Old Trafford: Manchester United’s deadly attacking trio crushed Bournemouth in a clinical Premier League win, after an early shock at Old Trafford.
The on-fire strikeforce made it 55 goals in all competitions between them this season, and it brutally smashed a heroic effort, at times, from the visitors with Bruno Fernandes also getting in on the act as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side flexed our muscles to rack up 14 goals n 16 days since the restart.
The manager’s front three all scored in a killer comeback in the first half with Mason Greenwood’s finish, Marcus Rashford, from the spot, and a spectacular Anthony Martial strike overturning a shock early Bournemouth lead through Junior Stanislas.
Then, when the Cherries threatened their own comeback with a penalty by Joshua King at the start of the second half, the Reds defiantly and devastatingly responded again with two quick responses from Greenwood again and the irrepressible Fernandes.
Fernandes has been magnificent for the Reds, since arriving in January from Sporting Lisbon, and scored two crackers against Brighton last Tuesday at the Amex Stadium in United’s 3-0 win on the south coast.
And it looked certain the midfielder would have been celebrating his seventh goal of his productive Old Trafford career after just 10 minutes. Rashford played a delightful ball from his own half over the Bournemouth defence for Fernandes to race onto. Ahead of his marker, and with Aaron Ramsdale desperately racing out of his goal, he lobbed the keeper but lifted his great chance over.
His shocked and disappointed reaction said it all. That miss was compounded, five minutes later, when the visitors shook the Reds with an opening goal.
Stanislas picked up the rebound from his own shot in the United box and then nutmegged Harry Maguire on the by-line before cracking his shot home at David De Gea’s near post.It was against the run of play and a hard one for United to swallow. It was the first Premier League goal conceded since Spurs on the first day of the restart and the first at Old Trafford in 500 minutes of action, since Jay Rodriguez’s effort for Burnley back in January.
Rashford tried to conjure up a swift answer from a free-kick but was thwarted by Ramsdale.
However, the smelling salts worked after that early punch floored the Reds and we were level after 29 minutes with Greenwood adding number 14 to his goal tally for the season.
It was another assist for Fernandes, who squared to the 18-year-old. Greenwood’s first touch killed the pace on the ball and he drove in emphatically with his left foot, even if Ramsdale did get a hand to it.
United overturned Bournemouth’s early lead five minutes later when Rashford scored his first goal of the restart and first since a double in January against Norwich City at Old Trafford.
His chance came after a handball by Adam Smith was easily spotted by referee Mike Dean. The spot-kick was cool and clinical to make it 2-1 and take his campaign tally to 20 club goals in all competitions. (Agencies)
