Michael Carrick was left looking like a dead man walking as a 10-man Manchester United endured a disastrous month.
The coach watched in disbelief as his side squandered a plethora of first-half chances, with returning captain Bruno Fernandes among those who missed.
It was the collective collapse after halftime that pushed Carrick another step closer to the exit.
Poor defending let Morgan Rogers break through the static back line and clip Chelsea in front, putting pressure on Blues manager Xabi Alonso.
Lisandro Martinez, whose post-match comments in Madrid weeks earlier sparked the United turmoil, lost his temper shortly after.
The Argentine, booked for a needless foul on Rogers, was sent off for elbowing Wesley Fofana in the chin, giving Cole Palmer the chance to convert from the spot.
Carrick's expression showed he knows it is only a matter of when, not if, he will be removed.
It is not working and will not work, evident to everyone.
The defeat marks United's worst start since Ron Atkinson left 40 years ago, and for 45 minutes they were not just the better side but comfortably so.
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At the interval Carrick likely wondered why his team were not leading.
The intensity and movement were present, with Chelsea as poor as in last week's loss to Tottenham, and Wesley Fofana wobbling like a plate of jelly.
Yes, Chelsea did score, with Estevao, making his first Premier League start, heading home in the 15th minute as Alonso bowed to the fans.
The Brazilian, involved at both ends of the move, had gone too early when Senne Lammens spilled Neto's shot; the flag was immediate and correct.
Aside from that, United did everything important except find the net.
Fernandes, positioned on the left of the attack on his return and as captain, should have put them ahead when United broke quickly from a Chelsea free-kick.
Amad Diallo fed Bryan Mbeumo, who then found the unmarked Fernandes.
Fernandes' left-footed shot flew into Row Z of the Matthew Harding Stand, prompting Carrick to turn away in frustration.
United fans, torn between supporting the team and calling for a board overhaul, kept cheering.
Matheus Cunha's first touch let him down before Cole Palmer was caught in possession, with Fernandes rolling into the six-yard box, the ball just in front of Bryan Mbeumo.
Mbeumo then missed when Mike Penders, under scrutiny after his Spurs error, spilled Amad's shot; the keeper made a vital stop after the winger clattered into Wesley Fofana halfway.
United believed they had taken the lead 11 minutes before the break.
Harry Maguire rose to meet Fernandes' left-wing corner and Cunha nudged the ball over the line before VAR at Stockley Park ruled the Brazilian's celebration premature; he was a foot offside.
Two more chances for Amad followed, the first blocked by Fofana and the second sent over the bar.
Against the flow of play they could have been behind, as Fofana, for once helping, saw his header deflect off Moises Caicedo's midriff and roll against Lammens' left half-upright.
That would have been a grave error, even if Neto also fired across goal when well-placed.
But chances and domination mean nothing if the ball does not cross the line.
Five minutes into the second half Rogers made United pay.
Romeo Lavia beat Carlos Beleba for the loose ball, with five United players between Rogers and the box, yet he slipped past all of them without a tackle before clipping the exposed Lammens.
Chelsea had failed to win any of the three previous games in which Rogers scored the opening goal.
Carrick responded by sending on Kobbie Mainoo, Baleba, and others, making way.
When Martinez, booked a minute earlier for a foul on Rogers, rammed his elbow into Fofana's jaw, VAR James Bell correctly sent Peter Bankes to the screen.
The referee judged the "reckless" challenge a penalty and a second yellow card.
Palmer, who had barely featured before, saw his spot-kick go through Lammens' hands as he dived the right way.
The game ended with chants of "sacked in the morning" from the delighted home fans.
Estevao seemed to twist the knife further when he rifled a Palmer pass into the top corner, but the Brazilian was fractionally ahead of Maguire on review; he then forced a save from the diving keeper.
In stoppage time, Penders' fingers and the bar denied Mbeumo a spectacular consolation.
It would not have changed the result. Relief for Alonso, and perhaps for Carrick's own good.
