Hello! And welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of this afternoon’s late kick-off in the Premier League between Manchester Untied and Bournemouth.
It’s been a dream start to life in the Old Trafford hot-seat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Thrown in at the deep end following the dramatic departure of Jose Mourinho, the former United striker has secured back-to-back wins and brought a sense of joy and excitement back for supporters.
There does need to be some perspective with those results. Solskjaer’s men have beaten Cardiff (16th) and Huddersfield (20th), scoring eight goals and conceding two. But an unquantifiable sense of renewal and, for want of a better word, ‘fun’, has returned to Old Trafford over the last fortnight.
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth suffered a 2-1 defeat when these sides met back in November, and Solskjaer will be hoping for a similar outcome here today if he is to make it three wins on the bounce and help inject some more life into United’s hopes of competing for a top four finish.
Kick-off is coming up in an hour’s time at 4.30pm.
Let’s get started with the team news…
Bournemouth sit happily mid-table in 12th spot at the moment, but will still be licking their wounds following a 5-0 drubbing on St Stephen’s Day at the hands of ever so briefly title challengers Tottenham.
United required a stoppage time winner from Marcus Rashford in the 92nd minute to secure that 2-1 win at the Vitality the last time these sides met, and you can say with some degree of certainty that Eddie Howe’s side will provide a sterner test than Cardiff and Huddersfield.
In team news Solskjaer welcomes back Romelu Lukaku, but there is no place in his starting XI for the out-of-form Belgian striker. He takes a spot on the bench, while Alexis Sanchez is not yet fit enough for a place in the match-day squad.
It’s a front three of Lingard, Martial and Rashford leading the line up top, with the trio enjoying 16 goals between them so far this season.
Here we are now, all the lads.
#MUFC are in the building! Team news coming up shortly... #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/6gFFBjJxpD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 30, 2018
So, today’s teams will line out as:
Manchester United: De Gea; Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw; Matic, Herrera, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Martial.
Substitutes: Romero, Jones, Darmian, Pereira, Fellaini, Mata, Lukaku.
Bournemouth: Begovic; Rico, Cook, Ake; Ibe, Stanislas, Brooks, Surman, Daniels; King, Wilson.
Substitutes: Boruc, Simpson, Mings, Lerma, Fraser, Mousset, Defoe.
Some pre-game reading material ahead of kick-off:
- ‘You’re always ambitious’: Solskjaer wants United job on permanent basis
- Shaw hails huge changes made by ‘really positive manager’ Solskjaer
- Sir Alex turned to Claire and said, ‘Here’s the lad who would have played for England’
- Man United players were ‘affected’ by poor results under Mourinho
- ‘Manchester United have spent £200m more than Klopp’ - Jamie Redknapp
Just over 10 minutes until kick-off, #MUFC fans! What's your prediction for #MUNBOU? pic.twitter.com/fduDLZSEBT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 30, 2018
He’s the miracle worker with a million dollar smile.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - even putting a smile back on the face of Mike Dean and Fred the Red
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) December 30, 2018
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at Old Trafford for the first half!
Man United enjoying early spells of possession here. It yields a free-kick which Ashley Young swings into the area looking for Nemanja Matic, but it floats over everybody’s head and out for a goal kick.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH (POGBA 4)
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL! Man United are ahead with just four minutes on the clock at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford breaks out the Fifa Street 2 skills, leaving one man for dead before beating another with a Ronaldinho-inspired elastico, finally crossing into the box. His pass picks out Paul Pogba, who duly dispatches the ball into an empty net.
The perfect start for the hosts with what was their first shot of the game. You really have to hand it to Marcus Rashford though, his outrageous dribbling skills put the ball on a plate for Pogba and he did the damage with a cool and calm close-range finish. It wasn’t even that Rashford was moving at high speed — his swizzle and swerving almost seemed in slow motion. A throwback to the stuff you’d see on SoccerAM Skill Skool back in the day.
Luke Shaw is called into action now as Bournemouth look for a response at the other end. Jordan Ibe bombs forward, with his cross into the box blocked away by Shaw for a corner kick. It’s played short, but United come away with it on the counter, turning defence into attack.
The home crowd bursts into a chant of “Ole…Ole…Ole…” all around Old Trafford. They are enjoying this, and so is Mr Solskjaer sat in the dugout.
Rashford almost doubles his side’s lead with a volley from outside the box. The ball arrives at a tricky height, he does well to make a firm connection and fizz the ball hurtling towards Asmir Begovic, but Nathan Ake gets his head in the way to provide a timely block.
Bournemouth are suffocating a little bit here under all this pressure. When they do get forward, they are finding it tough to find a way past Shaw and Victor Lindelof down that right-hand side, while United are always very quick to break on the counter. David Brooks is trying his very best and is putting in a shift at the moment.
Is this the same Manchester United?
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) December 30, 2018
Jordan Ibe provides a dangerous low cross into the area, but it flies out the other side of the box with Joshua King and Callum Wilson no-where close to touching it home. It’s a good bit better from Bournemouth, who are beginning to look like recovering from their very early setback.
Close! A powerful cross into the box from Joshua King nearly causes panic, but Ander Herrera does well to recover and boot the ball out for a corner kick. It’s a dangerous corner swung into the area, with Nathan Ake nearly heading his side level before Victor Lindelof blocks.
Very nearly a second for United. Anthony Martial picks up the ball outside the box and, rather than pick out an orthodox pass, he scoops the ball high into the air to meet the run of Paul Pogba which went completely untracked. A moment of class from Martial, but his pass is overhit and gathered by Begovic as Pogba tried to stick out a leg and steer it home for 2-0.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-0 BOURNEMOUTH (POGBA 33)
GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLL! It’s two goals for Man United and it’s two goals for Paul Pogba this evening. The midfielder leaps highest to meet Ander Herrera’s cross into the box. Asmir Begovic tried to come and punch clear, but Pogba was first to meet it and succeeded in powering the ball into the back of the net emphatically.
Paul Pogba has now scored four goals in his three Premier League appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, more than he netted in his 14 PL apps under Jose Mourinho this term.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 30, 2018
His mojo is back. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/muUoklWvSm
Close! Joshua King catches the ball brilliantly and really tests David De Gea with a powerful volley from an acute angle from just inside the box. It looked like maybe creeping into the near corner, but De Gea did really well to stand his ground and get his hands behind the ball to force it away.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 3-0 BOURNEMOUTH (RASHFORD 45)
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAL! Man United are running away with this now. Anthony Martial provides an inviting cross into the box and Marcus Rashford sticks out a leg to provide a pinpoint finish at the opposite post. It’s 3-0!
GOAL! MAN UNITED 3-1 BOURNEMOUTH (AKE 45+2)
GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Bournemouth have one back right before the interval, what a game! David Brooks provides a brilliant ball into the area which Nathan Ake meets and steers past De Gea. It’s 3-1 at the break.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 3-1 BOURNEMOUTH
Entertaining stuff at Old Trafford #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/rFhyEyKUPz
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 30, 2018
Goodness me, what an end to the half. It was all Man United right up until the last second when Nathan Ake cut the deficit to two with that late header. Paul Pogba grabbed an excellent double early on, before Marcus Rashford went from provider to goalscorer with a fine finish of his own.
All that said, Bournemouth have always tried to go forward, with David Brooks having a promising opening 45 minutes. When that third goal flew in, you imagined this could turn into a cricket score, but Eddie Howe’s side responded perfectly with that late Ake header which means there is more to play for. More action to come shortly!
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway!
Ander Herrera does well with a darting run into the box. He tries to find an angle to beat Begovic, but blasts over the crossbar. United picking up where they left off in that opening half.
Marcus Rashford sends a cross into the box looking for Anthony Martial, but it flies over the crossbar and away from danger. Solskjaer’s men are not content with their two goal cushion and are adamant for a fourth goal which will surely put this game to bed.
Through gritted teeth at half-time watching a replay of Pogba’s celebration, Craig Bellamy said: “I’m sure his Instagram fans will love that.” He didn’t seem to enjoy it himself, to be quite honest.
Love how angry Pogba’s celebrations make people
— Cillian Sheridan (@CillianSheridan) December 30, 2018
Close! Pogba breaks away at speed and looks certain to have a go to try and complete his hat-trick. Instead he feeds the ball through to Marcus Rashford, however the striker is closed down by Begovic off his line, with the goalkeeper doing enough to end the danger and keep it at 3-1.
🔴 - Ole Gunnar Solskjær's finest moment for #MUFC before his current stint as caretaker manager. pic.twitter.com/b7SeKURTZV
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) December 30, 2018
Eric Bailly with an important block to deny Lys Mousset, who has come on in place of David Brooks. Mousset did well to peel away inside the area and get his shot off at the near post, but Bailly was there to get in the way and send the ball out for a corner.
Substitution for Man United: Romelu Lukaku replaces Marcus Rashford.
A standing ovation for @MarcusRashford as he's replaced by @RomeluLukaku9. #MUFC #MUNBOU
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 30, 2018
GOAL! MAN UNITED 4-1 BOURNEMOUTH (LUKAKU 72)
GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! It’s a immediate impact from Romelu Lukaku, who’s first shot results in a goal. Paul Pogba picked him out with a ball over the top, there might be a shout for offside, but the Belgian did excellently to keep the ball under control and fire it past Begovic with his right boot. It’s 4-1 United.
Off the post! Pogba is a whisker away from a first ever career hat-trick. He takes possession on the edge of the box and directs a low effort aimed towards the bottom corner. It’s inches from nestling into the back of the net, but it hits the woodwork and flies back out.
RED CARD! ERIC BAILLY IS SENT OFF
Eric Bailly is shown a red card by referee Lee Mason. It was a completely needless challenge from the defender with his side 4-1 ahead but a really rash one nonetheless. The defender slid in low and dangerously on Ryan Fraser and there was no doubt in Mason’s mind, who produced a straight red.
The game is slowly starting to peter out here. With six minutes left on the clock Eddie Howe’s men have consigned themselves to defeat. Nathan Ake’s header before half-time looked like potentially offering them a way back into this, but Solskjaer’s side have powered on. They are happy to pass the ball about for these final few minutes as they collect a third win on the hop.
Ole Ole Ole Ole... Ole Ole Ole!!!Rashford... Jesse... Martial.... Pogba 😍 @ManUtd
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 30, 2018
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 4-1 BOURNEMOUTH
FULL-TIME Man Utd 4-1 AFC Bournemouth
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 30, 2018
Paul Pogba stars as the Reds make it 3 wins from 3 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer#MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/6AWt4Mzq97
Well, that’s all she wrote. An emphatic win for Man United and a third in a row under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. A double from Paul Pogba and another from Marcus Rashford saw the hosts race into a 3-0 lead, before a late Nathan Ake header right before the interval gave Eddie Howe’s men a sliver of hope.
United picked up where they left off in the second half, however, with Romelu Lukaku scoring with his first shot off the bench to make it 4-1 and make sure of all three points. Thanks a million for joining us this evening, you can read our full match report here. Cya!
A third consecutive #MUFC win to see out 2018. Job done! #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/n4f2rgEO4E
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 30, 2018
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