Another bruising afternoon for Manchester United, while Bournemouth turned in a performance full of energy, belief and quality.
Manchester United's search for stability hit another wall as Bruno Fernandes was left out and the team was hammered by a rampant Bournemouth side. The decision to sit their creative engine raised eyebrows before kickoff. By full time it had become one of many uncomfortable questions hanging over the club.
United looked disjointed, short of ideas and too easy to play through. Without their main source of invention, the side struggled to link midfield and attack, and the afternoon slipped away from them. For a club of United's stature, the performance was another painful reminder of how far standards have dropped.
Bournemouth, by contrast, were brilliant. They pressed with purpose, moved the ball with confidence and attacked with the freedom of a team that knew exactly what it was doing. Several players earned high marks for their energy and sharpness, and the home crowd responded to every positive moment.
The contrast between the sides could hardly have been starker. Bournemouth leave with momentum and plenty to feel proud of, while United must work out how to respond quickly. Fernandes' absence will be debated, but the larger concern is a team that keeps finding new ways to disappoint.
