Manchester United tripped up in their pursuit of Champions League qualification by taking just one point from their trip to Bournemouth.
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire scored the goals at the Vitality Stadium, but Manchester United threw away two separate leads to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth.
Michael Carrick’s record now reads as seven wins, two draws and one defeat in his first 10 matches as interim head coach.
The Red Devils are now four points clear in third, but the remainder of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures are still to come.
Harry Maguire celebrations grind to a halt
Just hours before the match, it was revealed that Harry Maguire is close to a new contract.
Harry Maguire is close to agreeing a one-year extension with an option for an additional year. On the same day, Maguire was recalled to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel.
The 33-year-old’s positive momentum came crashing to a halt at the Vitality Stadium, however, when he conceded a penalty and was sent off.
When Bruno Fernandes doesn’t assist, he scores
Once again, it was captain Bruno Fernandes at the heart of United’s goals.
When Cunha weaved through Bournemouth’s defence and earned a penalty, it was calmly dispatched by Fernandes for his eighth goal of the season. For the second goal, the own goal was scored as a result of a Fernandes corner.
Fernandes is chasing the Premier League assist record, and while he didn’t add to his tally at the Vitality Stadium, he was still among the goals. Inevitable.
Michael Carrick can’t avoid chaos
In the reverse fixture between these two sides, Ruben Amorim’s United drew 4-4 with Bournemouth at Old Trafford in a chaotic goal frenzy.
Carrick’s approach is very different to Amorim’s, and he has been praised for his calm and composed demeanour. But he was also drawn into a chaotic match against the Cherries.
Another four goals in this fixture means that 12 goals were scored between the two matches.
Full-back struggles
Carrick named an unchanged XI to face Bournemouth, meaning Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot kept their spot as full-backs.
However, both players were poor in possession and struggled to provide a threat from out wide.
Both Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo prefer to cut inside and threaten with their dominant foot, so they need support from their full-backs out wide. It could be an area targeted for reinforcements in the summer window.
Bournemouth are Man Utd’s bizarre bogey team
This 2-2 draw means that United have now failed to beat Bournemouth in six straight matches.
United’s last victory over the Cherries came back in 2023. Andoni Iraola’s side are quickly becoming a bogey team, and it has put a dent in Carrick’s momentum.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/TKi8gIt