BRUNO AVOIDS Fernandes’ double keeps the
AT least Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United avoided a club record 13th Premier League defeat of the season. But coming from behind twice to grab a fortunate draw – thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ double – was about the only positive the Reds could take from this one-sided trip to the South Coast.
One-sided in favour of Bournemouth, that is.as poor as United were,andoni Iraola’s
Cherries were brilliant.
However, like Liverpool last Sunday, they failed to kill off Ten Hag’s troops, spurning a host of chances in each half, and blew a first-ever league double over the English giants.
Having already kissed goodbye to their Champions League ambitions, United are in danger of doing the same to the consolation Europa League or Conference competitions.
They are seventh but only six points ahead of Chelsea, who have two games in hand.
Bournemouth were in contrastingly sizzling form, having won four of their previous six and it showed.the won a corner inside 60 seconds and were ahead on 16 minutes.
So often United’s saviour, Alejandro Garnacho was at fault, carelessly conceding possession.
From there it was about Cherries top scorer Dominic Solanke, who drifted inside to rifle low past Andre Onana.
Facing an average 17 shots on target per game, this clash was different for United as they escaped several more close calls.
Cherries overlapping full-back Milos Kerkez embarked on a lengthy unchecked run, all the way into the Reds area, only to be denied by Onana’s reflex stop.
Then lightning Luis Sinisterra whistled one inches wide, so too
Ryan Christie and Dango Ouattara.
Fair to say, United’s equaliser on the half-hour mark came out of the blue. Marcus Rashford and Garnacho, hooked at the interval, combined to create a third goal in as many games for Fernandes, the United skipper bundling in scruffily.
If totally unjust, the parity did not last long. Five minutes, to be exact.
This time it was Justin Kluivert cutting in off the left flank, and he made no mistake by drilling in at Onana’s near post.
How the Cherries were not at least two goals clear by the break defied belief following a crazy, lengthy stoppage period.
Firstly, Kerkez struck the bar and nodded the rebound over before Kluivert’s point-blank effort was sensationally saved by the everimproving Onana.
There was still time for Fernandes to produce an outrageous 30-yard dipper into the top of the bar.
That was a message to Iraola’s troops they had to take their chances or risk blowing a deserved three points.
But it fell on deaf ears as Solanke and Co continued to be wasteful in front of goal.
And, of course, the inevitable eventually happened at the other end when England starlet Kobbie Mainoo’s effort ricocheted against the arm of unfortunate Christie.
The 64th-minute penalty award looked harsh but probably correct – and Fernandes coolly converted to keep the FA Cup semi-finalists out of the unwanted Old Trafford history books.
For now, that is!
retain his services, head coach Eddie Howe said: “We are trying to build a team, we are trying to grow everything, really, upwards and to do that as quickly as possible and as efficiently as you can, you need to keep your best players, otherwise you enter a different period where you go into transition and you have to start again.”
In April last season, Spurs were 5-0 down after 20 minutes at St James Park, and suffered a 6-1 defeat. This time it took half an hour for Spurs to suffer a crazy collapse as they conceded twice in a 95-second meltdown.
Isak opened the scoring, breaking free on goal and dumping Micky Van de Ven on his backside with a cutback before slamming home for his 16th league goal of the campaign. Gordon was the creator, sending Isak clear after outmuscling Destiny Udogie.
Worse was to come for Spurs. Dan Burn won a strong defensive header and Pedro Porro failed to deal with the ball. He hooked it towards his own box straight into the path of Gordon. The England winger cut inside and smashed home his 10th league goal this season.
The third inevitably arrived after half-time. Bruno Guimaraes pinged a quarterback-style long ball over the top, with Isak in his own half. He comfortably outpaced van de Ven and there was no doubt the 40-yard sprint would end with the ball in the net.
For the fourth Gordon swung over for Fabian Schar to head home unchallenged. Postecoglou said: “We didn’t really get control of the game, like we have been, and we paid a price.” NEWCASTLE: Dubravka 6, Murphy 7 (Livramento 77), Krafth 7, Schar 7 (Dummett 90), Burn 7, Longstaff 7, Guimaraes 8 (White 90), Anderson 7 (Ritchie 89), Barnes 7 (Hall 89), Isak 9, Gordon 8.
TOTTENHAM: Vicario 4, Porro 3 (Royal 49, 5), Romero 4, van de Ven 3, Udogie 4, Bissouma 5 (Hojbjerg 58, 5) , Bentancur 5 (Sarr 58, 5), Johnson 5, Maddison 6 (Lo Celso 81), Werner 4, Son 4 (Kulusevski 58, 5). MAN OF THE MATCH: ALEXANDER ISAK – Absolutely lethal finishing from the Swedish striker who is red hot.
REF: T Robinson