Manchester United welcomed AFC Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. The big news of the day was that Bruno Fernandes was dropped to the bench.
First half
A long throw-in caused United problems but the ball went out of play as it flashed across goal in the opening four minutes.
The Cherries almost took the lead when Rayan missed a free header from a corner in a let-off in front of the Stretford End. Rayan broke free moments later with a well-worked move through the United midfield but his effort was well blocked by Harry Maguire.
The away side came close again when Leny Yoro had to scoop the ball away from Evanilson just under the crossbar. Diogo Dalot found himself in space out wide on 18 minutes but blazed his cross well wide.
Ten minutes passed as the game meandered on with little action occurring at either end. A Bournemouth cross just evaded Evanilson in the box.
United’s most dangerous moment of the half so far arrived after good work from Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans down the right resulted in the Belgian playing in a ball across goal but it was well stopped by Đorđe Petrović in the Bournemouth goal. Ayden Heaven was booked controversially for going in two-footed even though he was nowhere near a Bournemouth player.
The resulting free-kick evaded everyone in the United box and Rayan was left alone to put the ball in the back of the net at the back post. United responded after 41 minutes when Mbeumo was played in by Mount but the Cherries’ keeper pulled off a fine save.
The Red Devils’ nightmare continued when Leny Yoro inexplicably stumbled and gifted the ball to Adrien Truffert, who had the simplest task of finding Marcus Tavernier in the box, who put the away side 2-0 up. Old Trafford was in disbelief and some fans even left for the exits with only 41 minutes left.
The half-time whistle blew and Carrick’s reign at Old Trafford looked like it was in its dying embers.
Second half
United started the second half in disarray when Heaven lost the ball and Evanilson tucked away the finish, but thankfully he was in an offside position.
Heaven’s hell continued as he gave the ball away to Rayan under little pressure but the Brazilian could not beat Lammens as United narrowly escaped conceding a third. Matheus Cunha spun around on the edge of the box but his left-footed shot curled well wide.
United picked up the pace a little and Mbeumo was played in by Yoro but he fired his effort over the crossbar. Rayan tore down the right-hand side and left both Dalot and Lisandro Martinez for dead but swept his finish wide.
The Red Devils had their best chance of the half when Martinez shot from distance but the visitors’ keeper got down well to stop it.
United’s Halloween horror show continued when Senne Lammens inexplicably came rushing out, missing the ball, and Evanilson put the ball into the empty net to compound United’s misery. 3-0 Bournemouth.
The Stretford End responded by singing Carrick’s chant and then immediately followed it up by chanting they wanted the Glazers out to point out the real blame for the club’s demise. Shea Lacey brought a little bit of dazzle and skill and his teasing cross picked out Andrey Santos but his header was deflected wide at the back post.
Mount tested the keeper in the 95th minute but it was easily stopped by the keeper. The full-time whistle blew and United’s horrible Sunday was finally over and surely Carrick’s time as manager was too.
Starting XI: Lammens, Maguire, Yoro, Heaven, Dalot, Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Mbeumo, Amad, Mount
Subs: Cunha, Martinez, Zirkzee, Lacey
Featured image by Dan Istitene via Getty Images
