Andoni Iraola insisted Bournemouth were robbed of a stoppage-time penalty, as Erik ten Hag made a hasty exit from his press conference when quizzed on Manchester United facing their worst finish in a Premier League season.
United dropped to seventh in the table and have never finished lower in the competition, but they could fall to eighth if West Ham can beat Fulham today.
Ten Hag’s visitors relied on Bruno Fernandes to avoid losing at the Vitality Stadium with the captain equalising twice after Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert each gave Bournemouth the lead.
Fernandes’s second goal arrived from the penalty spot after Kobbie Mainoo’s shot deflected on to the arm of Adam Smith – a handball which Iraola insisted was ‘very harsh’.
Bournemouth’s frustration was compounded in stoppage time when they thought they had won a penalty of their own.
Andoni Iraola insisted Bournemouth were robbed of a stoppage-time penalty against United
The Bournemouth boss makes his feelings known to Bruno Fernandes at the final whistle
Adam Smith was punished for a handball that Iraola thought was a ‘very harsh’ decision
Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot initially after Ryan Christie had crashed into 19-year-old Willy Kambwala, but VAR Jarred Gillett said the collision occurred outside of the box as they were awarded a free-kick instead.
Speaking afterwards, Iraola said: ‘We have to value the point. One point against Manchester United is important. But if anyone deserved to win today, it was Bournemouth.
‘The last decision especially. The VAR intervenes in something that should be clear and obvious. It is obvious he continues making the offence inside and doesn’t allow Ryan to finish the play.’
Erik ten Hag make a swift exit from the post match presser after being quizzed on the result
Ten Hag hid behind injuries afterwards as he added: ‘In defence, we have to catch up but the players are not available.
‘You see our back four: that’s telling the story. We know our demand but that tells absolutely the story.’
Ten Hag was asked about United being seventh, which would equal their worst-ever Premier League finish, but he said as he made a swift exit: ‘I don’t comment on that question. That is not important in this moment.
