MANCHESTER UNITED 0-3 BOURNEMOUTH: Michael Carrick's season went from bad to worse as the Cherries secured a relatively simple win at Old Trafford as Bruno Fernandes was forced to watch on after being dropped

Manchester United's season reached new lows on Saturday as Bournemouth secured a comfortable victory on an afternoon where Old Trafford turned toxic.

A Bruno Fernandes-less Red Devils side lacked any spark with Michael Carrick now surely on the brink of losing his job as the Cherries won 3-0 at United for the third time in four years.

The hosts were two goals down by half-time with Rayan and Marcus Tavernier putting the Cherries on course for another success in Manchester. Evanilson capped the afternoon with a sensational third 20 minutes from time.

The two opening goals coming inside five minutes of the first-half - Rayan finishing from a free-kick before Tavernier benefited from a defensive slip.

United showed nothing by way of a fightback in the second-half and Evanilson was able to round Senne Lammens before finishing brilliant from out wide in front of the travelling fans.

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Bournemouth had the better of the early exchanges and found themselves bearing down on goal, but Rayan could not make the most of a three-on-one opportunity as his effort was blocked. United gradually got themselves back into the contest without posing any major threat.

The deadlock was finally broken come the 37th minute as Rayan's side-footed finish at the back post opened the scoring. His goal coming from a free-kick that owed to a poor Ayden Heaven two-footed challenge, which only earned him a yellow card.

The travelling faithful quickly erupted into chants of 'you're getting sacked in the morning' as Carrick watched his side fall behind yet again. But things would get worse before the interval as Leny Yoro, being chased down by Adrien Truffert, slipped and that allowed the left-back to square the ball for Tavernier, who slotted into an empty net.

Matheus Cunha, not Fernandes, was the man called upon to change United's direction of travel as the hosts ran out for the second-half, but only the offside flag prevented Bournemouth from going three goals up inside 30 seconds of the restart.

Evanilson was deserving of his strike after 70 minutes as he curled home from far out after rounding the United goalkeeper, but come the dying stages Old Trafford had rafts of empty seats. The home fans have seen enough.

IS CARRICK'S BRUNO STATEMENT FINAL ACT?

With Fernandes, without Fernandes. There doesn't seem to be much of a difference when it comes to this United side. Carrick had little option but to drop his captain in light of the comments he made during the week. Was that going to be an example of self harm? Or did he have to show some authority?

In all honesty it probably didn't make much difference. United were seven games without a win with Fernandes in the team. That was extended to eight without him, and even with the Red Devils three goals down and needing a goal, the Portugal international remained glued to the bench with Carrick happy to go down without him. Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee and Shea Lacey all called upon instead.

It would be remiss to claim that having Fernandes in the team would've changed the course of the afternoon. The Portuguese playmaker has not been replicating the form that made him the PFA Player of the Year last season.

His recent demise has mirrored that of his team, who were on a wave of momentum under Carrick last season as they rose up to third. This result now leaves them one point off being third from bottom as the Bournemouth fans sang that United were going down with City.

It isn't that bed, yet, but Carrick's latest and boldest roll of the dice has done nothing to change his fortunes, with time desperately running out.

OLD TRAFFORD'S SEEN ENOUGH

When fans walk out before the half-time whistle you know you're in the midst of a low ebb. For all the dire afternoons at Old Trafford since 2013, the fans have showed more patience and staying power than the players, the managers and the hierarchy have deserved.

But in the midst of a seven game winless run, which was extended to eight, it was after Tavernier's goal that doubled Bournemouth lead that the camera panned to fans walking up the concourse and for the exit. That was only 42 minutes in, but they'd seen enough.

Even the boos, which have been more regular than ever this season, have been kept under wraps for the last decade considering the results and performances, but this feels like a real tipping point, and one that could see a major change, likely in the dugout.

There was a huge black banner in the stands that read "standards". It had a images of those from yesteryear, when United were the dominant force. Nowadays they're a million miles from that, and things only seem to be getting worse.

HEAVEN DODGES RED, BUT PAYS PRICE

Gary Neville remarked that we "don't see tackles like that anymore", half joking that the last time he saw a player fly in with two feet was in the 1980s when United great Bryan Robson was still playing.

The young defender is still very much a player learning his trade, but his poor tackle was lucky to escape a dismissal. VAR checked the challenge and claimed he stayed on the pitch only because he made no contact with Evanilson, who himself looked stunned that Heaven had even attempted such a tackle.

To add insult to injury, it was from the resulting free-kick that Bournemouth scored their opening goal as Rayan volleyed home at the back post. Heaven himself was complaining for a foul as the delivery came in, but his complaint was surely born out of hope and not expectation. He and United simply got what they deserved.