Michael Carrick dropped Bruno Fernandes and only saw his problems mount as Manchester United succumbed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
The 4-1 loss away to Como on Wednesday, a seventh game without a win, had already heaped pressure on Carrick with the issues exacerbated by the comments made by Fernandes that Gary Neville viewed as "a direct attack on the manager" and his tactics.
The United boss desperately needed a response. What he received from his confidence-shot players was a lacklustre display from the outset, Bournemouth deserving of their lead long before Rayan calmly volleyed in at the far post from Justin Kluivert's free-kick.
Ayden Heaven's wild lunge conceded that free-kick and it was Leny Yoro's slip that allowed Marcus Tavernier to slot in a second before the break, sparking boos from the home fans and further chants of 'sacked in the morning' from the jubilant away support.
Carrick turned to Matheus Cunha rather than Fernandes at half-time, hooking the desperately poor Youri Tielemans, but United got worse. Evanilson had one effort ruled out after calamitous defending. Rayan should have punished another Heaven mistake.
The arrival of Lisandro Martinez in place of the young defender did not improve things with a hapless cameo during which Evanilson beat Senne Lammens to the ball and finished fantastically for the third. Fernandes stayed on the bench. But what now?
For Marco Rose's Bournemouth, it is back-to-back wins and four in a row in all competitions. How long it remains Carrick's United is unclear. Eight games without a win, 16th in the table and one point above the drop zone, this is a team disjointed, a club divided.
The fans in the Stretford End directed their ire at the Glazer family, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Jason Wilcox, singing Carrick's name as he walked down the tunnel before booing the players. And it is the manager whose job is now on the line. Only at Manchester United.
Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick speaking to Your Site:
"It was a strange mix of emotions at the end of the game. It wasn't a nice way to end the game.
"It was a tough day for the players. We went into the game having been rocked. You can feel that. They're really hurting and disappointed in there. It's not a nice feeling. You have to accept it, we're in that situation.
"It's a tough situation. What is next? I don't know. I'll always do what's best for this football club. I don't change that now. I love what I do. I love the responsibility. But we'll have to wait and see."
Your Site' Gary Neville at Old Trafford:
"Michael Carrick is popular. But the owners, the sporting department and the players are not popular. They have badly let the club down.
"Tomorrow, they will probably make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans but it is probably necessary.
"The club is a mess."
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose speaking in the press conference:
"We wanted to be front-footed. We wanted to be brave and we played brave. We have good players and we showed it. We were just Bournemouth today.
"I feel a lot of empathy for my colleagues, for everyone. People must understand that we are just humans trying to do our job in the best possible way.
"When the game starts it is about the lads, sometimes about momentum, a bit of luck. It is never easy. I feel empathy for Michael."
38 - GOAL! Rayan finished at the far post for the first
43 - GOAL! Tavernier doubled the lead after Yoro's slip
71 - GOAL! Evanilson beat Lammens to the ball for three
