Whatever other questions might persist both of Manchester United and Jose Mourinho - two once such impressive and dominant figures in club football - an ability to score late goals and win ugly still persists.
The bare facts are that United have now collected 10 points from their last four games and, after Marcus Rashford’s winner here in added time, are now back in touching distance again of the top four.
Morale is also lifting ahead of huge looming tests in the space of five days against Juventus and Manchester City, but there will still have to be a dramatic improvement in basic performance in those matches for the upturn to continue.
Bournemouth had completely outplayed United for long periods of the first half and, while United did certainly finish strongest, you could see why they remain behind Eddie Howe's team in the Premier League table.
Indeed, to understand the wider transformative difference of good management, both on and off the pitch, you only had to look at a league table from 10 years ago and then watch this match. Manchester United were then swaggering towards the final years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign as both European and Premier League champions whilst Bournemouth were facing a battle even for survival following administration and starting the season in League Two on minus three points.
Bournemouth were unbeaten in nine league and cup matches since losing 2-0 against Manchester United in the corresponding fixture last year and their improvement in the intervening months was immediately evident.
David Brooks, Junior Stanislas and Ryan Fraser has started behind Wilson in the four attacking positions and their pace, movement and fluidity while interchanging positions immediately left United reeling. A mistake by Chris Smalling gifted Fraser the first chance but, not for the first time, David De Gea came to the team’s rescue and his shot cannoned off the Spain goalkeeper’s legs.
An excellent passing move involving Brooks and Adam Smith then ended with Stanislas having a shot deflected wide. Bournemouth did seem to be targeting United’s left flank, where both Stanislas and Wilson were especially troubling Luke Shaw, and Bournemouth’s goal followed an excellent reverse pass by Lewis Cook into space in that area.
Stanislas had sprinted down the byline and Wilson evaded both Smalling and Victor Lindelof to guide an accurate cross past De Gea with his left foot. Adam Smith, who clearly had the confidence and space to attack from left-back, then also had another shot flash narrowly past De Gea’s left-hand post.
It had been genuinely difficult to notice whether United’s midfield three - Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba and Fred - were even playing as Bournemouth continued to press their visitors back. Fraser forced another save of De Gea, while Wilson’s strength and skill almost created another excellent chance.
Howe’s frustration would obviously have been the failure to score a second and United did increasingly begin to look dangerous when they broke forward. Alexis Sanchez had almost earlier been anonymous United player but it was a combination of his vision and battling qualities that created their equaliser.
Sanchez won the ball in central midfield and, after his pass was returned by Ashley Young, he then delivered a perfectly weighted cross for Anthony Martial to wrong-foot Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic with his finish. It was Martial’s fifth goal in his last four United games.
The second half was more evenly balanced and both teams had opportunities to establish a lead. A well improvised flick by Brooks forced a save of De Gea while Shaw and then Sanchez both also tested Begovic.
It signalled a swing in momentum to United and they then almost scored three times in one extraordinary passage of play. First Young’s freekick beat Begovic but cannoned off the crossbar into the feet of Marcus Rashford. His goalbound shot was blocked before Pogba’s attempted finish was cleared off the goalline by Brooks.
Substitute Ander Herrera later also had a shot float narrowly wide before the excellent Nathan Ake dispossessed Rashford as he sprinted clear on goal.
There were further chances - Brooks for Bournemouth and then Jesse Lingard for United - before they did grab the points in added time.
Pogba had done extremely well to create space for his cross and, with Ake missing his header, Rashford calmly brought the ball under control and finished past Begovic. The turnaround was complete.
Jose Mourinho cannot believe the bad start to the game
"It was not just the start it was all the first half. At half time I thought I was the luckiest manager in the Premier League. To be 1-1 in a half when it should be 5-2 o 6-2, we were lucky. Defensively awful. Absolutely awful. I don't mean just defenders, we didn't start pressing up the work we did during the week. People watching this game don't understand how hard we work to put pressure on our opponent. Second half we show intensity, aggression and in the end we had this goal that gave us these important points.
"It's impossible to play worse than we did so the second had to be good for sure. As a team the team performed much better, I think I was happy with bringing Ander to the game. Normally when you need a better result you make an attacking chance but I felt the team needed a player like Ander to give us more balance and recover the ball faster and protect Young. The team was much better and we created lots of chances.
"I was not in the warming up and saying this is the best warmup of the season, everyone focused, great intensity, the week was a good week of work so I can't believe how badly we started. I love the song attack attack attack but you need to know when you lose the ball you have stability. We don't have this and today it happened again against a good team. Tactically we were prepared, we were ready for 4-4-2, for 5 at the back, ready for everything... I really can't understand the mentality that brings me more white hair." 2:41pm
Paul Scholes on Man Utd's poor starts
"They come out with the wrong attitude. It's a defensive attitude and they're better attacking.
"I think as soon as they come out they never tackle, don't get into players." 2:36pm
Ander Herrera on Man Utd not turning up until late (again)
"We can't give away that first 25 minutes. They were better in the first half, we were much better in the second. I want to be in a whole game team." 2:34pm
You can't say it wasn't coming 2:29pm
FULL TIME
Yes they can! A great win for United who made life difficult for themselves! Bournemouth denied a point - one they deserved - but Rashford has won it with that late goal. 2:24pm
90 mins +4 - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 2
Bournemouth are pushing for the equaliser now but United are defending well and taking their time. Can they hold on? 2:23pm
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!
RASHFORD HAS WON IT!
Pogba sets this one up with some fantastic play on the left, chips into the area and Rashford chests down, Smith can't clear and Rashford stays composed to slam it home. Bournemouth will be gutted but Untied really turned up this half. 2:20pm
90 mins +2 - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Surman on for Stanislas. A bit of time wasting there. Man Utd move down the left and the ball is crossed into the area... RASHFORD IS IN! 2:20pm
90 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Lingard is involved in a beautiful passing move and should maybe actually have scored there. United carve open the Bournemouth defence with some clever passing but the goalkeeper saves and now Bournemouth are up the other end. It's been a really even match. 2:18pm
88 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
This is great by Ibe! He's carried Bournemouth from their own box to the final third at pace... but Brooks loses control and United see it behind for a goal kick. 2:16pm
86 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Cook (Steve) hurls a long throw into the area and it's headed on... but De Gea is quick to come and grab it. United build from the back and look to work it through midfield but Bournemouth are blocking off passing lanes and making things difficult. 2:14pm
84 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Smith goes down to the floor after being barged from behind, Smith starts hiding his eyes as he lies on the ground and Young is booked while waiting to take a throw-in. It's a weird one because the throw-in hasn't turned into a free-kick but Young still gets booked. Or was it Smith who was booked? I may have done a wrong here. Someone's got a yellow card anyway. 2:11pm
82 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Another slick bit of pass-and-move by Bournemouth and Brooks is able to get a shot away! It's blocked well by De Gea though. Both teams want the win here, it's a great game to watch. 2:10pm
80 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Francis does really well to win a goal kick from Martial, Bournemouth tightening up now. 2:08pm
78 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Corner to Bournemouth! It's swung in, flicked on and they win another corner from the second phase. Jesse Lingard is coming on for Sanchez, who hasn't been in the game the last wee while but was better today than he has been recently. 2:06pm
75 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
United's momentum falls apart as Matic and Shaw get their wires crossed. Bournemouth need that break - it's all United. This is the last 15 minutes of possession: 2:04pm
72 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Herrera has totally changed the game for Man Utd. They have a midfield now, can win the ball back, have passes to make going forward and Pogba is able to advance too. Shaw has been decent too.
Rashford finds Martial, who takes on Francis and loses, then finds Herrera inside the area but his low cross is blocked inside the area. It might be time for Bournemouth to change shape and get a hold of this - United are pushing and it really feels like the dam is going to burst soon. 2:00pm
70 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Ake's won Man of the Match. I don't mean literally, but he has to when it's announced because he's been outstanding today. Rashford was about to burst away from him for a one v one there and Ake expertly won the battle.
Pogba's making forward runs to join in the attacks and that is having a big impact on this match. Lewis Cook is taken off for Dan Gosling, presumably to try and win the battle in midfield again. 1:57pm
68 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
It feels like the next goal is coming and you'd really think it'll be United who'll get it. Pogba is finally getting on the ball and causing problems. He dances down the left, cuts inside and finds Herrera on the edge of the area... he takes it first time! JUST WIDE! Man that's close! 1:55pm
65 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
YOUNG HITS THE BAR! The rebound is smashed at goal by Rashford but Ake is there to block! Brilliant block!
And then Brooks clears off the line! Was that over the line?!! No! Pogba and Rashford have missed open goals from six yards! Incredible. 1:54pm
64 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Young drives forward, Stanislas tracks him and brings him down on the edge of the box. United starting to edge this one and have a grip on it.
Yellow card for Mr Stanislas. Young and Shaw line up the free-kick. 1:52pm
62 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Man Utd corner, headed away, Shaw plays it first time then the pass comes back to Herrera 20 yards out and he hits one.... JUST WIDE! Woof. That was a decent hit and more than Fred did in the entire game. Remember, he cost £50something-million. 1:50pm
60 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Lerma is booked. He likes a yellow but that seems a wee bit harsh, even if Herrera has felt it. The referee is over to tell off Adam Smith for something now.
Smalling heads the ball down from a set piece and Sanchez is there to attack it at the near post! Saved by Begovic. 1:48pm
57 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Mata = good and he's being subbed for Rashford. Fred = very poor is off for Herrera. I don't get Fred, let alone why he was worth over £50million. 1:45pm
55 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Great move by United. They've had to deal with some sustained Bournemouth pressure but a little passing move on the edge of the box nearly pays off. Shaw is booked for a clear handball on the halfway line.
Martial gets in behidn the defence after a brilliant pass from Mata and Begovic comes off his line! He's on the 18-yard-line and gets there first, clearing the ball from danger.
Then Shaw gets in - he's in the box unmarked! He must score! Saved by Begovic! Ohhhh that's a big miss. 1:44pm
52 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
BROOKS! Saved by De Gea!
Fraser overlaps on the left and speeds past Young, Brooks drifts into the six yard box and tries a wee flick off the heel but De Gea gets down to save. 1:40pm
50 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
United are throwing players forward to chase the ball and it's working. Bournemouth being put under pressure and now they're taking their tie over free-kicks to get back into their shape.
Play is going through Martial down the left at the moment. 1:38pm
48 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Martial takes on his man on the left but is tackled well by Francis before he can get to the six yard box. It's a slightly better start from Mourinho's team here. 1:36pm
KICK OFF 2
Harry Redknapp's take on Man Utd:
"They look short of people who want to run back, it was really poor."
And we're back! 1:34pm
Matic has run over 6km in that first half
I honestly hadn't even remembered he was playing.
This is his touchmap from that half:
And (this is quite funny), here is De Gea's. I think he's had the ball about half the amount. And he's a goalkeeper. 1:27pm
The shapes
Bournemouth look more balanced here simply because they've had the ball in positions they want to, moving well to receive and able to get the shape into something similar to how they'd planned. United have been scrapping, winning it back and only really showed their quality in the latter stages of the half.
The passing for United has been mostly sideways across the midfield but Bournemouth want that because they're trying to steal the ball there and hit them on the counter. And that strategy has resulted in this shooting map: 1:21pm
HALF TIME
A draw sounds about right at this stage. It's a good game! Lovely stuff. Jessica Ennis. Good night. 1:18pm
45 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
United try and break from the Bournemouth set-piece but Sanchez is easily dispossessed. United keep the pressure up and Pogba wants a penalty for a handball... the referee isn't having it. 1:17pm
44 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Fraser takes on Fred on the left after the corner and it deflects out for another corner. The ball also clears the top of the stand, which means someone outside has a lovely free gift to take home if they're quick enough.
Now Bournemouth have a free-kick and Stanislas is lining it up. It's in Beckham territory. He takes forever to line it up... and hits the wall. 1:15pm
42 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Fraser is played in by Stanislas as a big gap opens up again. Young has to cover, gets back to try and block and Fraser hits the side netting. There was a deflection along the way though and it's a corner. 1:13pm
39 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 1
Bournemouth have a free-kick about 30 yards from goal but the referee blows for a foul on Young as they take it, even though it looks like Young was fouling Lerma.
United get up the other end of the pitch, Mata has time to put the ball on his left foot inside the area.... but shoots wide of the bottom corner! 1:11pm
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
MARTIAL EQUALISES!
Young finds heaps of space on the right in behind the full-back, Bournemouth's defence is exposed and the low cross from Sanchez is perfect for Martial's run into the area. He finishes well.
Why has it taken Man Utd most of a half to turn up? 1:06pm
34 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
United have woken up here... all of a sudden they've got a grip of the midfield and are taking the game to Bournemouth. 1:06pm
32 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Martial comes forward, gets to the box, loses the ball, then Pogba fouls Brooks. United are dreadful. Put in bin. This is the possession for the last 15 minutes but all of United's is in non dangerous situations.
Bournemouth playing on the counter and doing it superbly. Dare I say it, they're playing like the Man Utd of old. 1:04pm
30 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Fraser is brilliant here today. He's just carried the ball a good 60 yards under pressure from Pogba and taken Bournemouth up the pitch. But it's come at a cost! And the physios are on to see to Fraser, who looks a bit gutted. Hopefully he's OK, looks like a wee ankle knock. 1:01pm
28 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Young gets on the ball and again has absolutely nothing ahead of him so has to carry it forward. Bournemouth dominating the game. United still look half asleep. 12:58pm
26 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Fraser is in behind Young again! He gets the cross in and BROOKS GOES DOWN! Is that a penalty? It looks like Shaw bundles him to the ground but nothing given by the referee. 12:56pm
24 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Bournemouth are so good on the counter. It's quick, they drive with purpose and there are players in positions to receive the ball. Another fast move ends with Stanislas shooting from 20 yards but this time De Gea can save. 12:54pm
22 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
CREDIT: AFC BOURNEMOUTH 12:53pm
20 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Ashley Young wins a tackle and then is fouled, and the reason he's fouled is because he has to spend too long on the ball due to none of his teammates making a run into space to receive the ball. It's infuriating to watch and Young gestures angrily to Sanchez, who is stood with a man-marker tight to him. MOVE!
Great long pass out to Smith, he chests it down, cuts inside and then curls a ball to the far post. Nobody runs for it... and it nearly sneaks in! 12:50pm
17 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Pogba doesn't even go in for the 50/50 aerial battle nor try to win the second ball as another punted kick from De Gea goes nowhere. Then he's trying little flicks while surrounded and squandering possession - I'm all for creativity and flair but that's exactly the position he can't do it in. 12:47pm
15 mins - Bournemouth 1 Man Utd 0
Bournemouth are by far the better team here. They're stretching the pitch in possession, getting compact out of it and the defenders are stepping forwards then breaking the lines with their forward passing. 12:46pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!
WILSON SCORES!
What a ball by Lewis Cook! He's going back towards his own goal and spins to play a reverse pass into the runner on the right. The next pass is hit low into the area and Wilson is there to tap in! Dreadful defending from Man Utd and Mourinho is furious. 12:42pm
11 mins - Bournemouth 0 Man Utd 0
Fred feeds in Sanchez again but Ake defends Lerma defends well and cleans up Ake's mistake. L Cook spreads the play, Smith overlaps, Fraser turns inside and chips to the front post... Wilson is there! Saved by De Gea from a tight angle - this is great presssure from Borunemouth. And Smith is in! Great play! The ball is cut along the box and Stanislas shoots wide! 12:41pm
9 mins - Bournemouth 0 Man Utd 0
Bournemouth win a corner and Young's got a big of a problem. It looks like he's jarred his knee or his ankle and he takes a bit of time to get back to his feet. It's a decent corner but Lewis Cook is caught by Fred, who finds Sanchez, who wins a corner. 12:39pm
7 mins - Bournemouth 0 Man Utd 0
Fred spots Mata's run in behind the defence and chips a lovely little pass into his path. Bournemouth are getting really compact in defence so United can't play through them and the offside trap's worked a treat there. 12:37pm
5 mins - Bournemouth 0 Man Utd 0
It's a lively crowd down at Bournemouth, they don't seem fussed that it's the early kick-off and woh here comes Ryan Fraser! He's in! Bournemouth have men over against United's centre-backs, Fraser is into the area... he's taken it too wide! Shoots! SAVED! Man Utd really got away with one there. 12:36pm
2 mins - Bournemouth 0 Man Utd 0
Sanchez links well with Mata then loses control of the ball and ends up in the crowd to ironic cheers from the Bournemouth fans. He started so well. 12:33pm
KICK OFF
GO GO GO! Man Utd get the game started. 12:31pm
The teams 12:27pm
Wonderkids
Marcus Rashford was just one of the many players that Football Manager predicted big things of and with the release of FM19, I spent a looooong time talking to their researchers to discover exactly how they keep knowing who the best young players in the world are.
You can read that article here and I hope you like it.
CREDIT: AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth have a few on their books just now but Lewis Cook is perhaps the most notable. They've thought he'll turn into a world star for several years now. 12:18pm
Mourinho's pre-match comments
"Our momentum is not bad. We drew the game we most deserved to win and our momentum is not negative.
"Sanchez will start, Lukaku yesterday in training after the press conference - so I was not lying - felt something that needs to be studied the next few days so we decided to start with Alexis.
"It's important but in this moment we need points and that's the same against every team. This is the one we have to play now and the one we have to try to get points." 12:16pm
Alexis Sanchez through the middle
Now, we don't know what the mysterious injury that Lukaku's picked up is but it's interesting that Sanchez is preferred through the middle today and this has coincided with that problem. Lukaku might very well be being given a rest - he's played a lot of games and looks a bit tired - but Sanchez has been absolutely horse this season and I'm really keen to see how he gets on. He can't hold the ball up like a big man, keeps running down blind alleys and his final ball has been forced and usually misplaced. Big game coming up for Sanchez. 12:10pm
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