Michael Carrick has once again been failed by Manchester United's flops after falling to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea as a lack of discipline plagues the club

Michael Carrick has once again been failed by the spineless flops that he has to bank on to save his job as more dreadful defending and shameful discipline by Lisandro Martinez saw Manchester United lose again 2-0 at Chelsea.

After an incredibly positive first-half where United should have taken the lead in what was a vastly improved performance. Shocking defending allowed Morgan Rogers the opportunity to stroll through on goal to make it 1-0, before Martinez's seemingly best efforts at burning every bridge he has left at Old Trafford by giving a penalty away and being sent off for an unacceptable failure of control saw Chelsea go 2-0 up through Cole Palmer.

The build-up to the game has been one of the toughest United have faced in recent years with Carrick surviving crisis talks between owners, the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as well as Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox following the disastrous 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth last Sunday.

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United arrived at Stamford Bridge eight games without a win in all competitions, and with relationships and reputations from their star players to rebuild with the fans, which looked promising for 45 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes was named back in the starting line-up after watching the Bournemouth defeat as an unused substitute following comments criticising Carrick’s tactics in the 4-1 loss against Como in the Champions League just days before. Another sad situation Carrick had to deal with weeks after Martinez’s outburst at the board in the wake of the Atletico Madrid defeat.

United fans’ astonishing reaction to cheer Carrick and boo the players off after the Bournemouth game just minutes into the game. United fans made their opinion clear on their manager as the away end sang Carrick’s name before anti-Glazer, Ratcliffe and Jason Wilcox chants followed.

But it wasn’t just the United manager under pressure with question marks arising around Xabi Alonso following a dismal 2-0 defeat at home against Tottenham last time out.

The game could have become cagey because of that pressure, but both teams were forward-thinking, making a great spectacle for the neutral. Andrey Santos saw a whipped effort from outside the box fly just wide of the far post before Estevao saw his tap-in ruled out by the offside flag.

It was the visitors who had the best chances of the opening half hour, with Fernandes shanking a bouncing ball over the bar with his left foot while one-on-one before Bryan Mbeumo failed to throw himself at Fernandes’ drilled ball across the face of goal for a certain tap-in.

The chances kept coming for United with Matheus Cunha putting the ball in the box of the net from a corner, but the Brazilian was offside. Amad Diallo then missed another golden one-on-one chance when he sliced his effort over the bar on the stroke of half-time.

Despite a breathless half of chances at either end, the first-half ended goalless with Carrick certainly the happier manager, but his side failed to take their openings against a Chelsea side who created chances of their own, largely on the counter-attack.

And it took just five minutes of the second half for United’s dreadfully soft defence to be exposed as Morgan Rogers glided through the middle of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez without any sort of pressure.

Carrick couldn’t believe it on the bench again as the schoolboy defending, lacking any sort of commitment to wanting to defend, allowed Rogers through on goal to dink the ball over Senne Lammens. A great solo goal from Rogers’ point of view. But another terribly easy goal United conceded again.

From Mbeumo being caught on the ball at the halfway line and Carlos Baleba diving in for a challenge he couldn’t win and exposing the backline, who need every bit of protection they can get at the minute.

The start of the second half saw United lose control which Carrick attempted to regain by bringing on Kobbie Mainoo before the hour mark on his return from injury in place of Baleba, who is yet to find his feet since his £70million move from Brighton.

But Carrick had no chance for his changes to work due to Martinez once again letting the club and his manager down. The Argentine centre-back was bullied by Rogers and had to foul the Englishman on the edge of the box from a crossing position.

The subsequent free-kick was dropped into the back post where Wesley Fofana was sure to get his head on the ball, but Martinez jumped into him with his arms in his face, all while not looking at the ball. Seconds after a first yellow card, Martinez conceded a penalty after a VAR review and was sent off. The 28-year-old won the trust back of his manager after his Atletico comments, and once again has shamed that faith.

Palmer stepped up from the spot and converted his spot kick, which should have been saved by Lammens who was unable to keep the ball out despite getting both hands to the strike that wasn’t in the corner to add insult to injury for Carrick.

Carrick sent on Mason Mount and Ayden Heaven to plug the gap left by Martinez, but just minutes later Estevao had the ball in the back of the net for a second time, but again he was offside.

The game went through the motions as the final whistle drew closer. Mbeumo saw a spectacular strike from outside the box tipped onto the bar by Mike Penders, denying a grandstand finish. However, Palmer should have had a second while Valentino Barco failed to make it three by missing from close range at the back post on the half volley.