Chelsea pile more misery on Man Utd as Martinez sees red
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Pic: Adam Davy/Press Association.
Michael Carrick is running out of time and all eyes are on Lisandro 'The Butcher ’ Martinez after he made a mess of his matchday masterplan by being needlessly sent off in a second-half collapse that resulted in Manchester United’s ninth match without a win.
United host Aston Villa next Sunday in the last game before the international break, facing what looks like a relegation battle instead of a Premier League title challenge. Whether or not Carrick remains in charge much longer either side of that match remains to be seen.
Not quite in the two bald men fighting over a comb category, this match was more like the upcoming Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua heavyweight fight – two sporting icons past their best but a match-up that every bloodthirsty sports fan still wanted to see and follow.
And while Carrick lamented his lot, the result was a huge boost for his Chelsea counterpart Xabi Alonso on the back of damaging defeats by Tottenham and Liverpool.
After an entertaining but goalless first half, the game came to life after the break with goals from Morgan Rogers and his childhood pal Cole Palmer as United disintegrated following the red card for their Argentine defender.
United began brightly enough, with Bruno Fernandes returning to the starting line-up alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Their travelling supporters made most of the noise, while chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge.
Estevao briefly thought he had put Chelsea ahead after 14 minutes, only for his finish to be ruled offside. Fernandes then lifted a shot over the bar before Cunha had a goal chalked off at the other end, VAR ruling him narrowly offside after he turned in a corner following Harry Maguire’s header.
Amad Diallo was United’s most dangerous outlet, twice exposing Wesley Fofana. On the second occasion, he spun past the Chelsea defender but fired over with only goalkeeper Mike Penders to beat. Pedro Neto almost made United pay before half-time, shooting narrowly wide after robbing Maguire.
United had been the better side for spells but looked vulnerable defensively, while their midfield struggled to control the game. The visitors had gone eight away league matches without a first-half goal and remained unbeaten in that sequence, but their record offered little comfort after the interval.
Rogers changed the mood in spectacular fashion. Collecting the ball just inside the United half, Chelsea’s £117million summer signing slalomed past three defenders before lifting a finish over the helpless Senne Lammens.
Suddenly Chelsea looked composed and United increasingly ragged. Carrick sent on Kobbie Mainoo for the off-the-pace Carlos Baleba, but the damage was about to deepen.
In the 63rd minute, referee Peter Bankes reviewed a pitchside monitor after initially missing an incident involving Martinez and Fofana. He awarded Chelsea a penalty for the foul and rightly showed Martinez a second yellow card, leaving United down to 10 men.
Palmer converted from the spot to make it 2-0, while Martinez had to be escorted away by his own team-mates as he protested his dismissal. The controversy was another unwelcome distraction for a defender who had apologised and been fined by the club following an outburst at the hierarchy after the Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid.
Estevao thought he had added a third in the 71st minute, lashing the ball into the roof of the net, but was denied by another marginal offside decision.
United’s hugely vocal travelling supporters had already turned their anger towards the club’s leadership, chanting “Sell United and f*** off home” and directing abuse at Wilcox, interspersed with backing for Carrick.
For a club that has cycled through 12 managers in 13 years, the latest defeat only intensified the sense of crisis. Chelsea, meanwhile, could take heart from a victory that eased the pressure after two damaging results.
Carrick’s immediate challenge is to find a response before Villa visit next weekend. On this evidence, the questions surrounding United are growing louder and the time available to answer them is running out.
: Penders 6; Acheampong 6, Fofana 5, Colwill 6, Palestra 5 (Chavarria 74); Caicedo 6 (Welbeck 87), Lavia 7; Estevao 7 Gusto 87), Palmer 6 (Quenda 90+7), Neto 6 (Barco 87); Rogers 7. Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Emegha, Nicoll-Jazuli, Subuloye.
: Lammens 6; Yoro 6, Maguire 5, Martinez 6, Dalot 6; Santos 5 (Heaven 66), Baleba 5 (Mainoo 57); Amad 6 (Zirkzee 77), Fernandes 5, Cunha 6 (Mount 66); Mbeumo 6. Subs: Darlow, Mazraoui, De Ligt , Tielemens, , Lacey.
: Peter Bankes 4
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