LUKAKU REIGNS FOR LIMP UNITED
Belgian gets Jose back on track but they won’t win title like this CHRIS WHEELER
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 last night.
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 performance. 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 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 had 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 match.
‘You don’t like Bournemouth, you don’t respect them do you?’ he said as he prematurely left the interview room at Carrington.
Mourinho 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 made four changes to freshen up his team, notably bringing 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. They faced a disjointed United who struggled to find any fluency in the teeming rain, watched by Mourinho who peeked out from under the hood of his grey anorak.
In fact, David de Gea was one of the busiest United players with the visitors growing in confidence as the half wore on. The Spaniard was forced to palm away Charlie Daniels’ shot after the Bournemouth defender had dribbled his way past four United players and let fly from the edge of the box.
De Gea produced three more good saves to deny Ryan Gosling, Junior Stanislas and then Ryan Fraser right on half-time. Shaw and Phil 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. It was not what we expected from United, whose first effort was an overhead kick from Jesse Lingard that actually went parallel to the goal.
But 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 back inside the near post.
The lack of emotion from Lukaku was evident. This has been a frustrating time for him, and there were moments here when it showed again.
Having escaped a booking for a late challenge on Ake early in the game, he was cautioned by Graham Scott for a second offence on Harry Arter who had been hurt in a challenge with the Belgian a few minutes earlier. The referee seemed content to let most borderline challenges go, including Francis’ untidy tackle on Lingard on the edge of the box.
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 and aimed well over the bar with Begovic out of his goal.
Martial was replaced shortly afterwards by Marcus Rashford, whose first contribution was to chase the ball and set up Lingard but he fell flat on his face before he could shoot.
Rashford decided to take matters into his own hands and 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.