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Old Trafford fans are now in mutiny at failing Manchester United | Andy Mitten

Empty seats and a chorus of boos on the final whistle, Manchester United's latest defeat to Burnl...



Soccer

Old Trafford fans are now in mutiny at failing Manchester United | Andy Mitten

Empty seats and a chorus of boos on the final whistle, Manchester United's latest defeat to Burnley on Wednesday night was yet another low for the struggling club. 

In days gone by empty seats at Old Trafford typically meant home fans were departing early with victory already sealed. Last night the exodus of supporters marked a 2-0 home loss for the club and a fifth defeat in the space of a month.

While there were chants of support for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, supporter apathy became starkly apparent by a sea of vacated red seats in the match's closing stages.

It's a sight rarely, if ever, seen at Old Trafford - historically a fortress famed for its ability to produce late United comebacks.

Speaking on Thursday's OTB AM, United We Stand Editor Andy Mitten painted the grim reality of ailing support for the club on the frontlines.

"It hasn't been good enough, it is not good enough, the club has been failing and last night seemed to be a new low."

united

Referencing the fact that the club boasts the second-highest wage bill in world football, Mitten asserted that everyone had to take some of the responsibility for the club lying in fifth in the Premier League after another disappointing start to the season.

How the club is so high in the table despite losing a third of all their games in the competition is perhaps more an indictment of the Premier League rather than any deserving to be there.

"Solsjkaer is the team manager, he has got to take some of the blame. You heard the fans' reactions to the Glazers, to Ed Woodward, they are also culpable as well.

"The fans at matches they have been very, very supportive and the patience has finally snapped. There were songs at AZ Alkmaar away in September and Newcastle away in October but you've now seen it at the last two home games; Manchester United fans in open discontent against the leading executive at the club and the club owner."

Although some fans have always left Old Trafford early, Mitten believes that Wednesday's match was a worrying shift away from an environment where the club had typically garnered total support.

"All it takes is for 3,000 or 4,000 people to leave early before the end of the game for it to be noticeable. But what I noticed yesterday was empty seats during the match and at the start of the game.

"When you start to see empty seats at Old Trafford - and the weakest demand for a game is always midweek January at home - but if you start seeing empty seats at Old Trafford for league games that is a major worry because the club's support has been famed for selling out at Old Trafford.

"The mood has definitely shifted at home games in the last month and it's there for everybody to hear - the fans are in mutiny about what's happening."

Next on United's agenda is Watford or Tranmere - who face each other in a replay on Thursday night - in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Following that on Wednesday, United will be aiming to overturn a 3-1 deficit against Manchester City in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.

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Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Premier League