Report: United 0 Bournemouth 3

Manchester United 0 Bournemouth 3

Saturday 09 December 2023 16:58

Manchester United suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon.

Dominic Solanke's early finish gave the visitors an initiative to hold and build on, coming just five minutes into the game. 

After a midweek victory here against Chelsea, the Reds looked to carry our form into this afternoon’s clash with the Cherries, but it was the visiting side who made the brighter start in the Manchester rain. 

Bournemouth’s bold beginning at Old Trafford was rewarded with a goal five minutes into the game when Dominic Solanke’s slick finish saw them take the lead. An attempted pass out from the back was latched onto quickest by Lewis Cook, who drove to the byline before pulling it across the face of the goal where Solanke’s flick evaded Andre Onana between the sticks. 

Ten Hag’s side came close to an almost instant equaliser thanks to a towering Harry Maguire header. Our no.5 latched onto a dinked cross into the box from Sergio Reguilon, but it was ultimately tipped over the bar by the back-peddling Neto, with the resulting corner failing to produce anything for the Reds. 

Marcus Tavernier had a golden opportunity to double the visitors' lead in the 15th minute but he fired his effort straight into the gloves of Onana who gathered it comfortably. 

Tavernier was at the heart of the action once more when he was the first to react and nod home a rebound after Onana palmed away a free header from Solanke. The assistant referee flagged the Bournemouth duo offside, however, ensuring the deficit remained at just one. 

Solanke, meanwhile, was inches away from doubling his tally in the approach to half-time. A sloppy pass on the halfway line invited pressure from the Cherries, who were quick to get the ball into their talisman, but his effort ricocheted off the post. The opposing frontman was also denied by a last-ditch Harry Maguire challenge in the first 45, with our no.5 putting in an impressive shift at the back. 

Chasing the game, the Reds emerged from the break a team revitalised as we looked for a route back into the game. 

A sustained period of pressure in the minutes that followed the restart saw United have a flurry of efforts blocked by a resilient Bournemouth defence. Both Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes were subject to having their strikes prevented from hitting the target, while substitute Rasmus Hojlund - who replaced Martial - dragged an effort into the onrushing defender. 

Diogo Dalot had an excellent chance to fire the Reds level after a slick passage of play, but he smashed his effort into the side netting. Moments later, the Cherries added a second goal. A misplaced pass on the halfway line was latched onto by the visiting side, with Solanke surging forward and playing it into Tavernier who picked out the towering Billing. 

Less than 10 minutes later, Senesi added their third strike of the afternoon. On this occasion, it was a straightforward corner that would be our undoing, as an unmarked Senesi headed beyond a stranded Onana into the bottom corner. 

Facing down the barrel of defeat, the Reds continued to look for a route back into the game, but failed to create any clear-cut chances to really trouble Neto in the opposing goal.

Next up for Ten Hag’s men is a midweek visit from Bayern Munich, with UEFA Champions League qualification on the line. 

MATCH DETAILS United: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Shaw (Evans 79), Reguilon; Amrabat, McTominay; Antony (Pellistri 79), Fernandes, Garnacho (Rashford 79); Martial (Hojlund 56). 

Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Van de Beek, Mainoo.

Bookings: Reguilon 30; Hojlund 60; Fernandes 84.

Bournemouth: Neto; Kerkez, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Smith; Christie, Cook (Rothwell 88); Tavernier (Ouattara 88), Kluivert (Sinisterra 72), Semenyo (Billing 58); Solanke. 

Unused substitutes: Travers, Mepham, Kilkenny, Brooks, Moore.

Goals: Solanke 5; Billing 68; Senesi 73. Bookings: Tavernier 27.

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