Lisandro Martinez was sent off as Manchester United sank to a 2-0 loss at Chelsea to plunge Michael Carrick further into trouble.

The defeat extends United's winless run to nine games in all competitions, making it their longest since 1984, and puts them at risk of falling into the relegation zone this weekend.

Martinez, making only his second start since criticising the club's hierarchy, was shown a second yellow for raising an arm to the face of Wesley Fofana inside the United box following a VAR check, only three minutes after being booked for fouling Morgan Rogers.

Cole Palmer dispatched the resulting penalty, doubling Chelsea's lead after Rogers had charged through Manchester United's static defence and lifted a delicate finish over Senne Lammens for the opener at the start of the second half.

United's second-half implosion piles pressure on head coach Carrick, who reinstated Bruno Fernandes after dropping the captain for his criticism of his tactics after the defeat to Como.

Fernandes' return to the side, after he was an unused substitute in the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, appeared to help United in the first half but they were unable to convert a series of chances.

Fernandes missed the best of them, firing harmlessly over when unmarked from Bryan Mbeumo's centre. Amad Diallo was also culpable as he was twice denied by Mike Penders as Chelsea struggled to contain United's counter-attacks.

But the visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness only five minutes after the interval, as Rogers accelerated into the box unchallenged to strike the first blow in a defeat which leaves United a point above the relegation zone, with Carrick's future in doubt.

Despite the result, the former midfielder received another positive reception from the home fans after the game. The players, booed off against Bournemouth, were also received more positively.

The scoreline could have been worse for United, though, with the excellent Estevao having a third goal ruled out by VAR for offside before drawing a full-stretch save from Lammens. But two goals were sufficient for the Blues to move above Liverpool into fourth.

Martinez's moment of madness

Martinez pointed the finger at technical director Jason Wilcox and the club's decision-makers in his outspoken interview after the Atletico Madrid game. But he only had himself to blame for the events that led to his sending-off and Chelsea's penalty.

There were barely three minutes between his foul on Rogers that earned him his first yellow card and the confirmation, from referee Peter Bankes, that he would be receiving a second for needlessly raising an arm to the face of Fofana.

The defender, starting for the first time since the 1-1 draw against Leeds, was also one of the players at fault for Chelsea's opener, when Rogers glided through United's defence with bewildering ease to set the wheels in motion for United's defeat.

Martinez was not acknowledged by Carrick as he trudged down the tunnel. But the United head coach did not criticise him after the game, albeit while acknowledging the double whammy of having him sent off, and conceding a penalty, was a "big moment" in the game.

It was also a moment to sum up the dysfunction at the club.

Carrick: We let the game unravel

Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick to TNT Sports:

"We didn't get going second half. We should've been up in the first half. Everything was as positive as we could've hoped for. We looked really dangerous.

"We found a way of unravelling in the second half. Bad goal to concede and then the penalty, we're right up against it. The game turned on its head.

"I don't think our heads dropped. The boys were in a good place first half. You could see that with the performance in the first half.

"It just gave them a lift. We didn't start the second half great. They struck the first blow and that made the difference."

Man Utd's horror run

• Manchester United are winless in their last nine games in all competitions (D3 L6). They last had a longer run in September 1984 (10 games).
• United have failed to win any of their first seven away games in all competitions in a season for the first time since 1973/74, when they were last relegated.
• United haven't kept a single clean sheet in their first nine Premier League games of the season.

Alonso: We took a step forward

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to TNT Sports:

"We are happy. The game had different moments. The first half was close; few chances for both teams.

"At half-time we spoke about keeping control and said we will win the game if we keep the ball. It was a mature performance.

"I am very demanding. We can do better. We are taking a step forward but I don't know how far we are.

My expectations are really high. I am sure for the last three months of the season we will be much better."

On Estevao: "Estevao did really well. I am happy for him. He deserved this chance and the opportunity to give back.

"Absolutely, [his performance] has given him more reasons to say, 'Coach I want to play more minutes'."

Chelsea's improving defence

• Chelsea won a Premier League home game without conceding for the first time in 13 matches, since a 2-0 victory against Brentford in January.
• Chelsea have kept two clean sheets in their last three Premier League games - one more than in their previous 28 matches in the competition.
• Morgan Rogers became just the second Premier League player to reach 10 goal involvements in all competitions this season (6 goals, 4 assists), after Erling Haaland (13).
• With an average age of 23 years and 89 days, Chelsea named their joint-second youngest starting line-up in a Premier League match (also 23y 89d against Newcastle in October 2024). Only against Crystal Palace in December 2023 have they had a younger one (23y 21d).
• Cole Palmer scored his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea; in his 105th appearance, he's the third-fastest to reach the milestone for the Blues after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (84) and Diego Costa (85).

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