It took until the final moments of the game for Manchester United to finally overcome Bournemouth but Marcus Rashford’s added time winner will strengthen Jose Mourinho’s belief his side’s recovery is gaining pace.
United were forced to come from behind having fallen behind to Callum Wilson’s 11th minute winner. Outplayed during the opening half, they were fortunate to level through Anthony Martial’s 35th minute effort, the striker’s fifth in four league games before Rashford’s late intervention delivered victory.
It was United third win in four league games and while Mourinho will know the performance fell well below expected standards for long periods, his side are making progress.
Mourinho’s side arrived at the Vitality Stadium without Romelu Lukaku who, the manager explained, had been injured in training on Friday. The striker’s had been dropped to the bench for last weekend’s victory against Everton and having failed to score in nine goals, his starting spot was far from assured.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United player ratings
1/22 Asmir Begovic – 6
2/22 Simon Francis – 6
3/22 Steve Cook – 7
4/22 Nathan Ake – 8
5/22 Adam Smith – 6
6/22 Junior Stanislas – 7
7/22 Lewis Cook – 6
8/22 Jefferson Lerma – 7
9/22 Ryan Fraser – 6
10/22 David Brooks – 7
11/22 Callum Wilson – 7
12/22 David De Gea – 6
13/22 Ashley Young – 6
14/22 Victor Lindelof – 5
15/22 Chris Smalling – 6
16/22 Luke Shaw – 6
17/22 Fred – 5
18/22 Nemanja Matic – 6
19/22 Paul Pogba – 7
20/22 Juan Mata – 6
21/22 Anthony Martial – 8
22/22 Alexis Sanchez – 7
1/22 Asmir Begovic – 6
2/22 Simon Francis – 6
3/22 Steve Cook – 7
4/22 Nathan Ake – 8
5/22 Adam Smith – 6
6/22 Junior Stanislas – 7
7/22 Lewis Cook – 6
8/22 Jefferson Lerma – 7
9/22 Ryan Fraser – 6
10/22 David Brooks – 7
11/22 Callum Wilson – 7
12/22 David De Gea – 6
13/22 Ashley Young – 6
14/22 Victor Lindelof – 5
15/22 Chris Smalling – 6
16/22 Luke Shaw – 6
17/22 Fred – 5
18/22 Nemanja Matic – 6
19/22 Paul Pogba – 7
20/22 Juan Mata – 6
21/22 Anthony Martial – 8
22/22 Alexis Sanchez – 7
Marcus Rashford had started ahead of the Belgium international last time out but on this occasion, Mourinho opted to hand Alexis Sanchez a first Premier League start since the home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers six weeks ago.
It soon became clear, however, the United manager’s main area of concern would once again be with his faltering. defence. The Old Trafford club had conceded 17 goals in ten Premier League games prior to this match, compared to just four in the opening ten games of last season, with just one clean sheet their name. The way the visitors struggled to cope with Bournemouth’s incisive attacking moves during a one-sided opening suggested that record was not about to improve any time soon.
There was no let up in the pressure on the visitors’ backline and Wilson finally found a way through in the 11th minute after United had twice been fortunate to escape. De Gea did well to prevent Wilson flicking the ball past him immediately before Adam Smith exchanged passes with David Brooks before setting up Junior Stanislas for a shot that was deflected wide.
The corner proved to be United’s undoing with Mourinho’s side reacting slowly after Luke Shaw had cleared the initial ball in. Stanislas drilled in a low cross and Wilson was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, allowing the striker to place the ball beyond De Gea.
The sense United had been left shell-shocked by Bournemouth’s dynamic opening was reinforced when De Gea stood motionless as Adam Smith’s weak low cross was allowed to drift across the goalmouth before passing alarmingly close to the far post.
It was turning into difficult day for Mourinho who could only watch in frustration as his side struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Sanchez was given little opportunity to stake his claim for a more regular start, but the Chilean finally made an impact on the game in the 35th minute when he won the ball in the centre circle and started the move that led to Martial’s equaliser.
The forward played a pass out wide to Ashley Young and continued his run into the area to collect the return before pulling the ball back fro Martial who finished well from 12 yards out.
United would not afford to perform so poorly after the break and they improved steadily as the game wore on.
They were unable to find a winning goal, however, with Marcus Rashford somehow managing to fire his shot at Nathan Ake from just five yards out after Ashley Young’s free-kick had struck the bar.
Rashford made amends when he stabbed home from close range after Pogba’s left-wing cross.
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