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As it happenedended

Bournemouth vs Manchester United, Premier League LIVE: Follow goal updates from the Vitality Stadium

Follow live coverage from the Vitality Stadium

Sam Dymond
Wednesday 18 April 2018 20:00 BST
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Bournemouth host United this evening
Bournemouth host United this evening (Getty)

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Manchester United will be looking to bounce back after their humiliating home defeat by West Brom over the weekend when they travel to face AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho’s side sit second in the Premier League, a position they will be looking to consolidate, with Liverpool only one point behind.

Eddie Howe’s men, meanwhile, could secure their Premier League status for a fourth consecutive campaign with a win. The Cherries are under no threat from relegation, currently ten points clear of the drop zone, but three points would certainly confirm their place in the top flight next term.

Follow live coverage of the match below.

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5 mins: Marouane Fellaini executes a perfect Cruyff turn in the middle of the park. No, seriously.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 19:51

7 mins: Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this week, and looks eager to prove his worth tonight. The young forward has been bright in the opening minutes, using his pace and skill to draw an early corner and, just now, a foul from Steve Cook.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 19:53

10 mins: It's not pretty, but it's effective. I'm, of course, talking about Phil Jones. The Manchester United is all arms and legs as he wrestles possession from Callum Wilson after the Bournemouth striker appeared to have found a clear route from goal following Jordon Ibe's pass. 

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 19:57

11 mins: Bournemouth tails are up and the ex-Liverpool man Ibe is the one making things happen. The £15m man unleashes the game's first meaningful effort from 22 yards out after space opens up in front of him, but the low strike travels wide of David de Gea's goal. 

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 19:59

17 mins: United force another corner - the second of the game - but it's still the home side who are looking the more threatening. Jose Mourinho's men may be enjoying the lion's share of possession, but the hosts are utilising the pace in their ranks to break at speed when the visitors begin to commit men forward.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:05

22 mins: It's gone a bit flat. The crowd are quiet. The play is uninventive and dull. Just the way Jose Mourinho likes it.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:09

24 mins: Marcus Rashford goes to sleep as Bournemouth work their first corner of the evening short. It allows Ryan Fraser and Lewis Cook to move the ball into the box, but good pressure from the alert Jones in the United defence sees the attack cut out.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:12

27 mins: Rashford's not sleeping now! The United forward does brilliantly well to outmuscle Nathan Ake on the near touchline and burst down the wing with defenders trailing in his wake. Continuing into the box, Rashford ignores his teammates to go alone, only to see his eventual shot beaten away by Asmir Begovic.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:13

28 mins: GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1:

Manchester United lead and it's Chris Smalling who has once again found the target. Following up his winner in the Manchester derby, the defender has opened the scoring on the south coast to cap off a slick move. Bournemouth thought they had done the hard work in repelling the visitors' latest corner, but an inch-perfect pass from Ander Herrera slipped Jesse Lingard in behind full-back Charlie Daniels. From there, the England midfielder kept his cool to send a low centre beyond Asmir Begovic, allowing Smalling to stay onside and slide the ball into the back of an empty net.

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:14

34 mins: Rashford almost bags a quickfire second for United, but this time the linesman's flag comes to Bournemouth's rescue. After a quiet opening half hour where the home side had looked the most likely to make something happen, it's now the visitors who seem in complete control. 

Sam Dymond18 April 2018 20:22

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