Hero Lukaku’s still carrying City hangover
THERE was the merest hint of celebration from Romelu Lukaku. So much so, you had to check that the Belgium striker was not offside when he headed Manchester United into the lead.
Lukaku turned away without emotion after scoring in the 25th minute. He hugged Anthony Martial and eventually blew a couple of kisses towards the stands, but that was it. It has been that kind of time for Lukaku, and it was that kind of night for United.
Those prosperous early-season days when United’s £75million signing scored 11 goals in his first 10 games for the club have given way to a bleak winter. This was only his second league goal in 10 games, and the other came at the end of a 4-1 win over Newcastle.
Questions have been asked of Lukaku’s pedigree at the highest level. Worse still, he had a hand in both Manchester City goals here on Sunday and was implicated in the aftermath when players from both teams brawled in the dressing-room area and bottles were thrown.
City’s win has taken the wind out of United’s sails, judging by this display. They were sluggish and hardly deserving of victory over a Bournemouth side who gave just as good as they got at a muted Old Trafford that struggled to lift itself three days after that deflating Manchester derby defeat.
If Jose Mourinho believes United can keep up their pursuit of City at the top of the table, they will have to do a lot better than this.
Mourinho objected to reporters largely ignoring Bournemouth at his press conference on Tuesday amid continued questions about the derby fracas, but it was hardly surprising the incident dominated the build-up to this. ‘You don’t like Bournemouth, you don’t respect them do you?’, he said as he prematurely left the interview room at Carrington.
Mourinho (below) was certainly taking nothing for granted against a team lying in 14th place at the start of a game United had to win to keep the title race alive.
He brought in Luke Shaw for his first Premier League start of the season and calling up Scott McTominay. The youngster made only the second league start of his career alongside Nemanja Matic in central midfield, with Paul Pogba serving a three-match ban and Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick still unavailable.
Bournemouth gave a good account of themselves in an even first half against a disjointed United.
In fact, David de Gea was one of the busiest United players as the visitors grew in confidence as the half wore on. The Spaniard was forced to palm away Charlie Daniels’ shot.
And he produced three more good saves to deny Dan Gosling, Junior Stanislas and then Ryan Fraser right on the half-time. Shaw and Jones also managed to block attempts from Stanislas and Josh King, while Bournemouth captain Simon Francis lifted his shot over the bar when Fraser’s corner dropped at his feet. Mourinho’s side scored from just about their only clear chance of the first half. It began with good work on the left from Anthony Martial who took on three Bournemouth defenders before laying the ball back to Juan Mata. The little Spaniard clipped a cross towards the far post where Lukaku rose above Nathan Ake to head inside the near post. The lack of emotion from Lukaku was evident. This has been a frustrating time for him. Martial should have doubled United’s lead on the hour but was guilty of an awful miss in front of goal. The France winger helped create the chance in the first place, flicking the ball into space for Lukaku in the penalty area. The striker should perhaps have scored himself but Asmir Begovic came out to make a fine save with his left arm.
The ball ran loose for Martial on the edge of the six-yard box but he hurried his shot over the bar with Begovic out of his goal.
Martial was replaced shortly afterwards by Marcus Rashford, who beat Begovic with a spectacular right-foot shot in the 72nd minute that cannoned back off the underside of the bar.
It got the fans off their seats on a night when it felt like there wasn’t much else to shout about.
‘Bournemouth were fresher than us, and mentally fresher because a big match (City derby) takes more from our players,’ said Mourinho.
‘There was fatigue, yes, but hangover (from City game) — no. (The title race) is only over in May, if it is over now I go on holiday to Brazil or Los Angeles.’