Manchester United missed the opportunity to press home their advantage in the race for Champions League qualification, twice squandering a lead and finishing with 10 men away to Bournemouth.
After a goalless first half, Bruno Fernandes’ penalty on the hour mark — cleverly won by Matheus Cunha — put Michael Carrick’s side ahead. Ryan Christie equalised six minutes later, however, just after Amad had been denied another United penalty at the other end of the pitch.
United quickly restored their lead through a James Hill own goal, helped home by Harry Maguire, but the former United captain then conceded a penalty and was sent off for foul on Evanilson, with Eli Junior Kroupi levelling from the spot.
Was Maguire unlucky to see red?
The day started well for Maguire with his international return in England’s last pre-World Cup squad, got even better with news of an impending new contract, but ended with his first red card at club level in four-and-a-half years, since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final game in charge.
Maguire could have few complaints about the incident in isolation. His hold on Evanilson was only brief but that was all it needed to be to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity and gift Bournemouth a route back to parity with nine minutes of the 90 to go. Eli Junior Kroupi converted the penalty, having also scored Bournemouth’s final equaliser in the 84th minute of the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in December.
The penalty call itself was not too controversial, but Maguire, Carrick and United might have something to say about the denial of a spot kick in a similar incident moments before.
Amad was pushed to the ground by Adrien Truffert with even more force, only for play to continue, Bournemouth to go straight up the other end and level through Christie.
It was a curious decision then, even more curious in light of the foul on Evanilson being awarded. United will feel aggrieved at that inconsistency, but should also have done more to see out the result.
Has Carrick solved his front-three conundrum?
No Premier League manager has made fewer changes to their starting line-ups than Michael Carrick since his appointment, but finding the right blend of attributes in his front three remains tricky.
Carrick’s fourth unchanged line-up in 10 games meant Benjamin Sesko remained among the substitutes, despite scoring his fifth goal in seven on Sunday against Aston Villa.
Bryan Mbeumo has just one in his last eight, by contrast. The Cameroonian thrives when able to run in behind but struggled to make the most of the gaps that Bournemouth’s intense style of play creates, yet he appears undroppable under Carrick.
Bryan Mbeumo struggled for impact at Bournemouth (Warren Little/Getty Images)
Cunha is in form, meaning the choice appears to be between either Sesko or Amad for the third starting spot. The 23-year-old winger spurned an excellent first-half opening, hesitating to use his right foot and taking a poor touch with his left when he had the chance to go clean through on goal.
It was the type of opportunity you have to take if you are keeping a player in Sesko’s form out of the side, but then the Ivorian is still this squad’s best one-v-one threat out wide, and was missed when benched in defeat to Newcastle.
Sesko was eventually introduced on 71 minutes — for Mbeumo rather than Amad, interestingly — but for once, to little effect. United are still searching for the right starting combinations in attack.
Is Cunha now thriving on the left?
Question marks were being raised about Cunha’s suitability to this system and his role in it on the left wing only a few weeks ago.
Yet after his critical goal in Sunday’s win over Villa, he was United’s brightest spark tonight, tormenting Bournemouth right-back Alex Jimenez.
Milan loanee Jimenez has enjoyed an impressive first year in English football and impressed in December’s reverse fixture but was repeatedly beaten all ends up by Cunha, particularly for United’s penalty.
Cunha did brilliantly to take a dropping ball onto his chest, squeeze through a sandwich of Jimenez and Alex Scott, then tempt the Spain Under-21 international into a shirt-pull. Referee Stuart Attwell was left with little choice.
Jimenez was eventually substituted in the 73rd minute, long after Cunha had bested him. On a frustrating night for United, his performance was a positive.
What did Carrick say?
“I’m disappointed,” Carrick told the BBC. “We created enough chances and had enough opportunities in the game. A big opportunity to go 2-0 up and we get one penalty and not the other. It’s exactly the same thing really – a two-handed grab. [The referee] got one wrong so, I don’t know which one but he doesn’t give us the second one. I think they’re both penalties and it’s a massive moment in the game and it ended up chaos after that. Massive moment and I don’t understand how you can give one and not the other — it’s crazy.”
What next for United?
Monday, April 13: Leeds (Home), Premier League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET