Manchester United were plunged into their ninth game without a victory in all competitions as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
However, Michael Carrick’s team found it harder to make the most of their early chances in the second half, as Fernandes shot over from a good position and Amad Diallo kept troubling the visitors’ back four.
Chelsea too went close via Estevao, who had his shot disallowed for offside and from the same end at the other end, Matheus Cunha’s header was also disallowed.
The hosts finally opened the scoring just after half-time when Morgan Rogers scored a wonderful goal, as he lobbed goalkeeper Senne Lammens after receiving the pass of Romeo Lavia.
United’s aspirations of bouncing back were further dented when Lisandro Martinez was dismissed for his second yellow card following a challenge on Fofana just inside the box.
Palmer was awarded a penalty for catching Lammens who got a touch to it, doubling Chelsea’s lead.
Following this, a third Estevao attempt was also chalked off for offside, with Chelsea on top.
Bryan Mbeumo hit the bar in stoppage time, but United just couldn’t get back.
The loss heightened Carrick’s plight as he watched his side teeter on the brink of the Premier League drop zone.
