Manchester United were humiliated 3-0 at home by Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday as the pressure ratcheted up once again on manager Erik Ten Hag.
The Dutchman looked forlorn as he watched on in the teaming Old Trafford rain as his shambolic side were comprehensively outplayed by in-form Bournemouth.
Bournemouth deservedly led at the break thanks to Dominic Solanke’s close-range effort after five minutes.
The hosts were finally beginning to threaten an equaliser in the second half but were floored by two goals in five minutes for Bournemouth – Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi both scoring with thumping headers as United’s defence went AWOL.
Bournemouth hunted for more goals and were denied a very late fourth when Dango Ouattara bundled through and netted but his effort was ruled out for handball after a VAR check.
Bournemouth’s victory did not flatter them in the slightest and the south coast club have now won four of their last five league games to climb to relative safety in 13th place.
For United it remains one step forward and two steps back as they undid all the good work of their impressive midweek victory over Chelsea.
Elsewhere, James McAtee scored his first Premier League goal with a stunning strike into the far top corner that gave Sheffield United a 1-0 win over Brentford at Bramall Lane for only their second victory this season.
The precious three points – and a first win for Chris Wilder in his second stint as Blades manager – were not enough for his team to climb off the bottom of the table, where they have eight points after 16 games. The Bees are 11th on 19 points.
The 21-year-old McAtee, who is on loan from Manchester City, lit up rain-lashed Bramall just before half-time when he hit a left-footed shot from the right side of the box to the far corner off a pass from Gustavo Hamer.
Wilder returned for his second managerial stint at Sheffield United on Tuesday following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom after last week’s 5-0 defeat to Burnley.
Simon Adingra’s header cancelled out a superb strike by Wilson Odobert meanwhile as Brighton came back from a goal down to grab a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley, with keeper Jack Trafford excelling for the visitors.
Finally, Nottingham Forest earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers as their fans once again showed their support for under-pressure manager Steve Cooper.
A midweek thrashing at Fulham, Forest’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, has raised questions about Cooper’s job, but his side responded well at Molineux.
Forest made a fast start and Harry Toffolo rose to meet a superb delivery by Neco Williams to give them the lead in the 14th minute.
Wolves equalised in the 34th with Matheus Cunha finishing off a flowing move.
But Forest could have taken all three points with Cheikhou Kouyate denied by Wolves keeper Jose Sa and Anthony Elanga thumping an effort against the crossbar.
Forest, whose fans sang Cooper’s name throughout the game, are in 16th place with 14 points, five ahead of third-from-bottom Luton Town, while Wolves are 12th on 19 points.