FOR United fans, this 90 minutes of football was probably a sad indictment of a season of frustration. A season of feeling unloved.
In a way, they probably feel a little like Cherries fans from years gone by. Not these days for the red and black visitors from Dorset, though. Those who made the trip north west last night, many for the second time in 48 hours following Sunday’s ‘bomb’ scare postponement, simply enjoyed the evening at one of English football’s finest arenas. And who could blame them?
For Cherries, it was job done weeks ago. Even Eddie Howe uncharacteristically spent most of the opening 45 minutes in his dug-out seat. A meticulous operator, Howe was probably already in forward planning mode for next season.
Regardless of the wretchedness of this game of football, Howe’s squad of 2015-16 will always be remembered as the ones who ensured Premier League football remained in Bournemouth for at least another year. Not to mention most of them being the ones who secured it for the little town on the south coast in the first place. The greatest season? Possibly not. Surely that has to be reserved for last season’s Championship-winning heroics. The club’s finest achievement? Almost certainly, despite some disappointing results over the past six weeks or so.
Talk of England call-ups. Other players reaching international level. More importantly, though, has been how Howe’s men have been received in the world’s toughest division.
The applause from those same frustrated Manchester United supporters after the final whistle here spoke volumes about the respect AFC Bournemouth now command from some of the biggest football clubs in the world.
In terms of this rearranged fixture, a poor first half was only briefly ignited by Wayne Rooney’s 100th league goal at Old Trafford. For a player who astonishingly continues to find his abilities questioned, that was a statistic that should silence the critics at least until England’s Euro 2016 campaign begins this summer.
The second period was much of the same fare - United essentially in control but with neither side doing much to lift the end of season gloom. Marcus Rashford made it 2-0 25 minutes from time before substitute Ashley Young bagged a third on 87 minutes. A Chris Smalling own goal in stoppage time only made the scoreline semi-respectable.
Howe made one change to the squad named for Sunday’s abandoned clash, with Harry Arter nursing an Achilles injury. Dan Gosling stepped in, with youth team player Corey Jordan, a 17-year-old from Mudeford, named among the substitutes.
United boss Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, named an unchanged line-up - a strong 11 considering Saturday’s FA Cup final was just days away.
A quick glance around Old Trafford showed the stadium to be only just over half full at best. A consequence of Sunday’s astonishing security blunder and, in terms of the home support, perhaps many chose the sofa over the stands given United could no longer qualify for the Champions League.
That didn’t stop the visiting supporters enjoying a dead rubber that had also been dubbed a pre-season friendly for the 2016-17 campaign.
Rashford ran the ball out of play after just three minutes, prompting a chorus of cheers from the East Stand. Moments later they sang “Shall we check the bogs for you.”
On nine minutes, Rooney’s superb ball to Antonio Valencia, bombing inside from the right flank, saw the full-back flagged offside. It was marginal.
United were controlling possession. Jesse Lingard got the better of Charlie Daniels down the right to chase down Valencia’s pass, but Daniels did well in recovery, challenging hard to snuff out the danger.
Old Trafford was eerily quiet, save for the inventive chants coming from the East. “Is this a library” they jeered.
No stranger to stunning goals, Steve Cook tried his luck on the volley from distance in a rare Cherries attack, but the ball cannoned back off Rooney.
Just after the half-hour, Michael Carrick almost got a toe on Rooney’s free kick from deep, but Cherries keeper Adam Federici gathered.
At the other end, Valencia blocked Marc Pugh’s goalbound effort as Cherries edged ever so gently more into the game.
On 42 minutes, the Old Trafford library came to life. Rooney started the move, before finishing with ease from inside the six-yard box from Anthony Martial’s pass.
Cherries started the second half the better of the two sides. Some fine work from Joshua King on the right saw Pugh lay off into the path of Gosling, who fired over David De Gea’s crossbar.
Juan Mata’s 49th-minute appeal for a penalty after the Spaniard was felled by Cook fell on deaf ears, before Carrick shook Federici’s crossbar with a stunning long-range drive five minutes later.
Valencia got in on the act on the hour mark, stinging Federici’s left hand with a fearsome effort from around 25 yards.
United were now dominating. Mata worked Federici on 62 minutes with a right-foot effort from the edge of the penalty area. Howe had seen enough and shuffled his pack on 66 minutes by bringing on Max Gradel and Benik Afobe in place of Pugh and King.
On 74 minutes it was 2-0. This time, Rooney was the architect, crossing deep to Valencia who headed back across goal. Rashford lashed home impressively.
And three minutes from time, it was three when Young slotted home following a wonderful lofted pass from Rooney. Game over. Season over, albeit with something of a whimper and the Smalling own goal as a final moment.
But nobody can deny the inevitable printing of boarding cards and buying of flip flops in the Bournemouth and Poole area is not well earned. AFC Bournemouth: They’re STILL Premier League.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel