A COSTLY SLIP, MIDFIELD CHATS AND A CHORUS
UNITED’S UEFA Champions League hopes all but ended on Saturday afternoon after they drew 2-2 with AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
It was more of the same old story for the Reds on the road as Erik ten Hag’s men failed to control the game and were forced to come from behind twice to rescue a point.
Bruno Fernandes scored twice either side of half-time to level the scoring after Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert put Bournemouth ahead. However, there was no clearcut chance to win the game for either side after Fernandes’ spot-kick in the 65th minute.
United are 13 points behind Aston Villa and 10 behind Tottenham with six games remaining. Here, we take a closer look at the action and pick out five moments you might have missed from the south coast trip.
■ WET PITCH LEADING TO KAMBWALA SLIP
In a disappointing first-half display for United, a sly tactic by Bournemouth seemed to work wonders.
Moments before Solanke smashed the ball into the bottom corner, Kobbie Mainoo slipped after the sprinklers were applied to the Vitality Stadium prior to kick-off.
Soon after, when Alejandro Garnacho carelessly conceded possession, Solanke turned Willy Kambwala with the defender slipping in the process. His unfortunate tumble allowed the striker time to smash past Andre Onana.
■ MAINOO AND FERNANDES IN-GAME TALK
Fernandes’ first-time volley put United level, but it lasted barely five minutes. Justin Kluivert benefitted from more questionable defending by Diogo Dalot and Garnacho before making it 2-1 with a neat finish.
As the former Ajax star ran off in celebration, Mainoo and Fernandes were spotted in deep conversation as
Willy Kambwala
they retreated back for kick-off with some words being shared. The pair were helpless in the build-up to the goal so frustration over the manner of the goal is likely to have been the subject.
■ BOURNEMOUTH FANS HAVE THEIR SAY
The Cherries proved difficult opponents for United for the second time this season and, despite lurking in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the fans who were packed inside the Vitality Stadium enjoyed what they were seeing.
And after Kluivert restored their lead in the first half, a comedic chorus echoed around the stadium taking aim at United. “You’re s**t and you know you are,” they sang. As the Manchester Evening News’ United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst admitted, they weren’t wrong...
■ UNUSUAL STAFF ABSENCE
Since Gary O’Driscoll left Arsenal for United, the club doctor has been an ever-present in the dug-out when the Reds have played.
However, against Bournemouth, he was nowhere to be seen.
Physio Richard Merron and doctor Jim Moxon were spotted having a conversation with Harry Maguire during a stoppage of play.
Luckily for United, O’Driscoll wasn’t required at any point.