Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was forced to accept his side were “not good enough” after another curiously uninspired performance at Bournemouth.
United failed to make up significant ground on Tottenham in the race for Champions League football as they drew 2-2 at the Vitality Stadium and it could have been much worse.
Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot five minutes beyond the 90 when Ryan Christie went down under a challenge from Willy Kambwala before changing his decision to a free-kick on review.
Erik ten Hag’s men were tormented for much of an uninspiring performance in Dorset and twice trailed in the first half following goals from Cherries pair Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert.
Bruno Fernandes volleyed home his first equaliser against the run of play before denying the impressive hosts a maiden league double over the 20-time English champions by converting a 65th-minute penalty after Adam Smith inexplicably handled.
United’s Portuguese captain also rattled the crossbar with a stunning strike from distance at 2-1 down in stoppage time at the end of an exhilarating opening period.
Yet outstanding Bournemouth, who hit the woodwork through Milos Kerkez and wasted numerous other chances, should have been out of sight by then.
“This is not enough, we know that,” conceded Ten Hag.
“When you come into the final stage of the season, this is not enough. The truth is we did not deserve more today.
“We have to do better, control the game, score goals and not give as many chances away.
“We have used the same back line twice and these players gave everything, their maximum. But some of them are young, inexperienced and to do it match after match in the tough Premier League is difficult. It is hard, but they have to deal with it. That is the demand of Manchester United.
“You see, with every opponent, there is that desire to beat us. Today, they went to their limits, every match they went to their limits. We have to show resistance, control it and dominate it.
“At this moment, with all the problems we have, we play to our levels. We can play very good and to our levels when everyone is on top form, but we have to do it for the whole 90 minutes.”
Ten Hag’s under-achievers remain a massive ten points behind fifth-placed Spurs after they were hammered 4-0 by Newcastle, who moved up to sixth and ahead of United with that thumping win at St James’ Park.
