And on that note … here is David Hynter’s report from Old Trafford.

Thanks for joining me.

Michael Carrick: “It was a good night, I must give a lot of credit to the payers for character and to the supporters. I think we grew into it after giving goals too easily. The boys made everything of every little opportunity.

“I told them to not get too disappointed, I thought we were coming into the game. It didn’t feel like that to the players who were carrying a lot of disappointed.

“It’s one game, so it depends on what happens next. We need to capitalise on that. I thought Youri was fantastic and showed everything that he is. It was nice to see this place like that again.

“I am delighted for Shea, he is so talented. He is well liked, the boys respect him a lot. To see young players take opportunities like that, there are not many better things.

“Seeing the supporters going home happy is what we live for.

“We’ve shown a lot of character as a group, I hope the players have found out a lot about me, I’ve found out a lot about them.”

Over in Barcelona …

Kobbie Mainoo: “It was unbelievable, it was the magic of this stadium and club to come from two goals down. We needed a bit of a kick, we were a bit reactionary. The boss really drilled into us that we needed to be more active and take the game.

“We know what we are capable of and are dangerous team, it is all about getting the to come together. Everyone is buzzing."

Some honest and meaningful words from Fernandes there. Strong but honest words. He also offered up a late swear.

Bruno Fernandes: “It’s tough to say something, it’s been a tough period for us, we have not been able to perform the way we want. We have not been consistent. Today was important to get a win. We knew after half time we still had the fans with us and we could change it with a goal. Fortunately we did.

“IN the first one it didn’t go the way I wanted, I did something wrong with the way I prepared. I cleared my head and scored.

“It’s been tough for the fans but having their belief helps the side. Today was one of those days that Old Trafford came alive and we made Roma experience that.

“It is about performing and getting results at this club. It’s been a long time without a win, it’s been frustrating for them and us too. The fans want to win games, they are used to seeing this club at the top. We are frustrated with the situation at the moment and hopefully this win is the start of something good.

“We don’t need to save anyone’s job. The club and the players needed that win. The situation has been tough, there have been a lot of lies in the media. The manager made a decision to put me on the bench because of my performances, that’s fair. People thought it was a punishment for the words I said and if it was, he was right, the manager is the one who makes the decision and I have to agree with that.”

Youri Tielemans: “It is brilliant. The fans were brilliant. Tonight the turnaround was brilliant. We were on the front foot in the second half and we succeeded. There has been a lot of pressure on the manager and we paid him back with a comeback. All we can do is stick behind him and support him.

“At the end of the say we are on the pitch, we need to show what we are capable of.

“Let’s hope this is a good turnaround for us and we can build on this.”

I feel I enjoyed a nice few moments of calm there to recover after the silliness of all that soccer.

Surely this means my day off is safe …

Cunha is arguing with a United official about something or other.

I wonder if he’s not allowed back on the pitch after being sent off.

Joshua Keeling ponders: “Matheus Robins?”

Berrada and Wilcox are not giving much away with their emotions in the stands. I suspect they are just as confused as everyone else.

90+4 mins: Cristante lifts a cross to the back post for Castro, who heads well wide.

90+3 mins: The United fans return to chants of wanting the Glazers out.

90+2 mins: Can United hold on with 10 men?!

Roma are looking for an opening but the hosts have gone very deep.

Mbeumo is fouled when taking the ball up the pitch and is happy to be so.

90 mins: Five minutes added on.

89 mins: The fans are chanting Carrick’s name now.

Kevin Wilson writes: “Lacey has turned the game. Maybe trust the kids, Michael.”

88 mins: CAN UNITED HOLD ON?! Is the new question.

De Ligt and Mount are coming on. Maguire and Fernandes off.

GOAL! A stunning pass from Lacey finds Cunha inside the box, he takes a touch and then hits the ball with the ferocity of a very angry man to beat the goalkeeper at the near post. The Brazilian then dives into the crowd and everyone is loving it.

85 mins: Castro and Maguire are down inside the Roma half after a coming together.

84 mins: I think it is far to say this has been a game of two halves. Roma were dominant in the first, United in the second. Will we get a dramatic end?

82 mins: Lacey is looking to take Wesley on whenever he gets the ball.

81 mins: United offer some promise going forward but it all falls down on the edge of the box.

79 mins: Castro battles with Maguire and catches an arm in the face, which the referee deems is worthy of a foul and booking for the United defender.

78 mins: Malen off, Castro on for Roma.

77 mins: United look a threat from set-pieces, so maybe should try and work a way of winning more corners.

In the meantime, Cunha forces the goalkeeper into a decent save with a shot from distance. Lacey picks up the loose ball and defeats Wesley, getting a cross in, only to be taken down by the wing-back. United want a penalty but the officials are having none of it.

75 mins: Martinez and Lacey are coming on. The Argentinian gets a mixed reception as he replaces Heaven, while the academy graduate is cheered as Diallo goes off.

Roma take off Mancini and Hermoso, Ndicka and Ghilardi on.

74 mins: The game has become a little bit scrappy in the past two minutes. Carrick has readied Martinez …

72 mins: Everything was going so well, and then Dalot falls over to give away a throw.

71 mins: Cunha wins the ball on the right and drives at Balerdi who takes it off his toes.

70 mins: There’s something akin to a zip about United at the moment.

That is briefly halted by Heaven being penalised for a foul and then booked.

68 mins: Another corner! Mbeumo lifts it to the back post where Maguire is battling to get on the end of it, having got the better of Balerdi, but he can’t get his effort on target.

67 mins: Mbeumo swings in a second corner from the right, which is headed back across goal for Dalot to nod towards the net, only to it cleared off the line.

66 mins: United have a corner on the left for Fernandes to whip in. It reaches Maguire at the back post but his header is blocked by Wesley.

One key issue for United is a lack of options on the bench. Carrick could bring on Lacey, Mount or Zirkzee if he wants an attacking option but it’s not the most exciting thought.

65 mins: United are moving at greater speed, going from one end of the pitch to the other. It catches Roma out and gives Dalot a chance but he hits the side netting.

United go back at Roma and Fernandes finds Diallo in the box, he cuts in but his shot is blocked. United are on top here.

63 mins: Obviously, we should also remember the wider Champions League context because a loss here would mean it is three defeats in four for United in the competition.

61 mins: United need to build on this because they have half an hour to save the manager’s job, I would argue. The fans are doing their bit.

59 mins: Cunha sends the ball through for Mbeumo who reaches it first and takes aim. His shot defeats the goalkeeper but comes back after hitting both posts. Old Trafford is rocking now.

56 mins: VAR is having a good look … does Cunha trip himself up? Fernandes has the ball in his hand as United wait for a final verdict. Penalty given.

55 mins: PENALTY TO UNITED! Cunha is bundled over in the box by Mancini. The Brazilian then demands some passion from the crowd.

53 mins: Cunha receives a pass over the top from Maguire and thinks he’s won a corner but it is a goal-kick. Nothing is going for United but you earn your own luck in this game.

52 mins: James writes: Loving the minute by minute. United fans can blame Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and the Jim Reaper all they like, but ALL of this mess can be traced back to Alex Ferguson and that horse—Rock of Gibraltar. The man simultaneously built and then broke the club with that disagreement over money. It let the Glazers in, sent some good businessmen packing and now look where they are. For all the clowns that are now running the circus, it was the original ringmaster who this can all be traced back to.

“Ego is the enemy folks.”

51 mins: Baleba removes his shirt and gives it to a young fan before walking down the tunnel. That’s the only decent moment for the supporters thus far.

Tielemans finally gets on after a long wait.

Burt Bosma writes: “Every United player seems to have forgotten how to play. No one moves until the pass is made, no one is anticipating, no one is running into spaces or just trying to create space by just moving. A bunch of rabbits caught in the headlights waiting to be hit by the truck.”

49 mins: Old Trafford is silent except for the Roma fans.

47 mins: Baleba produces a stunning moment for United and gets through the Roma defence. He looks set to cross for Mbeumo to knock into the net, only to pull up with a hamstring injury. Tielemans is prepared. Baleba looks upset.

In even worse news for United, Dalot is still on the pitch.

Pisilli replaces Mora for Roma but United have stuck with the same XI.

David Johnson quips: “I’m a City fan, and I should be rejoicing, but for the first time in my life I feel sorry for fans of the Forces of Darkness. Keep this up and we’ll be having a Manchester derby in the Northern Premier.”

Surely, Jason Wilcox cannot survive this utter incompetence.

I am not sure why anyone would want to replace Carrick. Not much going on here.

Jason emails: “The biggest problem is not the ownership. It doesn’t help, but it’s not the main issue. It’s the team building strategy. They spend too much money on too many replacement-level players (offered to them by agents happy to get a payday), and have forgotten that the passion for playing for United comes from a blend of established players and the youth program.

“Look at the lineup today. Put it in Coventry’s shirts. You wouldn’t be surprised at the results.

“How many players on this team would have gotten games for Man U during the 1998-99 season? Bruno, the “player of the year,” would have been the 6^th best midfielder, at best. No forward would have played in front of those four great strikers. And the D? No chance.

“There is Man United’s problem.”

Half-time reading.

BOOOOOOOOOO! Comes the sound from the stands. Wilcox and Berrada seek some warmth.

45 mins: Malen latches onto a flick on and then thwacks a shot across Lammens who gets down well.

Two minutes added on.

44 mins: Fernandes swipes over from 18 yards with his left foot and then complains about the pass not being good enough. He seems frustrated by how bad things are.

43 mins: Eddie Munro writes: “There seem to be many reasons for why United are doing so badly but some I don’t see mentioned enough are that compared to last season, there’s a big Casemiro shaped hole in the midfield (both physically and metaphysically) which means poorer build up play and no protection for the defence and no Sesko to come on as a super-sub to turn draws into wins and defeats into draws (and hide bad performances).

“Also members of this squad have shown repeatedly in the past that they cannot handle two games a week, either mentally of physically (which is funny considering they were complaining in the 2nd half of last season that they didn’t have enough games to stay fit).

“Obviously Carrick is trying to change the style of play as well (from mostly counter-attacks to mostly possession) which is what did for Ole. Sack and sell everyone except Carrick and any player under 24 (but sell Zirkzee cos it’s not working) any other solution is just more of the same cycle.”

42 mins: Malen is booked for pulling back Baleba around 28 yards out. Maybe United should just shoot. Fernandes lines it up … and hits the wall. Everyone go for a half-time pint.

41 mins: United have enjoyed slightly more possession, so there is that.

Rob Hopkins emails “Surely Amass isn’t as bad as this, the reluctance to trust a youth player who’s trained and played that position his whole life is worth a shot. Sure, he might make a mistake, but that would be 4 less than Dalot has made in 30 mins.”

You’d hope not. They were open to selling him in the summer despite the fact they had no other options.

40 mins: Almost a third for Roma who easily play through United and the ball is set up for Mora to finish but Yoro saves the day.

Krishnamoorthy writes: “Now I realise that Jose has gone to Real and am kicking myself for my earlier mail of Jose driving the nail

“Whoever it is , the problem at United today is not going to be fixed by resting their captain, dropping their goal keeper , or removing their manager - the united problem needs a complete overhaul - and you need a man of SAF’s calibre to build something new from scratch.”

38 mins: United are working away around the edge of the Roma box but do not look like crating anything. They have yet to test Roma’s third-choice ‘keeper.

“I really thought with City’s existential crisis that United would revel in former glory but also lay low in terms of drama, instead it’s as if they’ve gone - hold my beer …” says Nicola Schofield. “I can see if City get a points deduction which team they’ll potentially save from relegation!! (May 2027 final plot twist).”

36 mins: Lulli is booked for a very blatant handball. He seemed genuinely worried if Dalot got beyond him in possession of the ball, he could do some damage. How naive.

Pramith Pillai emails: “There is no hope. Carrick doesn’t trust the young defenders, which makes them nervous & uncertain while defending. Our left-back is an aspirational footballer who’s already burned out as a right-back.

“I hope we’ll get Conte soon. If not, I doubt we’ll win anything in the Championship next year as well.”

34 mins: Mbeumo gets the wrong side of the Roma defence but is naturally caught and tackled before any danger comes of it. United are just going through the motions now.

32 mins: To be fair, Cunha is putting in the hard yards here but the chances of it making a difference are slim.

“I’d be less inclined to blame the 20 year old Ayden Heaven,” writes Andy Donald. “I’d be looking squarely at Dalot for that - he’s been exposing his fellow defenders for many years now. I’d wonder how many goals he has directly been at fault for in the past 10 games. It must be close to 50%. It’s 100% tonight anyway.”

30 mins: If Malen can show United something, it is that underperforming Dutch strikers can come good. Surely Zirkzee can’t be any worse than this anonymous effort in the final third.

Stephen Carr emails: “Evening Will, I’m really excited to see Diogo Dalot’s renaissance as a footballer once the Glazer’s sell up ...”

Kári Tulinius writes: “What a season Roma is having so far! Such a good watch, too. Gianpiero Gasperini has fashioned an exciting, dynamic side out of parts that didn’t fit obviously together. This time they feel like genuine title contenders. Winning Ol’ Big Ears is almost certainly beyond them, but they’ll have a good go.”

28 mins: Diallo drives into the box and goes down but it is fine tackle from Wesley, even if the United fans think it merits a penalty.

26 mins: Michael Carrick said people would think he is “crazy” for looking forward to this game. Yes, yes we do.

Baleba enjoys a respectable one-two with Cunha on the edge of the box but the resulting shot goes well over.

24 mins: “Sell United and f*** off home” comes the chant around the ground.

Peter Oh emails: “David Flynn’s shrewd managerial analysis reminds me of something I’ve wondered about for a while. Why, when their team has just conceded, do coaches feel the need to immediately crowd around an iPad? Why don’t they get up to look their players in the eye and encourage them to regroup?

“It’s as if the screen offers an answer that can’t be discerned from looking at the actual pitch!

“Game’s gone.”

Joshua Keeling asks: “How bad will this get? Why is Carrick still there? Why is life so hard?”

22 mins: The United fans are throwing tennis balls and other items onto the pitch in protest at the ownership and the dreadful way in which the club is being run.

Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada look miserable.

Rensch goes off injured and Lulli is on.

Matthew Lysaght emails: “I would rather have William Prunier than Ayden Heaven at this stage.”

20 mins: Soule fumes at Fernandes for United not kicking the ball out for an injury. The Argentinian gets up in the United captain’s face and they both get booked. Poor refereeing.

18 mins: Dalot gives the ball away in pathetic fashion in his own half and it looks like Roma are in for a third but Heaven puts in a last-ditch tackle.

Jason Wilcox, why didn’t you sign a backup left-back?

I was anticipating a day off tomorrow but that is rapidly going out of the window.

16 mins: PENALTY! Heaven is penalised for blocking a shot with his arm. It all came from Dalot being a mile out of position again.

Roma have scored 28 goals in 10 Serie A games this season. United may need to worry here based on their utterly woeful defending.

14 mins: United come back at Roma through Fernandes down the right and his cross goes along the six-yard line before Mancini clears, a split second ahead of Cunha meeting the ball.

Joshua Keeling emails: “How much space?! Where was Dalot?! Outstanding work, United.”

GOAL! United lose the ball in their own half and Roma move at speed, with Mora ping a pass from left to right where Soule is awaiting, helped by Dalot being dreadfully out of position. He gives Lammens the eyes and finds the bottom corner.

10 mins: Maguire pings a long ball over the top for Fernandes to chase but it lacks the requisite direction and Roma mop up.

Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo seem to be rotating the role of false 9 at the moment, which is a bold move.

8 mins: Malen looks to do some damage on the edge of the United box but is quickly crowded out and the hosts clear the ball upfield.

6 mins: Diallo is eager to get on the ball in the early stages. There is positivity around the team and a little more energy that we’ve seen recently. They need the crowd behind them and they are doing their job.

David Flynn emails: “Nuno wouldn’t fit the bill anyway, it’s experimental European iPad manager next, followed by former player with no managerial experience. So whoever is the Ajax under 18s coach at the moment, then Lee Sharpe.”

4 mins: United survive the first two minutes without conceded, so that’s a good start.

Diallo and Cunha combine on the right but the former’s cross is easily blocked.

2 mins: The United back four is (from left to right) Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot. Good luck, lads.

The players hold a minute’s silence for the Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel died after a collision with the Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a match in the second division.

The players are heading out onto the pitch.

“We want Glazers out” comes the chant from the Stretford End.

Plenty of green and gold balloons in the away end as the fans make a point against the owners. The fans want the Glazers out and they are not particularly enamoured with Sir Jim. Two home losses this week will ramp up the toxicity at Old Trafford.

United have conceded in the opening two minutes in their past two Champions League games. Anything better than that would be a boost.

The players are cheered off after the warmup, which is a start.

Elsewhere …

Can United impress Barney Ronay ?

Time to get warm.

Michael Carrick: “A big challenge, it’s what you expect. They’ve had a very good start to the season. We want to be in this competition to challenge ourselves against good teams. It’s a big night for us.

“We have to pick a team, we’ve got good players. We’ve made a decision for tonight.

“We’ve got some really good midfielders with different strengths. We think it’s a good time to put Kobbie back in with the attributes him and Baleba have.”

Gorton-born Butt on TV and another one on the blog. A big day for east Manchester. Both quite critical of United at the moment.

Gene Salorio asks: “So now that Nuno is back on the market, does he get a ticket to the Manchester United new manager sweepstakes?”

NO!

Ashley Young suggests if Michael Carrick is forced out, then Jason Wilcox should go too.

Something I have suggested, too, and being on this blog is mainly about promoting your own work.

The great John Brewin wrote about how Manchester United have become unmanageable.

Busby and Ferguson built the club around themselves, possessing the charisma to convince others that theirs was the path to follow. Carrick, an insider, a club man, is falling victim to the same isolation as his predecessors in failure. Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez going off-piste in TV interviews to depth charge Carrick were actually following club tradition. With glamour comes decadence, the faded grandeur that has so often chased a United manager out the door.

Bit of fun among the team news … Martinez is dropped, allowing us all to guess how the United back four will start off. I feel Yoro deserves a go at centre-back but I will almost certainly be wrong.

Roma are giving a debut to third-choice goalkeeper Devis Vásquez, who is a 28-year-old who once had a loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

Ayden Heaven was put up for the pre-match interview – don’t worry he did not say anything on note. The Amazon pundits are perplexed that the young defender forced to face the cameras, with Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney wanting someone more senior to take responsibility.

Roma sit one place above Como in Serie A, which should worry United.

I went to see Michael Carrick yesterday for a bit of knockabout fun.