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Manchester United were humbled by Bournemouth with a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Cherries registered their first ever win at Old Trafford in some style, playing their hosts off the park and were good value for the large margin of scoreline.
Questions will be asked of Erik ten Hag after his team played directly into Bournemouth’s hands time and time again, with the scarce home supporters who stayed until the end booing off the Red Devils at full-time.
How the game unfolded
With five minutes on the clock, Bournemouth took a shock lead. Bruno Fernandes’ poor ball from the back towards Scott McTominay was intercepted by Lewis Cook, who made a dart to the byline and cut back for Dominic Solanke to flick in.
United sought to find an immediate leveller, with Sergio Reguilon’s looping and high cross finding the head of Harry Maguire, forcing Neto into a stretching save.
Bournemouth went close to doubling their advantage on the counter attack when Fernandes again gave possession away. The ball worked out left to Marcus Tavernier, who cut inside Diogo Dalot and fired towards the near post, only for Andre Onana to smother up his shot.
The Cherries did have the ball in the net for a second time when Tavernier nodded in after Onana parried upwards a Solanke header, but the striker was offside from the initial cross and United were let off the hook.
Solanke then hit the post once more after United turned the ball over when Bournemouth applied the slightest of pressure, before Maguire made a goal-saving challenge to deny the striker from point-blank range as the game entered first-half stoppage time.
After the break, Milos Kerkez twice in quick succession threw his body in front of United shots just inside the penalty area, frustrating McTominay and then Fernandes.
A frustrated Dalot fired into the side-netting as United continued to fail to find a clear route through to goal.
And United were made to pay for their wastefulness when Bournemouth added their second midway through the second half. Solanke was able to run right through the United midfield and shift play wide to Tavernier, whose cross was headed in by the towering Philip Billing after climbing above Luke Shaw.
Minutes later, Bournemouth grabbed their third. Marcos Senesi peeled away to the edge of the box to head in Tavernier’s corner.
Solanke came close to converting a fourth when Bournemouth broke at pace, but he was ahead of Billing’s low cross.
There was still time for Bournemouth to put the ball in the net again, with Dango Ouattara bundling the ball over the line after Maguire and Jonny Evans were harried into further defensive errors while trying to play from the back. However, the winger was judged to have handled the ball in the build-up and the goal was chalked off to save United from further humiliation.
GK: Andre Onana – 5/10 – Not much he could have done with the goals, in fairness. Didn’t inspire confidence with his haphazard saving technique and shanked a clearance late on, however.
RB: Diogo Dalot – 4/10 – Had far worse showings in recent months by his own dismal standards. Not actively of detriment today.
CB: Harry Maguire – 4/10 – Endured a fascinating battle with Solanke during the first half before withdrawing back into his shell in the second. Lost the run of Senesi for Bournemouth’s third goal.
CB: Luke Shaw – 3/10 – Ten Hag has actual centre-backs at his disposal. This Shaw experiment can’t last after such a woeful and self-destructive display.
LB: Sergio Reguilon – 4/10 – Brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm that United have lacked at points this season, but was without control and discipline.
CM: Scott McTominay – 3/10 – Hid from possession and didn’t provide his luxurious box-crashing as was the case against Chelsea.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat – 4/10 – Dropped between the centre-backs to start attacks and was often left patrolling the middle of the pitch alone due to the wandering McTominay and Fernandes.
RM: Antony – 4/10 – Ran down dead ends and floated in crosses which were of no threat to Bournemouth.
AM: Bruno Fernandes – 2/10 – United’s horrendous afternoon began with their captain cheaply giving up possession in their own half. Consistently pressed into errors by Bournemouth. Will be suspended for next week’s trip to Liverpool after picking up his fifth booking of the season, this time for dissent while 3-0 down.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho – 5/10 – Lively as usual but not on the same wavelength with anyone but Bournemouth’s committed and sturdy defenders, who snuffed out Garnacho’s danger before he got in front of goal.
CF: Anthony Martial – 2/10 – Another pointless performance in which he offered nothing. Sarcastically cheered off the pitch by many home fans.
Substitutes
SUB: Rasmus Hojlund (56′ for Martial) – 4/10
SUB: Facundo Pellistri (79′ for Antony) – 5/10
SUB: Jonny Evans (79′ for Shaw) – 5/10
SUB: Marcus Rashford (79′ for Garnacho) – 5/10
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Kobbie Mainoo, Donny van de Beek
Manager
Erik ten Hag – 2/10 – The Manager of the Month curse strikes again. United were awful and played right into Bournemouth’s hands.
GK: Neto – 6/10 – Hardly called into action due to the heroics of his defenders.
RB: Adam Smith – 6/10 – Garnacho up against Smith looked like a mismatch on paper but the veteran full-back held his own.
CB: Illya Zabarnyi – 8/10 – Threw his body in front of plenty of United shots. A strong showing.
CB: Marcos Senesi – 9/10 – Similarly gave his all for the cause and enjoyed the added bonus of a goal at the other end.
LB: Milos Kerkez – 8/10 – Shut down Antony with ease. Bundled his way through tackles and challenges determined to keep hold of possession.
CM: Ryan Christie – 8/10 – Outperformed and outclassed his compatriot McTominay.
CM: Lewis Cook – 8/10 – Set the tone with his tremendous pressing which led to the opening goal.
RM: Antoine Semenyo – 6/10 – Caused problems for Reguilon at times, weaving his way inside and out, but was ultimately a little wasteful.
AM: Justin Kluivert – 6/10 – Popped up in pockets of space to link play and ask questions of United’s creaky defence and non-existent midfield.
LM: Marcus Tavernier – 9/10 – The winger’s wicked delivery proved decisive come full-time, finding the heads of Billing and Senesi.
CF: Dominic Solanke – 9/10 – Ran the show and if anything should probably have walked away with more goals.
Substitutes
SUB: Philip Billing (58′ for Semenyo) – 8/10 – Had barely been on the field for seven minutes before rising high above Shaw to double Bournemouth’s lead.
SUB: Luis Sinisterra (72′ for Kluivert) – 6/10
SUB: Dango Ouattara (88′ for Tavernier) – N/A
SUB: Joe Rothwell (88′ for Cook) – N/A
Subs not used: Mark Travers (GK), Chris Mepham, Gavin Kilkenny, David Brooks, Kieffer Moore
Manager
Andoni Iraola – 9/10 – A managerial masterclass. Bournemouth made Old Trafford their playground.
