Michael Carrick on the brink after Manchester United humiliated 3-0 by Bournemouth

Manchester United were humiliated 3-0 by Bournemouth this afternoon, leaving interim manager Michael Carrick on the brink. Goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson secured the win for Bournemouth.

Carrick had dropped Bruno Fernandes for what he described as "pure football" reasons, a decision that preceded Fernandes’s public takedown of the manager and the captain’s subsequent silence on the matter. Lisandro Martínez apologised for criticising Jason Wilcox (though not to the director of football), while United have not won since 10 September — 45 days and eight games ago — and now hover a point above the drop zone.

Midfield control was an issue from the start as Youri Tielemans lost possession and "Bournemouth’s passing went tap-tap-tap, and United were turned." Leny Yoro combined with Tielemans to find Diogo Dalot, but the move broke down and moments later Dalot was clearing from beneath his bar as a Rayan cross nearly set up Evanilson. Senne Lammens repeatedly hoofed the ball upfield, Harry Maguire headed possession back to a white shirt rather than chesting it down, and by the half hour a wild Dalot shot was United’s only registered attempt.

Bournemouth’s opener stemmed from a defensive error when Ayden Heaven’s wild scissor challenge saw Evanilson leap clear and be judged a yellow-card offence; from the resulting play Justin Kluivert’s diagonal free-kick from Bournemouth’s right dropped to an unmarked Rayan, who scored. Travelling United fans responded with the chant "Sacked in the mornin cog" as Bournemouth applied pressure.

The second goal arrived on 42 minutes after Yoro slipped near United’s area, Adrien Truffert collected and the left-back squared to Tavernier, who slid the ball into the net. Supporters in the Stretford End unveiled a tifo reading "STANDARDS" above images of Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, while sections of the Bournemouth crowd repeatedly sang "going down with the City."

Carrick reshaped his side at half-time, replacing Tielemans with Matheus Cunha and assigning Mason Mount to the No 10 role, but a Rayan chance was spurned with a weak attempt described as a "pea-roller." The scoring was completed when Lammens rushed out to clear a through ball, Evanilson reached it first, rounded the goalkeeper and from around 40 yards on the right "sliced a curving finish into the waiting net." On the bench Fernandes zipped his top up and in his seat Wilcox sank lower into his winter coat as chants of "Jason Wilcox is a wanker" rang out.

Bournemouth’s win was their fourth successive victory against an opponent offering scant resistance, and boos from the home crowd underlined the severity of United’s display. Carrick’s demeanour on the touchline was described as one of hurt as the match effectively ended his side’s hopes of a recovery during the afternoon.

The result leaves Carrick’s job under immediate threat, with the article noting that "The Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led football department may issue Carrick the bullet" and that "Eddie Howe is favoured and is open to the job."