Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's nightmare spell in charge of Manchester United has been further exposed by a set of damning statistics.

With just one victory from the opening four top-flight fixtures, the Old Trafford giants have endured their worst start to a season in 27 years.

The Norwegian boss has stressed the importance of believing in his long-term plans for the club, but United's faltering form has already raised questions over the likelihood of securing European football.

Below, Sportsmail examines the issues that Solskjaer must urgently tackle to turn his side's fortunes around...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must solve several problems amid Manchester United's faltering form

A STUTTERING START

Hopes of a rejuvenated Manchester United side breezing through their opening games were soon dashed, with Solskjaer's men taking just five points from their first four fixtures.

Three of those points came from the drubbing of Chelsea at Old Trafford - but the visitors had carved out several chances to ensure a very different result.

United last picked up fewer points from their opening four games in a top flight season in the 1992-93 campaign, when Sir Alex Ferguson's side had collected just four.

United have picked up just five points from their opening four league games so far this season

AWAY-DAY WOES

United were once again left with a feeling of frustration following the recent 1-1 draw at Southampton. The visitors had even taken the lead through Daniel James' superb strike, his third in four games, but were pegged back in the second half by Jannik Vestergaard's towering header.

The brutal reality of the Manchester side's away-day woes are summed up by United's failure to register a win away from Old Trafford since Solskjaer was handed the reins on a full-time basis.

Daniel James' strike couldn't prevent Man United from slipping to a draw at Southampton

The Norwegian had infamously steered his side through to the Champions League quarter-finals last season with a last-gasp victory in Paris, but United's away form since that March evening has been nothing short of abysmal.

The blatant defensive issues haunt them throughout away fixtures too - as Solskjaer's men have now shipped goals in each of their last 10 games away from home, a run dating all the way back to a 2-0 FA Cup victory at Stamford Bridge.

And to further add to the manager's headache, United are firmly in the midst of their worst winless run in away games across all competitions since a sequence of nine between April and November 2014.

LEAKY BACK LINE

Despite the promise provided by United's opening-day clean sheet in the 4-0 victory against Chelsea, they have since failed to shut out an opponent in the next three fixtures.

Harry Maguire's arrival for a world-record fee has undoubtedly strengthened Solskjaer's back line, but all too often United find themselves shipping sloppy goals.

Victor Lindelof has lost important headers twice for United and has been punished both times

Maguire's partner Victor Lindelof, who has been lauded for his ability in possession but is questionable in the air, has twice lost out on important headers for United recently. He has subsequently been punished with converted chances both times.

It is clear that Solskjaer has settled on his first-choice partnership, however, with youngster Axel Tuanzebe promoted to third in the pecking order.

But the brutal reality is that United have registered just one clean sheet in their last 19 fixtures, and any potential hopes of a push for Europe will almost certainly be scuppered unless this issue is afforded serious attention.

FAILURE TO GRIND OUT RESULTS

Sir Alex Ferguson's United sides of old possessed an ability to see out games with the scoreline finely poised. The mantra that defences win titles is often repeated, but was demonstrated in United's hardened knack to battle for the shirt and cling on to precious results.

However, post-Ferguson United are undeniably more brittle and prone to shipping goals which would have left the wily Scotsman seething.

United's unwanted knack of conceding goals means the club often fail to grind out results

With all of United's evident goal scoring issues, the Old Trafford side must ensure that shutting out opponents becomes a regularity. But under Solskjaer, the defensive issues buried deep in the roots of United's modern day outfits remains laid bare.

As a result, United have won just three times in 16 games - with dropped points at both Wolves and Southampton coming from mounting frustration in front of both goalmouths.

The home ground is no longer the fortress it once was either, with clubs that set up with a low block often escaping with at least a point.

LACK OF KILLER INSTINCT UP FRONT

United have scored more than once in a game just three times during their last 16 fixtures. The club's lack of creativity and killer instinct in front of goal is said to be frustrating Solskjaer, one of the greatest poachers the sport has ever seen.

The departure of Romelu Lukaku appeared largely welcomed by supporters after the Belgian's unsavoury reaction to being frozen out of the first team, but the frontman would have at least guaranteed 15 to 20 goals a season.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial now share the scoring burden, but the former in particular has been criticised for squandering chances all too often.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are tasked with scoring the bulk of United's goal

Martial, at least, has scored twice in the league but picked up an untimely injury in the defeat by Crystal Palace.

Ahead of the international break, Solskjaer has even hinted at the further introduction of Mason Greenwood into the first-team set-up, after the promising 17-year-old's impressive substitute appearance at St Mary's.

United's inability to see out games, as highlighted above, may be the direct result of a failure to have won by more than a one-goal margin, with the exception of a single occasion, since March 6.