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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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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants permanent Manchester United job

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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:


Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

70 minutes

Rashford, who has been excellent today, makes way for Romelu Lukaku.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:57

GOAL! Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth (Lukaku)

72 minutes

An instant impact for Lukaku. Pogba turns provider, playing the ball over the top of the Bournemouth defence. Lukaku's first touch takes him wide, but he guides his finish past Begovic to add a fourth United goal.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:00

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

74 minutes

Bournemouth might, understandably, feel aggrieved at the way this has gone. Lukaku was offside for his goal and the Cherries were denied a penalty minutes before the goal. United have been the far better side, though.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:03

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

75 minutes

Pogba is so close to scoring his first United hattrick. He fires a low shot from the edge of the box but Begovic stretches out a long arm and palms it onto the post.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:04

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

79 minutes

Bailly is sent off. A reckless, dangerous tackle on Fraser, and that's put a slight dampener on what has been a near perfect day for United. They'll play the remaining ten minutes or so with ten men.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:08

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

81 minutes

United immediately make a change having lost a centre back. Phil Jones replaces Martial

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:08

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

82 minutes

Bournemouth make a change, too: goal scorer Ake, struggling having taken a knock, is off for Mings.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:10

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

86 minutes

Bournemouth don't appear in any great rush to pile forward. Any hope of a comeback, realistically, was gone long before Bailly's red card. Surman has a go from just outside the box but his effort curls wide.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:14

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

90 minutes

Four minutes of added time will be played. This has been over as a contest for a while now.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:18

Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth

90+2 minutes

Ibe drives forward and plays in Fraser. His attempted ball across goal and deflected away from goal. It looks like it's headed for a corner, but De Gea does well to keep the ball in. United haven't kept a clean sheet, but they've been largely comfortable at the back.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:20

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