Bournemouth Beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford as Fernandes Watches From the Bench

Bournemouth beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday in Premier League Matchday 8. Rayan opened the scoring in the 38th minute, Marcus Tavernier added a second in the 43rd minute, and Evanilson scored the third in the 71st minute. Captain Bruno Fernandes spent the entire match on the bench. The final whistle was greeted by boos, and home fans had already headed for the exits as the third goal went in.

Two goals before half time

The opener came from a set piece. Rayan connected with a Justin Kluivert free kick in the 38th minute to put Bournemouth in front. Five minutes later the lead doubled. Leny Yoro stumbled under pressure from Adrien Truffert, and Tavernier tapped in to make it 2-0 in the 43rd minute, still before half time. Two goals in five minutes left United chasing the match in front of their own supporters, and Bournemouth reached the break with a lead they held for the rest of the afternoon. United needed a response after half time and never found one.

The third goal closed the match in the 71st minute. Evanilson rounded goalkeeper Senne Lammens and finished from a narrow angle to make it 3-0. As the ball went in, home fans headed for the exits, and Fernandes was still sitting on the bench. The final whistle was greeted by boos from the supporters who stayed to the end. Jarred Gillett refereed the match at Old Trafford.

Fernandes stays on the bench

The team news had set the tone before kickoff. Fernandes spent the entire match on the bench after criticising manager Michael Carrick's tactics following the 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como on Wednesday. Asked on Sky Sports whether Fernandes was dropped for football reasons or something else, Carrick answered: "Pure football." At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Carrick had said: "I'll always do what's best for the football club." Fernandes never came on, even as United fell three goals behind and the match moved out of reach. The captain watched the full 90 minutes from the bench while his team lost at home without scoring.

Eight games without a win

The defeat extended United's winless run to eight games in all competitions. United sit 16th in the Premier League on seven points, one point above the relegation zone, and they have not won a league match since beating Ipswich Town 5-2 on August 30. A home defeat by three goals, with the captain unused on the bench, leaves Carrick with hard questions and a team sitting one place above the bottom three on points that keep it there only by a single point.

For Bournemouth, the result carries its own weight. It was the third time in four seasons that Bournemouth have won 3-0 at Old Trafford, a scoreline they have now repeated at this ground across four seasons. It also came three days after Bournemouth beat AC Milan 3-0, so the same 3-0 scoreline has followed them through two major away fixtures in the space of three days. Bournemouth leave Manchester with three points and a clean sheet. United leave the field to boos, still looking for a first league win since August.