Manchester United vs. Bournemouth: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Game

Manchester United secured a fifth-place finish in the 2015-16 Premier League season on Tuesday night, beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1 at Old Trafford.   

A first half of dreary football was eventually pierced by a Wayne Rooney goal a couple of minutes before the interval. The hosts improved in the second period, with the scintillating Marcus Rashford doubling their advantage and substitute Ashley Young getting on the scoresheet. An own goal from Chris Smalling in injury time gave the visitors something to cheer.

Three points puts the Red Devils above Southampton, who drop to sixth, although still behind local rivals Manchester City on goal difference.

The game was rescheduled after the initial clash, set for Sunday, was abandoned after a suspicious device was discovered in the toilets at the stadium, per BBC Sport.

It meant there was a peculiar atmosphere at Old Trafford. A lot of supporters opted against turning up altogether, with United unable to secure a Champions League spot unless they won the game by a whopping 19-goal margin.

James Ducker of the Times took a guess at how many spectators had made the trip, including a clutch of Bournemouth supporters who had travelled up from the south coast:

Can’t be much more than 50,000 here at Old Trafford #mufc

— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) May 17, 2016

Those who were in for the match would have been lamenting their decision in the first half of this one, though. That’s because, despite the fact manager Louis van Gaal decided to field a strong team, United played without tempo, purpose or any kind of inventiveness against the Cherries in the opening period.

They are criticisms fans have levied at the Dutch manager for much of the campaign and the reason why a lot of supporters want him out of a job after Saturday’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. As noted by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News as the first half lumbered by, Van Gaal had failed to deliver on a pre-match promise:

Van Gaal before the match: ‘We have to entertain our fans.’Twenty-five minutes in, #mufc haven’t had a shot at goal.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 17, 2016

Eventually, there was something for the home supporters to enjoy, as Rooney was on hand to rescue a stadium slipping into a malaise.

It was a goal at odds with the predictable play United had showcased to this point too. Anthony Martial’s pass was brilliantly dummied by …

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