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Following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United will be raring to get back on track as they travel to Bournemouth this afternoon.
Despite dominating for much of the match, Man United were unable to penetrate Wolves’ defence last weekend – a major contrast from the five goals they scored against Lyon the match before.
Sadly, there is a problematic trend that has emerged around United’s gameplay over the past few matches in the Premier League, at least.
With 60% possession and 12 shots compared to just four from Wolves, United were inefficient up front, not making the most of their vast goalscoring opportunities.
Only two of their shots were on target, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund failing to put away glorious chances in the second half.
It was during the second 45 minutes that United truly appeared on top of their game, but it was sadly another match where United were wasteful and failed to live up to their potential.
Even in the crushing 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, Ruben Amorim’s team were fairly dangerous for much of the game. It was an encounter where the final score did not tell the full story, as Newcastle’s shots only slightly overshadowed those of United by 13 to nine. While the defence was incredibly shaky, United’s attack did little to reduce the deficit.
Going as far back as the goalless draw with Manchester City, this frustrating trend was evident as well.
United dominated against a vulnerable City squad at Old Trafford but failed to find the back of the net. Much like in the Wolves game, only two shots were on target out of 13 attempts.
At the start of the month, straight after returning from the international break, United fell to a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. United retained a mammoth 68% possession while unleashing 23 shots, yet only five were on target.
With only one goal scored in four league matches this month, United have been utterly wasteful in front of goal, especially when considering how few shots on target they amassed.
Despite proving dominant against numerous opponents, United’s efforts have been largely wasted, as without getting enough shots on target, they’re hardly managing to threaten opposing defences to the level they should be.
Ultimately, United will need to be more clinical with their finishing as they face Bournemouth today, as without truly challenging the goalkeeper, they cannot expect to score as they should with all of their impressive gameplay.
Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images
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