Manchester United’s seven-match unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League came to an end on Saturday with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth, where Jesse Lingard was also added to a worryingly long list of injured players.
Goals from Junior Stanislas and Joshua King outweighed Marouane Fellaini’s strike to secure victory for the Cherries, who are flying high following last weekend’s victory at Chelsea. The Reds, meanwhile, will drop out of the Barclays Premier League top four if Tottenham beat Newcastle on Sunday.
United – without the suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger and seven injured players – made a slow and disappointing start by conceding in just the second minute. Junior Stanislas unleashed a corner from the right wing that caught the wind and sailed over David De Gea into the top corner at the back post, much to the delight of a rowdy home crowd at the Vitality Stadium.
The Reds responded positively to falling behind and almost restored parity a few moments later as Artur Boruc made a terrific double save to deny Marouane Fellaini and the recalled Paddy McNair. Anthony Martial then spurned another opportunity when sent through on goal by a wayward Bournemouth pass, as the French striker could only drag the ball wide of Boruc’s right-hand post.
After De Gea did terrifically well to claw possession away from Stanislas when the forward was through on goal, United deservedly drew level through Fellaini as the Belgian pounced on a loose ball to bound past Boruc and finish from close range after the keeper denied Memphis. The ecstasy of that goal was quickly tempered, however, when an injury to Jesse Lingard forced him off for Andreas Pereira on 31 minutes.
