MAN UNITED 3, AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1
Manchester United suffered the frustration of beating AFC Bournemouth but losing out on Champions League football to neighbours City on goal difference.
And it in some ways mirrored 2012 when the Reds lost the title on goal difference to their rivals from the blue half of Manchester.
The Reds at least finished their league campaign with a win that guaranteed fifth place and having to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League.
Goals from Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young gave the fans who made it to Old Trafford for the hurriedly rearranged game – Sunday’s was postponed through a fake bomb being found inside the ground – something to cheer.
But supporters remain unconvinced about Louis van Gaal who was jeered by a sizeable contingent when he took the microphone at the end of the game to address fans before the team did a lap of honour.
The Dutchman thanked them for their “unconditional” support.
“Wherever we have played and however we have played, you have never let us down,” he declared before vowing to bring home the FA Cup on Saturday.
Van Gaal, reflecting on the Champions League near miss, saying in some countries two teams tieing are separated not on goal difference but by the results of games between those teams.
And he added that his side has not enjoyed the luck needed explaining: “I also said one penalty in a certain game has been very important for us.
“Today we didn’t receive a penalty and against Leicester we didn’t receive two penalties and afterwards the FA confirmed it was a penalty.
“That’s football and you need that luck. I cannot say we have had a lot of luck this season.”
Van Gaal admitted his side had not created enough chances or scored as many goals as they ought to have done, but they have one of the best defensive records.
United’s manager accepted it was a step backwards not to qualify for the Champions League as a club like them need to be playing at that level every season.
He admitted he came to win titles, but it is important to win the FA Cup, a big competition as it has been a long time (2004) since they last won it.”
Old Trafford was far from its capacity for the hurriedly rearranged game against the Cherries.
United were unchanged from the side that had been due to kick off Sunday’s game.
Bournemouth made one change with Dan Gosling coming in for Harry Arter.
There was an award before the game as David De Gea was named player of the year picking up the Sir Matt Busby Trophy. And the Spaniard needed a clean sheet to be joint winner of the Premier League’s golden glove award with Arsenal’s Petr Cech.
And the under-21s paraded their trophy after being crowned Premier League champions, a far cry from the fortunes of the first team.
There were cries of attack, attack, attack from the kick off, a light-hearted aside as United needed to win 19-0 to pip neighbours City for the last Champions League place.
Of more immediate concern for United was to get one point to guarantee fifth place and avoid having to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League.
It was a low-key opening, more akin to a pre-season, testimonial or training game with the pace more continental than the frenzied action of the Premier League.
And it was a case of looking around the stadium to see what caught the eye, a banner saying ‘Hopefully bye, bye Van Gaal’.
It took until the 32nd minute for either goalkeeper to be tested and then Wayne Rooney’s free kick, a cross flew directly into the arms of keeper Adam Federici for a simple save.
Marc Pugh had a shot blocked by Antonio Valencia soon afterwards, the visitors’ first chance of the night.
The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute through a wonderfully crafted goal that was out of keeping with the game.
Anthony Martial played a delightful return pass with Juan Mata and cut the ball back for Rooney to slot home a shot low to the left of Federici from 10 yards for his 15th goal of the season, his first since February 2nd and 245th for Reds as he inched ever closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record of 249.
United had claims for a penalty waved aside early in the second half after Mata went to ground after a clumsy challenge from behind by Steve Cook.
Michael Carrick came close to making it 2-0 when his drive from 30 yards deflected off Tommy Elphick and crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Jesse Lingard fired just wide and then Federici pulled off a magnificent flying save to turn over a 30-yard drive from Valencia as United suddenly had the bit between their teeth.
Federici then had to be alert to keep out a low shot from Mata as a second goal continued to elude the Reds.
Callum Wilson had the ball in the net after 72 minutes, but replays proved he had strayed offside before the latched on to a headed through ball.
United finally got their second goal in the 74th minute after another well-constructed move. Valencia, on the byline, headed a Rooney cross back for Rashford to fire a low shot into the far corner, his eighth goal in only 17 first-team games.
That was quickly followed by two substitutions by the Reds as Mata and Rashford were replaced by Ander Herrera and Memphis Depay and then, with seven minutes left, Martial made way for Ashley Young.
United added a third goal with three minutes left when Rooney’s chip down the centre released Young who chested the ball down and half volleyed past Federici who managed to partially block his shot that trickled over the line for his first goal of the season.
Despite scoring three goals, United’s total of 49 league goals was their lowest since 1989/90 when Sir Alex Ferguson was teetering on the brink of being sacked.
But towards the end of the third and final minute of added time, Bournemouth scored a consolation to deny De Gea a share of the golden gloves.
Substitute Lewis Grabban cut the ball back from the right and Benik Afobe’s shot was going wide until it deflected off Chris Smalling past the helpless Spaniard.