Bournemouth vs Man United: Five things we learned as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side slump to defeat

It only took a matter of seconds for Daniel James to gust through the mist that cloaked the Vitality Stadium and leave Sergio Rico scrambling in the distance. It was the first attacking play of the match, the simplest of through balls from Fred to release James down the right-hand side and, if only it weren’t for Andreas Pereira slipping on the sodden pitch, United would have taken the lead.

Within the next five minutes, twice James darted past his panicked opposite number again, only for his final ball to be cut out. It was a duel the Welshman won repeatedly and with ease and yet, despite the early success United decided not to exploit their upper-hand. As they spent the game largely devoid of invention, windows of opportunity slid shut as the ball stuck with Andreas Pereira in midfield or met dead ends as they favoured the left-flank occupied by Marcus Rashford. In a performance so desperately lacking a flash of inspiration, United negated their own most effective weapon.

The case for Andreas Pereira remains necessary but elusive. In Solskjaer’s system, he sits as the playmaker, but acts more as a necessary enabler: tucked behind a fast and direct front three, the first pressing line of defence when possession is conceded, the man to pick the simple passes, make cynical fouls and take corners.

United made no secret of their pursuit of a midfielder this summer. For what seemed like an eternity it was Bruno Fernandes, then, ultimately, a last-ditch pursuit of Christian Eriksen. The arrival never came, Juan Mata’s legs aren’t quite running to the same tune, and so the Brazilian continues to maintain his berth. In this set-up, he is the unfavourable best in that role. But too often he became guilty of slowing counter-attacks down, lacking the spark to ignite or create, playing into glaring holes, rather than taking it upon himself to create them.

King basked in the space, cushioned Smith’s cross on his chest, paused, flicked it over Wan-Bissaka’s head before volleying through the legs of De Gea. It was, on the surface, a spectacular goal from the Norwegian and reward for a Bournemouth side that dug in after a rocky start.

Yet, with every replay, the lapse of defending became more apparent. Wan-Bissaka desperately lunging in despite King having no clean route to goal, leaving himself stranded in the process. Two other United defenders lurking nearby, standing motionless marking the thin air. It was a marvellous piece of invention by King, but it was outweighed by the error that was symptomatic of United’s drear first half.

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On the hour-mark, Solskjaer trudged back to his seat and scratched furiously at the greying hairs. Trailing by a goal, his side were supposed to emerge for the second half with fire and gusto, the fresh desire to make something happen in a game they’d only played a bit-part role in. Instead, he watched as his side were splashed back and forth as Bournemouth mounted a barrage. First, Biling and Wilson combined to cut through Maguire and Lindelof, only for the final ball to run long. Next, De Gea was forced into a brilliant save to block King’s effort, before finally Ashley Young shunted over Smith as Bournemouth mounted a barrage. United were supposed to emerge with the fight that had carried them over the line against Chelsea in midweek but instead dawdled to defeat with a whimper.

The clouds of doom seemed to have been lifted. Solskjaer’s side had held Liverpool and then picked up back-to-back wins and, although the questions over his future had been tucked dangerously close to the surface, they were at least out of sight for the time being.

But after being downed by a Bournemouth side in such abject and uninspiring fashion, the crosshairs will immediately refocus. His side had all of the ball but rarely even came close to rocking Bournemouth in the later stages as they chased the game and it often felt as though they lacked the fight to do so. Eddie Howe’s side simply wanted it more and, as Solskjaer threw on the kids in the final stages, he was clearly relying on a lucky Hail Mary rather than a moment of magic. It’s his side’s fourth defeat in 11 league games this season and another miserable result away from home where the problems feel so deep-rooted. So now, the curtains are unavoidably ruffling again.