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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 13:13 EST
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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

47 minutes

Cook launches in a long throw, which is cleared only as far as Stanislas. He hits one from distance, but it's blocked by Herrera.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:35

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

49 minutes

Martial picks out Herrera, who makes a run into the box. Ake does well to put in a challenge before the shot comes in. Bournemouth are continuing to struggle with United's midfield runners, though.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:37

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

51 minutes

Herrera is in the book for pulling back Stanislas. There was a counter attack on for Bournemouth and the foul was a cynical one.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:38

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

53 minutes

Some questionable United defending nearly allows Wilson a chance. A ball over the top is missed by Lindelof, but Wilson's chest control is slightly too heavy and United deal with the threat.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:42

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

58 minutes

United are controlling the game now, dominating possession and maintaining a constant attacking threat. It's a refreshing change for both players and fans at Old Trafford.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:46

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

60 minutes

Pogba has played some very good passes into the path of Ashley Young in the second half. Another one puts the full back through on goal, but the flag is up and he blazes his shot over the bar anyway.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:48

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

65 minutes

The movement off the ball, the tempo, the creativity is all so much better from a United perspective. They have played teams out of form and in the bottom half under Solskjaer but it is still an impressive change in such a short space of time.

Bournemouth appear to have run out of ideas here.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:52

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

66 minutes

A big chance for Rashford to get his second. Pogba plays the ball into his path but he can't beat the onrushing Begovic.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:53

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

66 minutes

Double sub for Bournemouth: Mousset and Fraser replace Wilson and Brooks.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:54

Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth

69 minutes

A crucial block from Bailly as King gets on the end of a dangerous cross. Bournemouth are looking a little bit more lively, but they still haven't troubled De Gea enough.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 17:57

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