Manchester United vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance75,245.
Sunday 5 March 2017 07:35, UK
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a penalty saved as Manchester United were held to a controversy-filled 1-1 draw by 10-man Bournemouth.
After Joshua King's penalty cancelled out Marcos Rojo's 23rd-minute opener, there were two flash points before half time as Tyrone Mings stamped on the head of Ibrahimovic, and the Swede responded shortly afterwards by elbowing the defender as they competed at a corner.
Neither player was punished by referee Kevin Friend and instead Bournemouth's Andrew Surman was shown a second yellow card for pushing Ibrahimovic in the melee that followed.
Ibrahimovic was at the centre of the action again in the second half as he saw a penalty well saved by Artur Boruc.
And United could not find a winner as they were held to their seventh home draw in the Premier League this season, less than a week after winning the EFL Cup.
The result is a set-back to United's top-four ambitions as it leaves them sixth in the table.
The frustration that Manchester United showed at the final whistle was a far cry from the pre-match positivity as Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney made their first starts since October and December respectively.
For Bournemouth it was pre-match uncertainty as manager Eddie Howe was expected to miss the game through illness, but ended up in the dugout after travelling to Old Trafford separately.
If Howe was still feeling under the weather, his mood would not have been lifted by his side's showing in the opening 20 minutes as they looked fragile defensively.
Rooney headed over the bar before Paul Pogba was denied by Boruc, and Ibrahimovic failed to turn in a pass across goal.
Benik Afobe spurned a great chance at the other end when he slipped after being played through on goal, but otherwise it was United who dominated, with Boruc twice saving from Anthony Martial.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 23rd minute as Rojo turned in Valencia's shot.
But the hosts could not add to their advantage and instead it was Bournemouth who drew level before the break when Jones brought down Pugh and King converted the resulting penalty.
After Ibrahimovic and Rooney were denied by Boruc, there was controversy late in the first half as Mings stamped on the head of the former Sweden international, and he then elbowed the defender as they went up for a header.
The referee took his time to make a decision, with the end result that Surman was sent off for a second yellow for pushing Ibrahimovic.
With the man advantage, United controlled the second half and, after Boruc saved from Pogba, the hosts were presented with a chance to regain the lead as Adam Smith was penalised for handball in the box.
But Ibrahimovic saw his penalty well kept out by Boruc, with the former Southampton goalkeeper saving low to his right.
Harry Arter escaped a second yellow card after catching Pogba with a sliding tackle as Bournemouth held firm.
The hosts did not create another chance until injury-time when Pogba swiped wide from close range, and the final whistle was greeted by celebrations from Bournemouth players as United were left frustrated.
Player ratings
Manchester United: De Gea (5), Valencia (6), Rojo (7), Jones (5), Shaw (6), Carrick (6), Pogba (5), Rooney (5), Mata (5), Martial (5), Ibrahimovic (4).
Subs: Fellaini (5), Lingard (5), Rashford (5).
Bournemouth: Boruc (8), Adam Smith (6), Cook (7), Mings (5), Daniels (7), Arter (5), Surman (4), Fraser (5), King (6), Pugh (5), Afobe (5).
Subs: Gosling (5), Gradel (5), Cargill (5).
Man of the match: Artur Boruc.
