Bournemouth compounded Manchester United’s troubles with a convincing 3-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, piling further pressure on manager Michael Carrick as the hosts extended their winless run to eight games.
Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson scored for the visitors to secure an emphatic Premier League victory, leaving United languishing in 16th position with seven points from eight matches.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 38th minute when Rayan volleyed home from close range after Justin Kluivert delivered a dangerous free kick into the penalty area.
The visitors doubled their advantage five minutes later, capitalising on a defensive error by Manchester United. Leny Yoro slipped at a crucial moment, allowing Adrien Truffert to square the ball for Tavernier, who finished into an unguarded net.
The two first-half goals left the home supporters frustrated, with boos greeting the half-time whistle after a disappointing display from Carrick’s side.
United struggled to create clear-cut chances, offering little attacking threat despite playing in front of their home supporters. Their lack of urgency and defensive lapses allowed Bournemouth to dictate the contest.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, who was dropped to the substitutes’ bench following criticism of Carrick’s tactics after Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat by Como, remained unused throughout the match.
Carrick described his decision to leave Fernandes out of the starting line-up as a football decision.
Bournemouth continued to threaten after the restart, with Evanilson having a goal ruled out for offside before Rayan missed further opportunities to extend the visitors’ lead.
United’s defensive problems persisted, and Bournemouth eventually scored their third goal in the 71st minute.
Evanilson capitalised on another defensive breakdown, racing onto a long clearance before taking the ball past goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had advanced from his penalty area, and curling it into the empty net.
The victory extended Bournemouth’s impressive record at Old Trafford, where they have now scored at least three goals in each of their past four Premier League visits without suffering defeat.
The result also marked a significant turnaround for Bournemouth, who recorded their first league victory of the season only last weekend but have now won four consecutive matches across all competitions.
For Manchester United, however, the defeat deepened an already difficult spell, with the team struggling to find consistency and defensive stability.
United have kept only one clean sheet in 12 matches across all competitions this season, raising further concerns about their defensive organisation.
Despite the disappointing performance, some supporters sang Carrick’s name at the final whistle as the manager completed a lap of appreciation around the pitch.
The applause directed at Carrick turned to jeers when the players followed him off the field, suggesting that sections of the home crowd were more frustrated with the team’s performance than with the manager himself.
Bournemouth climbed to 13th in the Premier League table following the victory, while United remained 16th on seven points after eight league matches.
