Manchester United's calamitous week hit rock bottom as Bournemouth famously consigned them to a 2-1 defeat on Sunday and, to rub salt into the wounds, neighbours Manchester City moved back to the top of the English Premier League.
After City clambered above Leicester City on goal difference with a lucky last-gasp strike in a dramatic 2-1 win over Swansea City, Bournemouth wrote another astonishing fairytale by beating United a week after taking the scalp of champions Chelsea.
United's defeat multiplies the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal, already under pressure for their prosaic playing style and midweek exit from the Champions League.
Yet the Dutchman, happy with his team's efforts, said he was not worried about the growing discontent with his reign. "It's always like that. It's not new," he told Sky Sports.
United's setback leaves them fourth in the table, three points behind a City side who are level on 32 with Leicester before the latter host Chelsea on Monday.
Third-placed Arsenal, who have 30 points, visit bottom side Aston Villa on Sunday.
After United's loss at Vfl Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, goals from Junior Stanislas and former United player Josh King consigned them to another wounding defeat.
Stanislas scored direct from a wind-assisted corner that bamboozled keeper David de Gea in the second minute and although Marouane Fellaini drew parity in the 24th, King struck with a low shot from a well-worked 54th minute corner to earn the points.
It meant more unbridled joy for Bournemouth, the Premier League newcomers who have an annual turnover 40 times smaller than United's.
Last Saturday they had won 1-0 at Chelsea, a result that manager Eddie Howe felt was the greatest in the club's history.
King, the Norwegian who once played for United, was ecstatic about his winner, shooting home after finding space from a well-directed, low corner.
"That meant a lot to me. I spent five years there (at Old Trafford)," King said. "I'd practised it (the corner routine) a bit and missed it every time. Today, it worked."
City back on top, scrapes past Swansea
Manchester City snatched victory amid late drama at the Etihad Stadium, a Yaya Toure shot deflecting off team mate Kelechi Iheanacho for the stoppage-time winner.
Managerless Swansea, playing above themselves after the midweek sacking of Garry Monk, had equalised deservedly in the last minute through Bafetimbi Gomis after Wilfried Bony's first half headed goal against his old side had put City ahead.
Yet, when it seemed City had blown the chance to go back to the top, a 92nd-minute left-footed strike from Toure struck Iheanacho's back and ballooned into the net.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini hailed his team's spirit and the influence of Yaya Toure.
"Yaya was one of the best players in this game. He was the player who tried to create different things," Pellegrini told reporters after Iheanacho had been credited with the winner.
"He just came back from an injury in his calf and he played in midweek and today so I'm happy for him."
Crystal Palace beats Southampton 1-0
Crystal Palace continued their best start to a Premier League season with Yohan Cabaye's goal earning a 1-0 home win over Southampton and elevating them to sixth, six points off the lead.
Odion Ighalo lifts Watford to victory
Odion Ighalo's 10th goal of the campaign for Watford consigned Sunderland to another defeat and pushed the 1-0 winners up to seventh, still a point behind Palace.
The home loss, though, leaves Sam Allardyce's north-east club languishing in penultimate place on 12 points.
Everton draws with Norwich 1-1
Romelu Lukaku is another marksman in rampant form, Everton's Belgian striker scoring for a sixth successive league game to give the Merseysiders an early lead in a 1-1 draw at Norwich City. Wes Hoolahan equalised for the struggling Canaries.
West Ham, Stoke City play out goalless draw
West Ham United, who are eighth, and Stoke City, in 11th, missed the chance to close on the leaders as they fought out a dull goalless draw at Upton Park.
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