Harry Maguire sees red as Bournemouth halt Man Utd surge
Harry Maguire gave away a late penalty against Bournemouth which saw him sent off and Manchester United concede an equaliser. Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
Manchester United’s remarkable turnaround under the guidance of caretaker manager Michael Carrick took a wobble at Bournemouth as Harry Maguire was sent off in a 2-2 draw – but the fact they held on for a point perhaps confirms their direction of travel.
United were leading 2-1 heading into the final 12 minutes and sitting only four points behind bitter rivals Manchester City in the Premier League, when Maguire mindlessly hauled down Evanilson to give away a penalty – on the day when he was celebrating a return to the England squad and enjoying rumours of a new contract being ready to sign.
Junior Kroupi, the man who scored a late leveller in a remarkable 4-4 draw between these sides at Old Trafford last December, calmly scored from the spot to earn Bournemouth a point that seemed a distant prospect when United led 1-0 and then 2-1.
It was captain Bruno Fernandes who put Carrick’s side ahead from the spot after 61 minutes before Ryan Christie quickly levelled – only for an own goal from James Hill, after 71 minutes, to put United back in control.
Most of the away end were looking at the Premier League table by then, dreaming of cutting that gap to the noisy neighbours and thinking about Champions League football next year.
But sometimes in football when everything seems to be going too well, there’s trouble waiting in the wings.
That’s how it worked out as Maguire’s crazy challenge, which will see him banned for United's next game at home to Leeds, changed the course of the game; and perhaps the expectation of the away end with it.
All this on a weekend when City won’t be playing a Premier League fixture as they focus on a Carabao Cup Final against Arsenal at Wembley instead.
Pep Guardiola’s side may well be looking nervously at United in the rearview mirror even so - and who would have predicted that five months ago?
But a chance to really put them under pressure was missed.
This result means the Red Devils are seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, however, and six behind the top two. So, not all is lost.
It wasn’t the way Carrick wanted the game to end, but even so his influence on the side since replacing Amorim has been spectacular. Now 23 points picked up during that period.
The problem was that Bournemouth, just like at Old Trafford, proved they have the ability to challenge anyone in this league, and may well also feel they should have taken three points as they took their own unbeaten run to 11 matches (even if seven of those have been drawn).
There will be frustration for United as they head home but also, perhaps, some reflection on the journey they have been on and pride in the way they held on.
Carrick has somehow transformed an under-performing and disjointed set of players into an exciting, forward-footed side capable of real quality in key areas of the pitch, with character in reserve.
His decision to bring back Kobbie Mainoo, overlooked so publicly by the hapless Ruben Amorim, sums up what a difference the caretaker manager has made.
Not only has Mainoo been a success since returning to the team but he started this match having just been named in the England squad and with rumours swirling that he is close to agreeing a new contract.
Carrick has also brought the best out of Fernandes by moving him further forward (where he always should have been). The result? Fernandes has been on fire, both in terms of scoring and assisting.
He was on form again against Bournemouth, playing a major role in the action as United avoided a late defeat.
Considering these two teams famously drew 4-4 in a crazy game at Old Trafford earlier in the season, nobody was expecting a goalless draw when they rekindled the rivalry.
The sentiment was supported early in the game when Amad Diallo had a shot well saved by Djordje Petrovic – before Bournemouth raced up the field on a counter-attack that ended with Marcus Tavernier shooting wide when clean through.
Cunha forced another save from Petrovic before Fernandes was also denied, this time when he arrived unmarked at the far post following an intricate move.
The second half was more dramatic.
United took the lead when Cunha’s skill won a penalty from the hapless Jiminez, and Fernandes fired home comfortably from the spot.
But there was controversy when Ryan Christie scored on the break for Bournemouth just seconds after Truffert appeared to foul Amad Diallo in the box. VAR took its time but opted not to give a penalty – which meant Bournemouth’s unlikely equaliser stood.
United thought they had won it with an own goal from a Fernandes corner – but Maguire’s challenge and Kroupi’s well-taken penalty took that dream away.
There was, however, a resilience from United in the final minutes to hold onto a point; and maybe that’s a sign of positive change in its own right.
Petrovic 7; Jiménez 5 (Smith 73; 6), Hill 6, Senesi 6, Truffert 7; Scott 6, Christie 7 (Kroupi 73; 8); Adli 6 (Brooks 73; 6)|, Tavernier 7, Rayan 7 (Gannon-Doak 87), Evanilson 7.
Lammens 7, Dalot 6, Yoro 6, Maguire 6, Shaw 6, Casemiro 6 (Ugarte 82; 6), Mainoo 7, Diallo 7, Fernandes 8, Cunha 8 (Heaven 82; 6), Mbeumo 6 (Sesko 70; 6) Unused subs: Bayindir, Fredricson, Malacia, T. Fletcher, Mount, Zirkzee.
Stuart Attwell
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
