Manchester United’s evening went from bad to worse as they took on Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Looking to end their winless run of nine games, the Red Devils welcomed the Serie A side to Old Trafford, only to fall 2-0 down inside 18 minutes.

Matias Soule capitalised on slack home defending to open the scoring inside Senne Lammen’s near post before Donyell Malen doubled the advantage just moments later when Ayden Heaven was adjudged to have used his hand to block a shot in the box.

United fans angrily aired their frustrations at their side’s plight and vented their ire at the club’s directors box, where chief exectuive officer Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox sat and watched the debacle unfold.

Distraught: Carlos Baleba

PA

Tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch and balloons flew down from the Stretford End in a planned protest from fan group the Stretford Enders.

Under-fire manager Michael Carrick’s night got worse when summer signing Carlos Baleba pulled up injured in the second half.

The Cameroon international made a bright burst from midfield and threatened the Roma goal as he powered into the box, but he grabbed his right hamstring as he bore down on goal, going down in agony.

He was forced off, with fellow new recruit Youri Tielemans introduced in his place.

It comes as another big blow to Baleba, who joined the club from Brighton late in the transfer window, with the midfielder arriving at Old Trafford with a pre-existing ankle problem that scuppered his start at his new club.