Manchester United fell to another disappointing home defeat in the Premier League, with Bournemouth coming away from Old Trafford with a 3-0 win on Saturday.
Even for United’s standards this season, it was a timid showing, with the Red Devils seeing a lot of the ball but failing to break the opposition down. Bournemouth, on other hand, never looked under threat of conceding and their fast breaks proved impossible for United to fully snuff out.
The Cherries certainly started the game on the front foot with a early VAR check denying the visitors a penalty as Andre Onana clipped Dominic Solanke in the box, but after five minutes the striker handed them the lead.
Bruno Fernandes’ sloppy pass out was intercepted by Lewis Cook and seconds later the midfielder cut the ball back to Solanke inside the six-yard box, and Bournemouth’s no.9 tapped it beyond Onana.
It could have been more with Justin Kluivert’s shot held while Illia Zabarnyi and Solanke headed over from corners inside the opening 30 minutes. Bournemouth did put the ball in the net for a second time in the first half, but Marcus Tavernier’s goal was ruled out after Solanke’s initial effort came from an offside position.
United were struggling to cope with the Bournemouth forward and he hit the post near the end of a first half in which Andoni Iraola’s side were significantly more threatening. United’s rare openings didn’t cause Neto many issues, although the goalkeeper did palm over a Harry Maguire header early on and comfortably held an Anthony Martial daisy cutter.
It was a similar story after the break, with the Cherries’ well-organised defence limiting United’s opportunities to score. They were reduced to a Scott McTominay shot that was comfortably held, while Rasmus Hojlund dragged an effort wide and then Diogo Dalot flashed a strike into the side netting.
Despite United’s attempts to get back into the game, it was no great surprise when Bournemouth grabbed goals in the space of five second-half minutes. Philip Billing rose highest at the back post and towered over Luke Shaw as he nodded in a second of the afternoon, as the Red Devils were again cut open too easily.
The third was equally as poor, with an unmarked Marcos Senesi powering a header beyond Onana from a corner. That was the cue for several thousand in the home ends to stream for the exits, while the away supporters chanted Ten Hag will be ‘sacked in the morning’.
That seems unlikely, but the Dutchman simply cannot get this side to consistently perform. It could have been 4-0 late on, but Dango Ouattara's late goal was ruled out for a handball in what was a dismal showing for United. Here's how we rated the players...