Romelu Lukaku earns Manchester United nervy win over Bournemouth
Manchester United have returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a nervy 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at Old Trafford this evening.
Romelu Lukaku netted his eighth top-flight goal in United colours 25 minutes in for what proved to be the decisive moment in an evenly-matched contest.
Three days on from their disappointing derby defeat to Manchester City, the Red Devils were made to dig deep defensively for large parts of the second half as they held on for a much-needed victory that leaves them 11 points off the pace.
Jose Mourinho handed first Premier League starts of the season to Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay, while Phil Jones returned after a month-long absence and Juan Mata was also included from the off.
After a couple of little scares, which saw Jones produce a big block to thwart Callum Wilson and David de Gea palm away a Charlie Daniels drive, United had the lead through their first and only serious attempt of the first half.
Mata sent the ball in from the left and out-of-form striker Romelu Lukaku did well to get his head to it ahead of two opposition players – just his third goal in 15 matches.
Bournemouth were the side asking more of the questions in the remainder of the half, though, with Simon Francis and Junior Stanislas both testing De Gea in the space of five minutes.
De Gea was also needed seconds before referee Graham Scott blew for half time, doing well to claw away Ryan Fraser’s sneaky attempt from an angle.
The Cherries had scored in all four previous Premier League meetings against United prior to tonight, and they were knocking on the door for one early in the second half as Fraser against fired a shot on target, this time from a central position.
A deflected Mata shot aside, United were struggling to create chances until the hour mark when, after Lukaku’s shot was saved by Asmir Begovic, Anthony Martial somehow skied the ball from close range despite having an empty net to aim for.
Marcus Rashford, who has played a direct part in 11 goals in 12 appearances at Old Trafford this term, was brought on for Martial with 25 minutes to go as United looked for some attacking impetus.
A moment of magic from the substitute forward almost led to the game’s second goal, only for his 25-yard drive to crash back off the underside of the bar.
Jermain Defoe was introduced for the visitors and almost instantly asked a question of De Gea by shooting centrally, with the visitors – previously unbeaten in four away games – really upping the pressure late on.
Another De Gea save was required after Defoe created a shooting chance inside the box, being kept out at the front post on this occasion, and Fraser then blasted into the arms of De Gea from the Cherries’ final chance to earn a point that their performance perhaps deserved.
