, but have now won four consecutive games in all competitions.
Defeat leaves United 16th in the table with seven points after eight Premier League games, while the Cherries climb to 13th.
The result piles further pressure on Carrick with United now without a win in eight matches in all competitions.
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