Fernandes' double gives Manchester United a lucky draw at Bournemouth | first division

For manchester united, is there a more damning criticism of their current state than the fact that they have faced more shots than anyone in the division this season? André Onana's goal came under attack again here and they have now conceded a league-high 574 shots. The other teams at the top of that list? Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley, a trio mired in relegation problems. It is very easy for teams to upset United and it seems that Erik ten Hag does not know the solution either, although Bruno Fernandes scored twice at Bournemouth to avoid a humiliating defeat. Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert scored for Andoni Iraola's side and the hosts thought they deserved a penalty in injury time, but VAR rescued Willy Kambwala from further pain.

It was nine minutes of stoppage time in the first half and while Fernandes, the United captain, hit the crossbar with a shot from 25 meters while looking for an equalizer, when the fourth official indicated that it was the visitors who were wrong. required a break.

If anything was symptomatic of his alarming and anemic display, it was the opportunity that Kluivert had on the edge of the six-yard box a few minutes earlier. the excellent Bournemouth Left-back Milos Kerkez appeared on the right to recycle a free kick and when he returned the ball to its place of origin, United were static. Kluivert, however, was alert and made a perfectly timed run, but his attempt was repelled by Onana, who was left exposed at all times. Fernandes was the only United player who bothered to follow the rival and even he, really, arrived too late to react.

At the time, United were trailing 2-1, Fernandes had volleyed home from close range after a fortuitous deflection from Illia Zabarnyi, but that scoreline flattered Ten Hag's side, unchanged. from their draw against Liverpool last time. Solanke got the first courtesy of a United tragicomedy and Kluivert got the second.

Bournemouth may have slipped out of sight in the interval. Onana went wild as the stick came to United's aid after Kerkez met Adam Smith's superb cross from the right. Kerkez's downward header hit the crossbar and said it all: when the ball came back to him, he was the fastest. Diogo Dalot, Kambwala, Harry Maguire and Casemiro saw Kerkez miss the rebound.

Kluivert's goal came from United's right wing, where Bournemouth had joy again and again. Kambwala pointed to an unmarked Kluivert but, with Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho facing each other in front of the ball, the teenager suddenly found himself facing the Bournemouth striker himself. Kluivert took advantage of the space he was given and fired a shot at Onana's near post. This summed up United's ease. They were outnumbered, overwhelmed and outmatched.

A similar story occurred with Bournemouth's first goal, when Solanke capitalized on a slip by Kambwala. Kambwala lost his balance, tried to regain it, and then stumbled once again. But the goal came from a United goal kick. Rasmus Højlund chested Onana's shot towards Garnacho, who was replaced by Amad Diallo on the break, but his touch was poor.

It was, once again, a Bournemouth player who showed the greatest hunger to get to the ball. Marcos Senesi played a first-time pass to Solanke, turned to Kambwala and promptly scored his 17th league goal of the season, the best tally for a Bournemouth player in the top flight in a single season.

Presumably, Ten Hag introduced Diallo in an attempt to prevent Kerkez from charging down the left flank and give the full-back something to think about going the other way. Kerkez advanced into midfield after Lloyd Kelly replaced the injured Luis Sinisterra towards the end of the first half and Kelly almost fed Solanke as the hour approached, only for Kambwala to catch the ball at the near post.

United, on the other hand, offered nothing going forward, so it is little wonder that several of their players celebrated when the referee, Tony Harrington, gave them the chance to equalise, penalizing Smith for handball in the area. Kobbie Mainoo's speculative shot from the edge of the area bounced off Ryan Christie, relentless in midfield, and off Smith's right arm. Smith did not appeal but United's jubilant reactions – before Fernandes sent Neto the wrong way from 12 yards – said it all.

Bournemouth came within inches of winning a penalty in injury time but, after a VAR check showed Kambwala's cynical body check on Christie was outside the area.