Mourinho sent off, Man U draw 4th straight home league game
LONDON (AP): IRED TO revitalise Manchester United, Jose Mourinho is instead turning the clock back and losing his temper in public.
A 1-1 draw with West Ham yesterday left United 11 points behind leaders Chelsea and without a win in four league matches at Old Trafford for the first time since 1990.
That dry home spell came toward the end of a 26-year title drought which ended in 1993 with Alex Ferguson collecting the Premier League trophy. Ferguson retired in 2013 with 13 title triumphs to his name and Mourinho was appointed to recreate the Scot’s winning mentality at the club after three lacklustre years under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
The only current similarity between Ferguson and Mourinho, who was fired a year ago by Chelsea, is the fiery temper on the Old Trafford touchline. At least with Ferguson it produced results.
Mourinho was sent to the stands for the second time in a month yesterday after being enraged by Paul Pogba being booked for an apparent dive.
United had just recovered after conceding inside 90 seconds from Diafra Sakho’s header. Pogba set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic to nod in the equaliser in the 21st minute.
“One day, it will have to happen for us,” said Mourinho’s assistant, Rui Faria. “We’ll start winning.”
If they don’t, United faces a second season out of the Champions League and a 30 per cent drop in sponsorship cash from Adidas of around US$25 million. After a third of the season, United are eight points behind Arsenal in the fourth spot to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
HARSENAL 3 BOURNEMOUTH 1
After a four-game goal drought, Alexis Sanchez rediscovered his scoring touch with a double either side of Theo Walcott’s header.
A defensive blunder gifted Sanchez his 12th-minute opener, pouncing on the loose ball after an errant back pass by defender Steve Cook.
A dubious penalty – won and converted by Callum Wilson – allowed Bournemouth to level in the 23rd. Wilson barged into Nacho Monreal before the defender was penalised for fouling the Bournemouth striker.
Arsenal took until eight minutes into the second half to go back in front with Theo Walcott heading in Monreal’s cross. Sanchez completed the win in stoppage time from substitute Olivier Giroud’s pullback, highlighting the need for Arsenal to extend the Chile Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium in London yesterday.
forward’s contract which expires in 2018.
“It is important,” Wenger said. “We will not sort it [out] tonight. We have some time in front of us. You (the media) like us to spend money, so you should be happy!”
While Arsenal stayed three points behind Chelsea, Bournemouth dropped to 12th.
SOUTHAMPTON 1 EVERTON 0
Charlie Austin scored after only 41 seconds on a miserable return to Southampton for former manager Ronald Koeman.
Josh Sims opened his Southampton debut by teeing the ball up for Austin’s header.
Southampton climbed to 10th place, two points behind Everton, who have won only one of their last eight league games in Koeman’s first season in charge.
WATFORD 0 STOKE 1
The architect of the only goal acknowledged it shouldn’t have been awarded.
Charlie Adam’s push on Valon Behrami was missed by the referee before his header came off the post and cannoned off Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes’ legs into the net.
“I think it was a foul actually,” Adam said.
Watford finished with 10 men. Miguel Britos was sent off in the 90th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Xherdan Shaqiri.
Midtable Stoke (16 points) are two points behind Watford.