Manchester United took the lead on three separate occasions against Bournemouth but were unable to secure all three points.
The Red Devils started brilliantly at Old Trafford, but first-half dominance quickly turned into end-to-end chaos and a dramatic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.
Before kick-off, Ruben Amorim warned United had to be “mature” against Bournemouth after throwing away several points in previous matches.
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Unfortunately, United suffered another second-half collapse and only claimed one point at home.
United’s second-half record is nothing short of terrible, and there are some alarming numbers that Amorim should be wary of.
Manchester United huddle before playing Bournemouth
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Where Man United are going wrong when leading
In recent matches against Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and now Bournemouth, United have thrown away priceless points by conceding goals in quick succession.
It must be a huge source of frustration for Amorim on the sidelines, and The Athletic have highlighted some interesting metrics about United when they are leading matches.
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The first mistake spotted is that United are not passing the ball enough or keeping hold of possession after taking a lead.
Ruben Amorim has praised Man Utd’s attacking football vs Bournemouth
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Ruben Amorim quote after Bournemouth
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United are averaging 4.4 open-play sequences with 10 or more passes per 90 minutes when leading. It ranks the ninth-lowest in the Premier League this season.
A second, perhaps more costly mistake, is that United are far too vulnerable from transitions when leading matches.
While in winning game states, United are conceding 2.8 direct attacks per 90 minutes. Only two Premier League sides average more.
It shows that United are far too vulnerable to counter-attacks and quick transitions, something that shouldn’t be the case when leading.
Man United’s defensive crisis is not helping
United enjoyed one of their best attacking displays under Amorim against Bournemouth, but all of the hard work was undone by lapses of concentration in defence.
Leny Yoro still impressed in a free-flowing right-back role, while Senne Lammens made some impressive stops in the final minutes.
But Amorim will be counting the days until three key defenders return. Once Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are fit and ready to start, United’s defensive record should improve.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim says one ‘very good’ Man Utd player did ‘really well’ against Bournemouth
Martinez got more minutes under his belt against Bournemouth and will be hopeful of soon making a first start since recovering from his ACL injury.
De Ligt and Maguire are also on the road to recovery, and Amorim will hope they can cut out these defensive collapses.
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