Bournemouth vs Man Utd: United stumble to a point on the south coast ahead of Bilbao showdown
Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore takes a look at Manchester United's struggle to secure a point at Bournemouth ahead of their crucial clash with Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League.
I fully expected the head groundsman, tea lady and Leny Yoro's mum to be named on the United team sheet for the trip to the seaside.
Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit but with more or less the strongest side Ruben Amorim could put out selected for the game, my immediate thought was which key name would limp off come late afternoon and be ruled out of the trip to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
Big risks for little reward
Yes, Thursday, the crucial BTEC European semi-final. Last chance to restore a little pride, summer transfer kitty, UEFA Champions League qualification, blah blah blah.
So the prospect of the talismanic Bruno Fernandes or even the only real outlet Alejandro Garnacho being risked for this dead rubber left me scratching my shiny head.
So much so that five minutes had gone by without me really looking up from my screen while I listened with a lack of intent to the commentary.
For Garnacho it was his 52nd game of this morale-sapping campaign, the most by any Premier League player this term and the second most of any player in Europe's big five leagues.
That's some workload for a kid expected to carry the attacking threat since Amad Diallo's injury and Rasmus Hojlund's crisis of confidence (and lack of service).
He's probably getting through a couple of bottles of Radox in an evening despite his tender years.
Sloppy mistakes gift Bournemouth the lead
My wandering mind was shaken as Kobbie Mainoo jinked his way into the Bournemouth box but Kepa Arrizabalaga's save was routine and the opening 10 minutes had been fairly placid.
Garnacho flashed one across Kepa's goal but wide of the far post and then, as if to prove me right, Tyler Adams ploughed through Garnacho to leave the Argentinean prostrate on the turf.
The American was shown a yellow - I've seen red cards given for less - and then seconds later the hosts were ahead.
United were architects of their own downfall, with a continued overuse of playing out from the back against a side full of press.
Andre Onana's ball into Luke Shaw could have been a bit weightier. Shaw then passed on to Patrick Dorgu wide left but he was robbed of possession too easily.
The ball was then whipped low towards Evanilson, who laid it neatly into Antoine Semenyo, who gleefully lashed the ball past Onana - a slight nick of Casemiro not helping.
United's record of 15 defeats in 20 games when conceding first hung ominously in the sea air, like a seagull about to steal your chips.
Noussair Mazraoui and Garnacho had shots blocked from a Fernandes corner as United applied a little bit of pressure.
Garnacho thought he'd scored after drifting in behind the home defence and lifting the ball over Kepa but the keeper got a hand on the ball to send it to safety.
It was better at least but still all a bit meh!
Garnacho shot a couple of yards past the post in added time but the Cherries were worth their lead at the break.
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Red card gives United hope
Antoine Semenyo curled one wide in the early stages of the second half while Fernandes sliced Garnacho's cross almost out for a throw-in but the flag went up to spare his blushes.
Dorgu was booked for winning the ball and, in turn, conceded a dangerous free-kick that Dango Ouattara curled against the frame of the goal.
Illia Zabarnyi's effort in the aftermath deflected wide.
Dorgu's looped cross almost caught out Kepa but he tipped over for a corner as Amorim got the dice out with a triple change; Casemiro, Mainoo and Harry Maguire off for Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Victor Lindelöf - all presumably being saved for next week.
Evanilson went in wildly on Noussair Mazraoui and was shown a yellow for his troubles.
However, VAR called referee Peter Bankes over to review and the Brazilian was rightly upgraded to a red, despite the protestations from his teammates.
He could have little argument to be fair.
Could United capitalise?
Chido Obi came on for Mazraoui as United went for it and the young frontman almost flicked home with his first touch.
The extra man was clearly helping and Shaw was seeing more of the ball down the left and also a yellow for stopping a Bournemouth counter illegally.
Bournemouth retreated and threw themselves at every ball but United weren't creating anything that clearcut until Mason Mount should have scored.
Utilising the space down the left again, Dorgu cut back low but Marcos Sensesi was in the way of the former Chelsea man's effort and the chance was gone.
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United survive, but bigger battles await
Christian Eriksen was thrown on with a minute to go but the fourth official's board showing nine added minutes didn't go down well with the home faithful.
Obi forced a save out of Kepa after a good run in behind and quick feet as United were finally knocking on the door.
Eriksen was then blocked, Garnacho too and Fernandes curled narrowly wide as the door rattled again but the Cherries held firm.
Kepa saved easily from Fernandes' next effort from range when there were better options and it didn't look like it was coming. But then it did.
Shaw played another low ball into the box which Ugarte stabbed goalwards but Hojlund reacted quickly to make sure, poking in his fourth Premier League goal of the season home.
A little bit of redemption for the much-maligned Dane and United up to the lofty heights of 14th place.
So, as the red half of Merseyside prepared for their second title party in 34 years, moving one Premier League ahead of Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers in the process, United eyes lock firmly on a Bilbao side well-rested after a lack of a La Liga fixture at the weekend.
What should we expect on Thursday night? Judging by the season so far it will be anything but straightforward.
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