MAKING A MARC
Tavernier tears the Blades apart with double
MARCUS TAVERNIER’S rare double blasted Bournemouth to a crucial win over fellow strugglers Sheffield United.
The former Middlesbrough wideman hadn’t scored all season but came up with a goal in each half to leave the blunt Blades rooted in the relegation spots.
After an embarrassing howler from United keeper Wes Foderingham, Holland striker Justin Kluivert also delivered his first Bournemouth league strike since his big-money summer move from Roma.
Antoine Semenyo was a constant menace with his raids from both flanks as Andoni Iraola’s side ran the Blades ragged to pick up a third Premier League victory of the campaign.
In their two games before the international break, the Blades garnered four points from a first win of the season and a draw.
That gave Paul Heckingbottom’s side hope that they were ready to pull out of the mire. But on their return here, they looked
MATCH STATS Sheff Utd like they were on their holidays with an awful display which left boos ringing around Bramall Lane.
They didn’t manage a single effort on target until Will Osula’s 88th-minute strike but, by then, they had already been humiliated. Substitute Oli Mcburnie’s late goal didn’t gloss over any of this carnage.
The visitors showed more pace and verve from the off, and deserved their 12thminute lead. Semenyo cleverly cut in from the right flank to slip Tavernier through and he coolly took it in his stride to finish.
With Kluivert – son of Dutch legend Patrick – also creating problems with his movement, Bournemouth looked dangerous every time they raided.
And they doubled their lead just before the break when Foderingham messed up. The keeper came out of his box, bizarrely dawdled on the ball and got pickpocketed by Kluivert who slotted into the empty net.
Heckingbottom brought on Mcburnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic – both back from injury – at the break but they’d barely had a touch before Bournemouth were in again.
It came after a rarity of a drop ball after the ball had hit referee Andrew Madley on the head. But there were no excuses for the slack defending as Adam Smith switched off to allow Tavernier to steal in for his second in the 51st minute.
Tempers flared at times, Bournemouth sub Phil Billing rightly avoiding a VAR red card. Mcburnie headed home in the 96th minute but it was far too little, too late. SHEFFIELD UNITED: Foderingham 5; Baldock 5, Robinson 5, Trusty 5; Bogle 5 (Ahmedhodzic (45) 5), Norwood 5, Souza 5 (Mcburnie (46) 5), Thomas 5 (Osborn (66) 5); Hamer 5 (Fleck (81) 5), Mcatee 5 (Osula (81) 5); Archer 5 BOURNEMOUTH: Neto 6; Smith 7, Zabarnyi 7, Senesi 7, Kelly 7; Cook 7, Christie 7; Semenyo 9 (Sinisterra (66) 6), Kluivert 8 (Billing (66) 6), Tavernier 9 (Brooks (81) 6); Solanke 7 STAR MAN: Marcus Tavernier – Came up with two goals and caused the Blades all sorts of problems. REF: Andy Madley 7