Manchester United were due to welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on the final weekend of the Premier League season.
However, shortly before kickoff, two stands were evacuated and it was later revealed that a 'suspect package' had been found inside the stadium.
As a result, the decision was made to postpone the match, throwing the Premier League final matchday into disarray.
Read how matters involved in Manchester with Sports Mole's updates below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from Old Trafford as Manchester United welcome Bournemouth on the final weekend of the season. The visitors have little to play for except pride, but Man United will be desperate for the three points as they bid to snatch fourth place!
Man United against Bournemouth is a fixture that has only taken place on nine occasions in the English game. The Red Devils have recorded five wins, Bournemouth two, while the final two matches have finished level. The pair have not actually met at Old Trafford since February 1989, when Man United recorded a 1-0 win in the FA Cup courtesy of a strike from Brian McClair!
The two teams have only met on one occasion in the league and that was the corresponding Premier League match earlier this season. It was Bournemouth that recorded a 2-1 victory in that clash during a period where Louis van Gaal looked to be under serious pressure. That still remains the case at Old Trafford, but the Dutchman is present for the final league game of the season.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Old Trafford. Who have Van Gaal and Eddie Howe selected this afternoon? Let's take a look shall we...
TEAMS:
UNITED: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, CBJ; Carrick, Rooney; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Rashford
BMOUTH: Federici; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh; King, Wilson
Man United boss Louis van Gaal has made three changes to his XI from the West Ham match, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Michael Carrick and Jesse Lingard taking the place of Marcos Rojo, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera. Neither Rojo nor Schneiderlin are involved in the 18-man squad, but Herrera is on the bench alongside the likes of Memphis Depay and Ashley Young.
As for Bournemouth, head coach Howe has made five changes for the clash at Old Trafford. In come Adam Federici, Callum Wilson, Joshua King, Matt Ritchie and Danny Pugh, while the likes of Max Gradel and Benik Afobe have dropped to the bench. It is the same back four that started the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, however, leaving Steve Cook and Tommy Elphick at centre-back.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now around 40 minutes from kickoff on this warm afternoon in Manchester. I shall speak about Bournemouth a little later, but let's start with Man United, who will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 defeat at West Ham United on Tuesday night.
© Getty Images
After Manchester City drew 2-2 with Arsenal last weekend, fifth-place Man United knew that two wins in their final two league matches would see them finish fourth for a second successive season. They took a 2-1 lead at West Ham in what was an emotional match at the Boleyn Ground, but the hosts turned it around to record a 3-2 win and boost Man City's hopes of a top-four spot.
The defeat to West Ham was Man United's 10th Premier League loss of the season, but for all the criticism aimed at the Red Devils, they have been solid at Old Trafford. Indeed, they have won six of their last seven in the league on home soil and have only conceded eight times at OT all season.
While Man United have been tight at the back, they have only netted 46 top-flight goals this season. Their lowest ever Premier League tally came in the 2004-05 season, when they managed 58 in 38 matches. So, unless Man United can hit 13 goals against Bournemouth, Van Gaal will have another unwanted record. The Red Devils just have not been good enough in the final third this season.
© AFP
Eighteen wins, nine draws and 10 defeats have brought Man United 63 Premier League points and as mentioned, they are two points behind fourth-place Man City entering Week 38. Man City only need a point to be sure of fourth due to their superior goal difference, but defeat at Swansea City this afternoon and a win for Man United would see Van Gaal's side claim fourth against the odds.
That said, Man United can still finish as low as seventh this season, providing that they lose this afternoon and both West Ham United and Southampton pick up all the points in their matches. Van Gaal is under serious pressure, but he could still lead the club to fourth and indeed an FA Cup trophy, with the final of that competition due to take place against Crystal Palace next weekend.
Only Leicester City (42) have won more points at home this season than Man United (38), who have played one game fewer. The excitement has been lacking at Old Trafford, however, and that is shown by the fact that there have been just 32 Premier League goals in this stadium this season – fewer than on any other ground in the top flight during the 2015-16 campaign. That is an incredible statistic!
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As for Bournemouth, Howe's main task this season would have been to avoid relegation. That is something that the Englishman achieved fairly comfortably, but it would be fair to say that the Cherries have tailed off in recent weeks. Indeed, the visitors will enter this match having earned just four points from the last 21 available. A number of their players seem to be on their holidays!
Eleven wins, nine draws and 17 defeats have brought Bournemouth 42 Premier League points and they can still finish as high as 12th depending on other results this afternoon. They are eight points clear of the bottom three as things stand and anything above 18th would have been seen as a successful campaign for the newly-promoted club, who are expected to spend big at the end of the season.
Three straight victories over Southampton, Newcastle United and Swansea City in March all but secured Bournemouth's Premier League status, but they have only won once since then and lost five times in the process. Indeed, they have been thumped by Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea since the middle of March and will be wary of taking another heavy defeat in this match.
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Howe's side did manage to end their losing run with a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion last weekend, however, and the Cherries have won more matches away from home (six) than at home (five) this season. They have conceded 64 goals though, which is the second worst defensive record behind basement side Aston Villa. Right, time for my pre-match prediction from Old Trafford.
PREDICTION! I expect Man United to win this afternoon, but I also expect Man City to avoid defeat and Swansea and therefore secure fourth position in the table. Bournemouth will seemingly play 4-4-2 and that should open up plenty of space for the home side. Score prediction? 2-0 Man United.
BREAKING! Old Trafford is being evacuated!
We are unsure of what has actually occurred, but Old Trafford is being evacuated. There is talk of a 45-minute delay to kickoff. More information when it becomes available here.
The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and Stretford End has been evacuated, but there are still some supporters inside the stadium. Still no news as to what has actually taken place inside the ground.
UPDATE! Swansea vs. Man City will kick off at 3pm as expected.
Mental outside Old Trafford as it's evacuated. Most police don't know what's happening. #mufc pic.twitter.com/3cQQLEeLaz — Andrew Kilduff (@TuftyMUFC) 15 May 2016
Fans outside being told to go into the car park and to clear the forecourt. Absolute chaos, stewards etc havent a clue. — Andrew Kilduff (@TuftyMUFC) 15 May 2016
All the 3pm kickoffs are getting underway, but still no official news from Old Trafford. There will seemingly be AT LEAST a 45-minute delay, but it looks to be longer. Confirmation as we get it.
Everyone headed to carpark #mufc #evacuation pic.twitter.com/b8nv9VTixI
— dipsmufc (@dipsMUFC) 15 May 2016
NINE Premier League games are underway, but Man United versus Bournemouth is delayed. Until when? Still no confirmation. Man United have not had much luck with kickoff times this season.
United saying a suspect package has been found in the north west quadrant at Old Trafford.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) 15 May 2016
Two stands at Old Trafford have been evacuated due to a security alert ahead of Manchester United's match with AFC Bournemouth
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) 15 May 2016
UPDATE! MAN CITY LEAD AT SWANSEA!
BREAKING! MATCH ABANDONED!
Well - not quite sure how to report this. But Man United against Bournemouth has been abandoned. This game will not take place this afternoon. No news of when it will...
.... supporters are leaving the stadium. This match will not take place. Incredible developments at Old Trafford after a suspect package was found inside the stadium. Crazy scenes here.
People are still inside the stadium. Fans outside have been informed game's been abandoned. #mufc — Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) 15 May 2016
MUFC (old Trafford) game has been abandoned, Fans are leaving the ground. Please avoid the area if possible. — GMP Traffic (@gmptraffic) 15 May 2016
MATCH ABANDONED The match at Old Trafford has been abandoned due to a security alert #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/NALk8mtvsc — Premier League (@premierleague) 15 May 2016
So, that is it from Old Trafford this afternoon. No game will take place due to a serious security alert, but be sure to stay with Sports Mole as we bring you updates from the rest of the Premier League. Thanks for sticking with us as developments unfolded!
