Ruben Amorim should repair identical issues as Man Utd throw away win in loopy Bournemouth draw

Manchester United threw away the lead three times in a crazy 4-4 draw against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Complete madness, there was no other way to describe the dramatic game that saw eight different goalscorers find the back of the net. The crazy game epitomised United’s season and Amorim’s tenure as a whole. A match where they were creative but wasteful in attack, while being hopeless defensively and mentally unable to see out and command a game throughout its entirety.

Given the shocking defeat to 10-man Everton and a frustrating draw against West Ham in their last two home games, Amorim’s players had a point to prove and raced out of the traps to dispel any early tension.

United were aggressive out of possession and free-flowing with the ball. Djordje Petrovic was called into action early by Mason Mount, while Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha all saw efforts charged down by last-ditch Bournemouth defending.

But the Reds continued their assault on goal and did break the deadlock when Amad Diallo nodded in from point-blank range after 13 minutes. The Ivorian, alongside Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, was named in the starting line-up after United found an agreement to delay their departure to AFCON.

And their efforts to retain the winger were rewarded when he latched onto the end of Petrovic’s save from Diogo Dalot’s cross. Cunha was inches away from making contact with the ball, but Amad followed up where the Brazilian couldn’t.

United continued surging forward, seeing Amad denied by a goal-saving tackle and Mbeumo inches away from delivering a Robin van Persie-esque volley, but the second goal wouldn’t come.

The same old story rang true again for the Reds as Antoine Semenyo raced away after Luke Shaw was bullied off the ball to fire home an equaliser from a rare Bournemouth attack. Just minutes later, the Cherries winger escaped a red card despite grabbing Dalot around the throat.

United reacted well to the setback and deservedly got themselves back in front on the stroke of half-time when Casemiro’s header squeezed through a weak attempt from Petrovic to keep his back post header out.

But United just cannot help themselves defensively as their first-half hard work was completely undone five minutes into the second-half.

Evanilson slipped off the shoulder of Ayden Heaven 30 seconds after the break to fire a finish into the far post. Marcus Tavernier then capped off a dreadful couple of minutes for United when he drilled a free-kick into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Kobbie Mainoo was introduced shortly after Bournemouth’s third for Casemiro to a rapturous reception from Old Trafford. Benjamin Sesko also made his return to action as Amorim incredibly relented on his insistence to play a 3-4-3 and changed the system up to a more attacking 4-2-4.

Mbeumo fired another golden chance over the bar from seven yards as frustration built within Old Trafford, that was until the valve was released when Bruno Fernandes whipped a free-kick into the top corner in the 77th minute to level the game again.

The wild game took another turn as United produced a remarkable turnaround of their own just two minutes later as Matheus Cunha slipped the ball under Petrovic to put United into the lead for the third time in the game.

But the chaotic match spun again as Kroupi Jr found another clinical Bournemouth finish in the 84th minute to tie the game again at 4-4. Senne Lammens produced two brilliant saves deep into added-time to deny David Brooks and save the point for United at the death.

United have been unable to kill off games and the problem is glaring. Attackers aren’t taking their chances and defenders lack the ability to take command of any pressure. It’s an endless cycle that has continuously plagued Amorim throughout his 13 month tenure, and it shows no sign of ending.

The draws against West Ham, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have all seen United throw away leads. While the wins against Brighton, Burnley and Chelsea have seen the Reds crawl over the finish line when they have had the chance to put the game out of sight.

With Amad and Mbeumo heading off to AFCON, it won’t get any easier for Amorim to put that problem right.

While Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire’s injury absences have seen Ayden Heaven play in the middle of the back three, a position that the 19-year-old is struggling to control and lead from. The former Arsenal youngster excelled on the left-hand side of the back three last season before picking up an injury, but it’s proving a role too big for him so early in his career.

The point means United move up to 6th, but there are only more questions to ask about Amorim after a third straight home game they’ve failed to win.