Was United game all about the first goal?

Ole Gunnar Solkjaer felt that the whole game between Bournemouth and Man Utd hung on who would get the first goal. It plays out that it was the correct call with only one goal being scored, but would Bournemouth have got a goal if Man United had scored in those first 20 minutes?

Man United just couldn't recover from going a goal down as AFCB's defence has improved.

We will never know, but AFCB have come back in games and when they have gone behind they haven't always failed to recover this season. The first goal is always massive in any game and of course it is a big advantage if your team gets it. Bournemouth were yet again, slow starters. It is something that Eddie Howe didn't talk that much about, but it should be a concern that the team is taking 10-15 minutes to find its feet in games. Against Arsenal it was 45 minutes before they felt comfortable.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Giving good sides most of the possession in the first 20 minutes is not a great game plan. The Cherries have to find a way of being more assertive. It's not that the home support couldn't be heard and the atmosphere was great for getting the players up for the fight. Yet, the team often can't get on the front foot straight away.

Bournemouth were perhaps lucky that Man United were not in great shooting form and Ramsdale didn't have any awkward saves to make. James looked the player most likely to score for United, but as he was causing Rico a lot of problems down the left side of Bournemouth's defence, but he was probably taking on our most in form defender and Rico did okay.

Advertisement

Somehow the Cherries need to play in the opposition half early on though if they are going to find their way to more opening goals.