Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick believes Lisandro Martinez’s red card affected his side in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Morgan Rogers had opened the scoring before Martinez was sent off for a second bookable offence. He had been booked moments earlier for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
Chelsea were then awarded a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted to double the Blues’ lead.
Carrick, speaking to the BBC’s Match of the Day, said Martinez’s sending off affected the result.
“It has a major importance on the game. A huge moment. I think that is pretty obvious, really.”
United came close to scoring late on when Bryan Mbeumo struck the woodwork with a well-hit volley at the edge of the box.
Carrick believed his side could have got back into the contest had the Cameroonian scored.
“Probably summed it up really. Great strike from Bryan at the point. We would have been right in the game again.
“You back the lads to score, you back the lads to create chances. Bryan is one who epitomised how the game went.”
United had only themselves to blame for their defeat to Chelsea
United started strongly, missing several chances to score in the first half.
The Mancunian giants recorded 1.09 expected goals in the first half, higher than Chelsea’s 0.28, highlighting their profligacy in front of goal.
They started the second half slowly, leading to Rogers’ opener. The England international cut through easily before dinking the ball over Senne Lammens.
Martinez’s red card further disrupted United’s momentum, with Palmer converting the resulting penalty.
The defeat puts more pressure on Carrick, with United now winless in their last nine games across all competitions, their longest such run in 38 years.
There is no respite in sight for the former England international. United host Roma in the UEFA Champions League before welcoming Aston Villa to Old Trafford in the Premier League next Sunday.