Bruno Fernandes scored twice to rescue an unconvincing 2-2 draw for Manchester United at Bournemouth as they dropped to seventh place in the Premier League table on Saturday.
The Portugal international came to the rescue after Bournemouth had deservedly led with goals by the in-form Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert and although the visitors pressed for a winner, it would have been undeserved.
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The visitors were left relieved as Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in stoppage time when Ryan Christie’s run was ended by a foul but a VAR check ruled it was just outside the area.
United, who have gone four league games without a win, are on 50 points from 32 games, are below Newcastle United on goal difference.
It was another patchy display by Erik Ten Hag’s side who were again guilty of allowing opponents far too many attempts at goal, Bournemouth having 20 to United’s eight.
Bournemouth created several early chances and led through Solanke’s clinical finish in the 16th minute.
The striker was played into space and made no mistake as he cut in to drill home his 17th league goal of the season.
Luis Sinisterra was agonisingly close to making it 2-0 while Milos Kerkez had a shot saved by Andre Onana as Bournemouth looked like scoring every time they went forward.
United equalised when Fernandes reacted superbly when a ball bounced up off a Bournemouth defender and he volleyed past Neto.
But the visitors did not heed their lesson and were undone all too easily as a ball by Marcos Senesi found Kluivert in space and he drilled a low shot past Onana.
Kerkez headed against the crossbar as United wobbled and Bournemouth were to regret their failure to kill off the game as Kobbie Mainoo’s shot took a deflection and struck Smith’s arm for a penalty was awarded.
Fernandes rolled home the spot-kick for his eighth league goal of the season but United still needed a late slice of luck to emerge with a point from another disjointed display.
