BRUNO’S AT THE DOUBLE
No unlucky 13 as United ace takes control
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 they 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 said 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, on the other hand, were in sizzling form, having won four of their previous six – and it showed.
They won a corner inside 60 seconds and were ahead on 16 minutes. So often United’s saviour, Alejandro Garnacho was at fault, conceding possession.
From there it was about Cherries top scorer Dominic Solanke, who drifted inside to rifle low past Andre Onana.
United 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. All of 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 (right).
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 Onana.
Amazingly, there was still time for Fernandes to produce an outrageous 30-yarder dipper on to 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 then the inevitable eventually happened at the other end when Kobbie Mainoo’s effort ricocheted against the arm of unfortunate Christie.
Ferndandes coolly converted the 64th-minute penalty.