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MANCHESTER — Miserable Manchester United were humiliated 3-0 at home by Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday as the pressure ratcheted up once again on manager Erik ten Hag.
A midweek victory over Chelsea had offered cause for optimism but in-form Bournemouth exposed just how far Ten Hag's United have fallen behind this season.
The Dutchman looked forlorn as he watched on in the teaming Old Trafford rain as his shambolic side were comprehensively outplayed and fortunate not to lose by more.
They were loudly booed off at the final whistle although many fans had long since trudged off.
United's fourth home league defeat of the season hardly inspired much hope ahead of next week's must-win game against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth highlights
For Bournemouth, who won with goals by Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi, it was a fourth victory in five league games and their relegation fears are rapidly receding.
They took the lead after five minutes when Lewis Cook burst through a non-existent United defense and squared the ball for Solanke to finish tidily.
Bournemouth have the lead at Old Trafford! Dominic Solanke's tidy backheel finish has the Cherries out in front!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 9, 2023
United were finally beginning to threaten an equalizer in the second half but were floored by two goals in five minutes for Bournemouth -- Billing and Senesi both scoring with thumping headers from Marcus Tavernier deliveries, as United's defense went AWOL.
Philip Billing finishes off Bournemouth's counterattack with a towering header!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 9, 2023
3-0 TO BOURNEMOUTH. MARCOS SENESI.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 9, 2023
Bournemouth hunted for more goals and were denied a very late fourth when Dango Ouattara bundled through and netted but his effort was ruled out for handball after a VAR check.
Bournemouth's victory did not flatter them in the slightest and the south-coast club are up to the relative safety of 13th place. For sixth-placed United it remains one step forward and two steps back as they undid all the good work of Wednesday's impressive victory over Chelsea.
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(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Clare Fallon)
