Manchester United end a day in the relegation zone for the first time in 40 years
Manchester United will take on Aston Villa at Old Trafford today (Sunday). Before that, they suffered a major blow to morale. For the first time in 40 years, the Manchester club ended a day in the relegation zone at this stage of a season.
The reason United became one of the bottom three teams in the Premier League table without even playing is Nottingham Forest's win. Forest beat the other Manchester club 3-1 to climb out of the relegation zone. With Manchester City's third consecutive defeat, United ended a day in relegation in the top flight after playing at least nine matches for the first time since November 1986. That time they were 21st after 15 matches.
If Sunderland beat Chelsea today and Crystal Palace avoid defeat against Liverpool, Michael Carrick's side will become the very bottom team in the table even before facing Aston Villa.
United have not won a league match since beating Ipswich Town 5-2 on 30 August. Carrick and his players have already set the club's worst start to a Premier League season, and it is the worst in 40 years.
In November 1986, coach Ron Atkinson was sacked. Sir Alex Ferguson then succeeded him at Old Trafford.
Carrick's position has also looked quite shaky recently. Although Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League win against AS Roma eased the pressure somewhat, the uncertainty has not gone away. Another defeat against Villa may bring the former United midfielder's journey to an end.
