It gets worse for David Moyes. Newcastle United recorded their first win at Old Trafford since 1972 to heap further misery on the Manchester United manager with a resilient 1-0 win.
United had not lost back-to-back Premier League home games since May 2002, but Yohan Cabaye's deflected winner inflicted a fifth League defeat upon the uninspiring hosts to end Newcastle's own hoodoo, three days after Everton claimed three points at M16 for the first time in 21 years.
Nicknamed "dithering Davie" by some Blues fans during his time at Goodison Park, it was more "desperate Davie" when Moyes asked Robin van Persie, "Are you going to be okay?" Displaying a stubble and more flecks of grey in his hair, the obviously unfit Dutchman looked 10 years older.
United's dejected players react after Cabaye's winner
Chasing the game, Moyes' options were utterly inadequate. Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley offered no creative thrust again and the pace was so pedestrian in the first 45 the game resembled a testimonial match. That Anderson was introduced for the nondescript Cleverley highlighted how short on quality this United squad, pining for Sir Alex Ferguson's influence, is.
United enjoyed a rousing spell shortly after the break when Patrice Evra's header hit the post and then Vurnon Anita's arm on the line. It looked like the ball would have gone in but for the Dutchman's intervention, yet United were out of luck.
And Moyes' lucklessness extended to the manner of Cabaye's decider. Patrice Evra's header ricocheted off Moussa Sissoko and the Frenchman ran to the byline to pull back for his compatriot, whose shot flicked off Nemanja Vidić to divert the ball past David de Gea.
The raw Wilfried Zaha was granted a Premier League debut and Van Persie had a goal rightly chalked off for offside by assistant Sian Massey, but, just like at Tottenham last weekend, there was no stirring surge from the champions and Newcastle defended their goal with startling ease.
United travel to Aston Villa, a side who have not won at home against the Red Devils since 1995, next weekend. Another run could be ended.