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As it happenedended

Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Paul Pogba inspires side to third consecutive victory

re-live the action from Old Trafford

Callum Rice-Coates
Sunday 30 December 2018 18:13 GMT
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Paul Pogba's man-of-the-match display helped bring Manchester United's turbulent year to a positive end, with Bournemouth comprehensively defeated as caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw another morale-boosting performance.

The exciting post-Jose Mourinho era continues apace at Old Trafford, where players are now displaying freedom, fluidity and cohesion sorely lacking towards the end of the Portuguese's reign.

Pogba has enjoyed the starkest change in fortunes. A fortnight on from being an unused substitute in Mourinho's final match, the midfielder scored twice and set up another as United beat Eddie Howe's Cherries 4-1 in the final Premier League match of 2018.

United appear liberated by Solskjaer, whose side have scored 12 goals and picked up nine points since his appointment as caretaker manager. Sir Matt Busby and Mourinho are the only others to have won their first three league games as manager of the club. Re-live the action below:


It hasn't got any easier for Bournemouth.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:40

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

12 minutes

First attack of note for Bournemouth, who win a corner after some neat interplay on the edge of the box. The set piece is cleared and United counter. Begovic has to be strong to beat Pogba to a floated ball into the box.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:42

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

15 minutes

Very nearly 2-0. Pogba nods the ball down for Rashford, who catches a half volley sweetly. Ake blocks with his head and it deflects just wide with Begovic stranded.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:45

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

18 minutes

Who would have thought that playing on the front foot, attacking with fluidity and freedom, might prove successful for a team full of talented players. That is what United are doing now, and they look like they could score a few today.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:48

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

21 minutes

There are still question marks over United defensively, of course, but they haven't given Bournemouth much of a sniff so far. Ibe drives a ball across goal but there's no one on the end of it and De Gea watches it go harmlessly wide.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:51

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

23 minutes

Stanislas drives forward down the middle of the pitch and lines up a shot. He gets his shot wrong, though, dragging it wide of the left post.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:54

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

25 minutes

Bournemouth are coming into the game now. King curls a cross in and Stanislas waits for what would have been a tap in. Herrera gets back and intercepts crucially.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:56

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

26 minutes

Another chance. Ake wins a header from a corner, which looks on its way in. But it hits De Gea and United manage to clear. The away side have been on top in the last few minutes.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 16:57

Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth

30 minutes

Pogba, surging forward, makes another late run into the box. Martial dinks the ball in his direction, but he can't quite reach it this time. 

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:00

GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Bournemouth (Pogba)

33 minutes

It's that man again! Herrera swings an excellent cross into the box and Pogba rises highest, beating Begovic to the ball and nodding into an empty net. A second brace in two games for the Frenchman.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:04

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