BRUNO FERNANDES saved Manchester United yet again. With some aid from VAR.

Technology overturned referee Tony Harrington’s decision to award Bournemouth a penalty, which could have given them the result they earned.

Fernandes scores from the penalty spot.

The Portuguese grabbed the ball after leveling again.

Willy Kambwala’s foul on Ryan Christie was ruled to be just beyond the area, and United escaped another onslaught.

However, Erik Ten Hag and his colleagues will face another harsh punishment. 

Fernandes, whose captaincy and attitude have frequently been criticized, does a superb job of saving his teammates’ blushes.

However, keeping United’s weak Champions League ambitions alive simply adds to the anguish. Surely.

Because it is exceedingly doubtful that they will finish in the top four or five to earn the privilege to compete against Europe’s elite next season.

And if they do, they will be humiliated again, having finishing last in a group that included Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen last December.

Ten Hag claimed to be unconcerned about statistics that demonstrate how easy it is to create opportunities against his squad.

United now allow more shots on goal than any other Premier League team.

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Dominic Solanke gave Bournemouth a 1-0 lead.

Solanke celebrated his opener.

Bournemouth became the latest team to fail to convert attacking superiority into goals and triumphs, preventing United from suffering a modern-era record defeat.

But you know that any continental side worth their salt would take Ten Hag’s side to task.

United should have been dead and buried against Brentford two weeks ago, but Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot for his second of the day.

In the first half, United were once again outplayed by a Premier League side with a clear mentality and cooperation that contrasted sharply with Ten Hag’s collection of underachieving players.

Bournemouth carved United open virtually at will, with centre defender Marcos Senesi playing his best Franz Beckenbauer impression by routinely stepping in to command the midfield.

Harry Maguire had previously made a goal-saving challenge on Solanke before his centre back counterpart Willy Kambwala had a forgettable moment.

Senesi grabbed on Alejandro Garnacho’s poor pass and immediately moved the ball forward. Kambwala already appeared off balance, and Solanke’s spin left him sliding, slipping, and falling to the ground.

Meanwhile, the Cherries striker remained collected and sent a powerful shot inside Andre Onana’s near post.

Until that point, United had been practically fine. However, after Marcus Rashford blasted into the side-netting, they were a distant second to the hosts, who had a number of chances, particularly down their left.

Full back Milos Kerkez, Luis Sinisterra, and Ryan Christie all got shots on goal, but Christie’s second should have been better than shooting straight at Onana.

Instead, United scored an undeserved equalizer. While Bournemouth unsuccessfully appealed for a foul on Solanke by Kambwala, Garnacho took advantage of his second chance to cross, finding Fernandes. The United skipper took advantage of a lucky break of the ball before slamming it home.

Dango Ouattara almost immediately sent a shot that went just wide of Onana’s left post.

Moments later, Bournemouth reclaimed the lead. Senesi, once again playing quarterback, found Kluivert completely unmarked, and the Dutchman advanced before beating Onana at the near post.

It was a terrible goal to concede, both in terms of time and execution, as Garnacho, Kambwala, and Diogo Dalot all failed to prevent another overload on Bournemouth’s left side.  

Bruno Fernandes’ shot brings Manchester United level at 1-1.

Fernandes lifts his fist in celebration.

It was nearly 3-1 before halftime. Kerkez headed Adam Smith’s cross into the ground and onto the bar before shooting a poor follow-up over it.

Bournemouth’s sole concern was the missed opportunities, as Kluivert volleyed straight at Onana during nine minutes of first-half stoppage time. 

Fernandes hit the bar from a long distance just before the interval, emphasising the potential repercussions.

Ten Hag replaced Garnacho with FA Cup hero Amad Diallo at halftime, and things improved slightly.

United finally gained some possession in Bournemouth’s half, but not enough to force Neto to make his first stop of the game.

Bournemouth came near again as replacement Lloyd Kelly sent in a cross that Kambwala reached just before Solanke.

Then, out of nowhere, United got a penalty. Kobbie Mainoo’s shot ricocheted off Christie, and Smith’s arm prevented the ball from reaching Rashford.

Fernandes sent Neto the wrong way from there.

The game then experienced its first significant lull.

Bournemouth demonstrated the greater offensive intent. Christie hurled himself to the ground in quest of a penalty, and he was booked.

But the Scotland international believed he had earned a penalty deep into six minutes of stoppage time.

VAR made the correct decision by rejecting him and Bournemouth.

But once again, United got it dreadfully wrong, and only Fernandes kept it from getting worse.

Justin Kluivert scores Bournemouth’s second.

Kluivert had put the Cherries 2-1 ahead.