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Just when you start to think that maybe Manchester United have got their house in order, they go and do something unprecedented even by their own clownish standards.
Their 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday was their first loss by such a margin against a team that started the day in the bottom half of the table. This was also the Cherries’ first ever win at Old Trafford.
Well, you can’t say that Erik ten Hag – Friday’s recipient of the Premier League Manager of the Month award for November – isn’t making history with the Red Devils.
After beating Chelsea 2-1 in midweek, hopes were high for United to kick on and further improve.
That sense of optimism around Old Trafford drifted away just five minutes into the game when Bournemouth went in front. Bruno Fernandes saw his terrible ball from the back cut out by Lewis Cook, and he crossed for Dominic Solanke to divert in.
THE ARCHER 🏹 🏹 pic.twitter.com/qXYirJFuHl
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) December 9, 2023
The absolute state of that defending. Bruno Fernandes with a horrible pass then zero effort to stop the ball going past him
— Bobby (@Yash1878) December 9, 2023
Shocking pass by Fernandes, but ya won’t hear about it 🥴
— Mick Murray (@MickMurr81) December 9, 2023
Bournemouth were pressing their hosts off the park at times. The same could not be said for the languid Anthony Martial.
Mood among #mufc fans not as sanguine now. Bournemouth’s offside goal and Martial’s delayed reaction to press causing some audible concern. Bournemouth have been excellent, though Tavernier rightly booked for time-wasting. Big drop-off from United so far after Wednesday night.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 9, 2023
This is literally Martial every time we cross the ball into the box pic.twitter.com/ubrBtqURua
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) December 9, 2023
Hojlund does nothing apparently when he is on the pitch according to some. Missing him here. No one really occupying the CBs. Crossing is pointless.
Not one opportunity created for box crashing. Link up play abysmal from Martial.
Press disjointed.
— The ElitePundit (@TheElitePundit) December 9, 2023
Towards the end of the first half, Solanke struck the post as Bournemouth threatened to double the lead.
Solanke is giving our defence hell.
— Kam #8🏁 (@Culturecams) December 9, 2023
Poor pass from Mctominay leads to a shot for Solanke off the post.
— UnitedMuppetiers (@Muppetiers) December 9, 2023
Just before the hour mark, Ten Hag turned to his bench and threw on Rasmus Hojlund in place of Martial, much to the jubilation of the home fans.
Lots of sarcastic applause as Anthony Martial comes off for Rasmus Hojlund
— Richard Martin (@RichMartinMcr) December 9, 2023
Huge cheers as Hojlund replaces Martial
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) December 9, 2023
📸 – Martial is taken off. Zero dribbles completed and 1 shot on target from him today. pic.twitter.com/FDHmyZdUG7
— 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) December 9, 2023
But went from bad to worse for United when Bournemouth doubled their lead midway through the second half, with Philip Billing rising high over Luke Shaw to thump home a header.
Philip Billing dunking on Luke Shaw at the far post
pic.twitter.com/FAH9uvFRiW— Gun (@GunAr__) December 9, 2023
Philip Billing to Shaw 😭 pic.twitter.com/jymhbpNiM8
— 👑Nasir🇸🇴 (@lfcnasir11) December 9, 2023
Philip Billing has scored 9 goals in the Premier League since the start of last season, only Solanke has scored more (13) for Bournemouth.
Towering header. pic.twitter.com/X4QakLTI1B
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 9, 2023
Oh, but there was still time for much more calamity. Marcos Senesi grabbed Bournemouth’s third, rising high to head in a corner.
Dreamland 😂
Senesi with 2 goals in 2 games!
🎶Ira….ola! #AFCB pic.twitter.com/I6SYlp1H1P
— Kirk Tovey (@KirkTovey) December 9, 2023
and it’s SENESI FOR THREEEEE https://t.co/BnF46zCjRK
— J7 (@lfcJ7_) December 9, 2023
There wasn’t even a silver lining for home fans in regards to the weather – the Old Trafford roof was up to its old tricks amid a downpour in the north-west of England.
[insert joke here about Man Utd’s defence being as leaky as the Old Trafford roof] pic.twitter.com/XYj3M79J11
— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) December 9, 2023
With United dragging themselves to a 3-0 defeat, captain Fernandes decided to talk his way into the referee’s notebook, picking up his fifth yellow card of the season and ruling himself out of next week’s trip to Liverpool.
He sat out most of the 7-0 at Anfield last season too. https://t.co/ilQ5sJpqu2
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) December 9, 2023
Bournemouth even had time to put the ball in the net again, before Dango Ouattara’s strike was ruled out for a handball before the it crossed the line.
🇧🇫Dango Ouattara (21, 2002)
With a disallowed goal … Manchester United have been abysmal 😳😳But that’s because Bournmeth have been brilliant, individual brave and wired like a unit 👏👏
— António Mango (@AntonioMango4) December 9, 2023
United were booed off at the end of five minutes of stoppage time. Where do they go from here?
Such an embarrassing performance from Manchester United! Humiliated by Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) December 9, 2023
Consistently Inconsistent!
An abysmal result..
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 9, 2023
Was looking forward to Aston Villa vs Arsenal but might’ve just been put off all football for the rest of the year.
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) December 9, 2023
