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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 33
Bournemouth v Manchester United
Vitality Stadium
Bournemouth, England
Saturday, 13 April 2024
Kick-off is at 18h30
Manchester United will look to snap a three-match winless run in the
Premier League when they head to the south coast for a clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, April 13 in the late kick-off.
The Red Devils showed some fight as they dented Liverpool's title ambitions with a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on April 7, although it did little for their own UEFA Champions League hopes.
Erik ten Hag's side have picked up just five points from their last five games to trail Tottenham (4th) and Aston Villa (5th) by double figures (11) in sixth position.
United face stiff competition from West Ham (7th) and Newcastle (8th) to even qualify for European football after both teams won on matchday 32 to close within one and two points of them respectively.
The Cherries suffered a setback in their pursuit of a top-10 finish after a 2-1 loss to Luton at Kenilworth Road on April 6 left them two points adrift of Brighton (10th) in 12th spot.
It was a first defeat in six outings for Andoni Iraola's side, who saw a run of three successive wins come to an end.
However, Wolves (11th) and Fulham (13th) failed to capitalise on their slip-up after they too were beaten 2-1 by Wolves and 1-0 by Newcastle respectively.
In team news, the hosts could welcome back Chris Mepham (illness), but Ryan Fredericks (calf), Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier (both thigh) remain unavailable for selection. The visitors continue to be without Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof (both thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Anthony Martial (groin), Raphael Varane (ankle) and Jonny Evans.
Iraola admitted his players didn't take advantage of the windy conditions in the first half as they struggled to cope in the second 45 minutes and were made to pay when Carlton Morris scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner for the Hatters.
"It's a hard one [to take]. It's happened in the opposite way for us where we've won games in the last minute. We should have been more ruthless in the first half," the Spaniard said.
"The wind was key. It was in our favour in the first half. We had chances. The second half we couldn't play like that because of the wind. They pushed and in the end, they won the game.
"It [wind] affected the game. It was very good for us in the first half and very bad in the second half. We were feeling comfortable but not realising [the difference of the] second half against the wind."
Ten Hag lamented another defensive error which led to a late equaliser for the Reds, but he insists the future looks "very bight" for the club after Kobbie Mainoo and Willy Kambwala impressed.
"There are very mixed emotions," the Dutchman told Sky Sports. "On one side, very disappointed. We gave away a certain win by making a not-very-clever mistake, like on Thursday, like last Saturday.
"So, we lose seven points in one week, when we should have nine points, which makes a huge difference.
"On the other side, I am so proud of this team. We are so young. To give this performance, to give this level, shows the future for Man United is very bright."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Bournemouth wins - 2
Man United wins - 3
Draws - 0
Premier League Matchday 33 fixtures:
Saturday, April 13
13h30: Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
16h00: Brentford v Sheffield United
16h00: Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion
16h00: Manchester City v Luton Town
16h00: Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
18h30: Bournemouth v Manchester United
Sunday, April 14
15h00: Liverpool v Crystal Palace
15h00: West Ham United v Fulham
17h30: Arsenal v Aston Villa
Monday, April 15
21h00: Chelsea v Everton\
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