Manchester United are still without a league win after drawing at Leeds United on Sunday, and the result leaves Michael Carrick facing a decisive three-week stretch that could determine whether he keeps his job.
The Red Devils were improved from their midweek Champions League defeat but still could not take all three points at Elland Road, where Leeds had been favourites. United went into the game having won only two of their opening nine matches, against Ipswich Town and Sabah.
Leeds, managed by Daniel Farke, had lost only once this season before the weekend, falling to Arsenal at the Emirates. A point and a better display than the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid would have been a decent day in isolation, and that is what United got.
A point that does not ease the pressure
United led at half-time through Bryan Mbeumo's finish and looked the more likely side to win late on, but the draw does little to relieve the mounting pressure on Carrick.
The club's poor run has been thrown into sharper focus by comments from Lisandro Martinez aimed at the board over a lack of summer spending. Questions have also been raised over Carrick's control of the dressing room, with United players reportedly told not to speak to the press after the Leeds game.
Gary Neville voiced concerns about his former team-mate's position after the draw, saying: "If they're 13th in January, he's got a problem because then you are what you are, whereas I think it's still early enough, seven points from seven games, to say, 'Okay, still early in the season'; you can't say that after 15 games."
Fixtures that could decide Carrick's fate
Neville added: "It has to change in the next few weeks: Bournemouth is really important, and Chelsea away, and how he manages the games in between that."
January is too far away for the board to wait if Carrick is still only just ticking over. United play Como, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa before the international break in three weeks, a run that is make-or-break for the 45-year-old.
If United fail to take at least four points from their two Italian opponents in the Champions League, they can forget a top-eight finish, or even a top-16 spot and the chance of a more favourable home draw in the play-off second leg.
Vital home fixtures ahead
Bournemouth's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday is vital. The Cherries secured their first league win of the season against Sunderland at the weekend, though they remain without their best player, Alex Scott.
Failure to beat Como or Bournemouth would surely end Carrick's tenure. Even if United win those games, entertainers Chelsea and an in-form Aston Villa before the international break are sides they will hope to finish above at the end of the season.
United must spark their season into life by November 8 by beating Villa at Old Trafford, or Carrick will have no excuse to survive the two-week international break and be in the dugout at Anfield to face Liverpool after it.
