Manchester United’s poor form continued with a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth which will have the hosts wondering how they failed to take all three points and complete a season sweep of their celebrated visitors on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium.
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils have a 1W-3D-3L record in the league since Feb. 24 and now sit seventh with 50 points, 18 goals behind Newcastle on goal differential and just two poins ahead of eighth-place Chelsea.
[ MORE: Erik ten Hag reacts to draw ]
Bournemouth have been very good at home, too, winners of three-straight there before this draw. They’ve understandably dreaming of a wild run into the European places, and played well enough to expect three points.
The Cherries led 1-0 and 2-1 on goals from Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert — both assisted by Marcos Senesi — and limited the Red Devils to eight shots, only two of which were on target.
WATCH BOURNEMOUTH vs MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
But United made two moments count, as Bruno Fernandes cleaned up a partially-blocked cross and then converted Adam Smith’s instinctive elbow in the box with a near-perfect rolled penalty.
The Cherries’ 42 points are six behind eighth-place West Ham, unlikely European hopes becoming more unlikely with the draw.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United often too busy solving problems to cause them
There’s no impetus from Manchester United anymore outside of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, and Erik ten Hag’s system — or lack thereof — sacrifices so much by allowing both to do as they please. Fernandes, for what it’s worth, has earned it his KDB/Martin Odegaard free-flowing role in the center midfield but he also doesn’t hurt a defensive structure and always puts in a shift. Garnacho runs a lot, too, and is an electric attacker but he’s not yet dynamic enough to make up for his lapses in maturity and commitment.
That leads to problems, and United does not have many other players who can also play to their strengths as they make amends for errors and weaknesses. Throw in injuries and Marcus Rashford’s precipitous drops in confidence and execution. What do you get? A team with enough talent to produce — and complete — moments but not much else. United right now are being celebrated for getting back to some sort of average status. And that’s just not acceptable. We bet there are fans hoping Coventry City upset Man United next weekend in the FA Cup if only to hasten a change at Old Trafford.
Bournemouth unfortunate to miss shocking European run
Little bounces again went against the Cherries, who would probably give you anything to restart the season right now.
That’s because Bournemouth went nine matches without a win to start the season. And since loosing 6-1 at Man City on November 4 to start 1W-3D-7L, Andoni Iraola’s men have gone 10W-6D-5L. That’s a 65-point pace over a full season, one that’s seen Alex Scott, Tyler Adams, Max Aarons, Lloyd Kelly, and Ryan Fredericks miss double-digit appearances to injury.
The future is bright at Bournemouth, but there may not be a better chance to plow forward into Europe — as surprising as it would’ve been to say in August — than there was this season. It’s still possible, but...
Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Bournemouth go to Aston Villa on April 21, a week from Sunday.
Man United face Coventry City the same day for an FA Cup semifinal before hosting Sheffield United in a return to Premier League play on April 24.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 12:30pm ET Saturday
TV Channel: NBC/Peacock
Online: Watch online via NBC.com & Peacock Premium
Bournemouth vs Manchester United live updates! - By Nick Mendola
Bournemouth vs Manchester United final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Solanke (16'), Fernandes (30', 65'), Kluivert (36')
Bournemouth penalty changed to free kick by VAR
Willy Kambwala blocks Ryan Christie’s burst into the 18, and a penalty is awarded to United deep in stoppage time.
A VAR review decides the foul occurred just outside the 18 and it’s a free kick.
Enes Unal’s effort is tipped over the frame by the wall. There’s one corner kick left int his game.
Manchester United penalty — Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United (65th minute)
Kobbie Mainoo’s rocket shot is blocked outside the box and heads toward Marcus Rashford.
Adam Smitrh can’t help but extend his elbow at it, and it’s a penalty.
Fernandes to the spot, where he rolls it the other way for 2-2.
Manchester United sub
Amad Diallo is coming on for Garnacho. Youth for youth. Let’s see if Diallo can avoid the mistakes while providing the same electricity.
Halftime — Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester United
Dreadful first half for the Red Devils.
Ten Hag’s men are showing little verve, and one of the rare men who has — Alejandro Garnacho — has helped deliver two goals to the hosts (as well as United’s tally).
United have had 60% of the ball and turned it into four total attempts and 0.32 expected goals. Bournemouth have 1.27 xG, 12 attempts, and have put five on target to United’s one.
It’s not close, but the score is... and United can really only point to that as hopeful.
It should be three
Milos Kerkez is away from Dalot and heads a whipped-in cross off the ground and the bar, and the rebound is header of the goal, too.
Awful from Man Utd.
Luis Sinisterra injury
The electric attacker will need to be replaced after pulling up with an apparent muscular injiury.
Lloyd Kelly takes his place with about a half-dozen minutes to go in the first half.
Justin Kluivert goal — Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester United (36th minute)
Another mistake from Alejandro Garnacho, who has let Marcos Senesi freely dribble into the Man Utd third.
Diogo Dalot is not wide enough as he eyeballs both Senesi and Justin Kluivert, who picks up Senesi’s entry and rips home near post.
Two assists from Senesi. Too easy. 2-1.
Bruno Fernandes goal — Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester United (30th minute)
Alejandro Garnacho gets the ball on the right and drives toward the box.
His cutback toward Rasmus Hojlund pops up into the air, and Bruno Fernandes keeps his cool at close range to rip it into the roof of the goal.
1-1 as a VAR check does not find a foul in the build-up. It’s Fernandes’ seventh of the Premier League season and third in as many games.
Man Utd struggling
Ryan Christie fires over Onana’s goal and the Cherries have looked the more likely team to score the second goal of this game.
United have had 65% of the ball in the first half hour but that’s about all they can point to, trailing in goals, xG, shot attempts, shots on target, and corner kicks.
Erik ten Hag’s big-name team is being out-foxed by Andoni Iraola’s hosts, who just saw another Onana save keep their lead at one.
Solanke makes club history — Bournemouth 1-0 Manchester United (16th minute)
Dominic Solanke has broken Joshua King’s single-season club Premier League goals record, and put the Cherries in front and in sight of a first-ever double over the Red Devils.
Alejandro Garnacho’s heavy touch in the attacking third is quickly moved up field, where Willy Kambwala is dizzied by Solanke’s drive inside and Andre Onana has very litlte hope of reaching the post. Game on.
Here we go
Bournemouth are the form team here yet it’s so difficult to look at the names on the team sheet and reconcile the fact that the Cherries are at-worst 50/50 odds to emerge with a win here.
How Harry Maguire and young Willy Kambwala deal with Dominic Solanke and the Cherries attack will likely tell the story. It’s likely United will score, but can they stop Bournemouth away from home?
Bournemouth lineup
Neto, Kerkez, Smith, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Christie, Cook, Ouattara, Kluivert, Sinisterra, Solanke
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Kambwala, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford, Hojlund
Bournemouth focus, team news
Bournemouth have been incredibly streaky this season, with two ice-cold runs balanced by stretches of some of league’s best form. They need to find some consistency to finish the season, and within games, if they’re going to snatch an unlikely European spot.
OUT: Luis Sinisterra (thigh), Ryan Fredericks (calf), Marcus Tavernier (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Antoine Semenyo (other), Chris Mepham (illness), Tyler Adams (lower back)
Manchester United focus, team news
Injuries have impacted United’s push for a top four spot this season but the squad they have should be performing a lot better and doing the basics well week in, week out. It really is as simple as that.
OUT: Anthony Martial (groin), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Marcus Rashford (undisclosed), Raphael Varane (ankle), Jonny Evans (undisclosed), Scott McTominay (knock)
