Manchester United vs Bournemouth live: Zlatan Ibrahimovic elbow and Tyrone Mings stamp go unnoticed
Follow the latest from the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United missed the chance to break into the Premier League top four as they drew 1-1 with Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon in a fiery and ill-tempered affair that saw Andrew Surman sent-off, Tyrone Mings stamp on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Swede respond with a swinging elbow. Re-live the action here.
- Manchester United 1-1 Bournemouth
- Marcos Rojo puts United ahead midway through the first half
- Josh King equalises after Phil Jones concedes a penalty
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings involved in ugly clash shortly before half-time
- Both now likely to face retrospective action
- Andrew Surman sent-off for two bookings before half-time
- Eddie Howe arrived late after being up all night with illness
Follow the live action below...
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Preview...
Jose Mourinho's side could cap a good seven days - having won the EFL Cup on Sunday - by breaking into the top four for the first time since early September. Their early start at home to Bournemouth gives them a chance to leapfrog both Liverpool and Arsenal, who meet at Anfield at 5.30pm.
It will only be for a few hours as one of those two sides has to overtake them (a draw would put Arsenal back into fourth on goal difference) but it could be a psychologically important move.
The Cherries are meanwhile in desperate need of a win having slumped to a fourth straight league defeat at West Brom last weekend. They have not won since beating Swansea 3-0 away on New Year's Eve.
Such a poor run of form has left Bournemouth just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Vital information…
Kick-off: The game kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday March 4.
TV: The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1. Highlights will be shown later that evening on BBC One's Match of the Day.
Form guide
Manchester United: WWWWWW
Bournemouth: LLLLDL
Team news
Phil Jones returns for Manchester United after spending nearly a month on the sidelines with a foot injury. That means their only absentee is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, ruled out with a hamstring complaint.
Bournemouth will be without their club captain Simon Francis for the journey to Old Trafford, but Eddie Howe will be able to call upon Jordon Ibe, who has recovered from a knee injury.
Expected line-ups
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Rojo, Smalling, Bailly, Valencia; Herrera, Fellaini; Martial, Pogba, Mata; Ibrahimovic.
Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): Boruc; Daniels, Cook, Mings, Smith; Fraser, Wilshere, Arter, Surman; Afobe; King.
It's a big game for
Eddie Howe: Bournemouth have entered something of a slump, failing to win a match since New Year's Eve and losing their last four league games. If they do not get points on the board soon they will find themselves sucked into a relegation dogfight and all eyes will be on Howe this weekend to see whether he can help adjust Bournemouth's dire league form.
"We have always tried to defy the odds here and we will have to do that again, so we need to be very strong as a group," Howe commented in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
"In recent weeks we haven't had that collective team performance which we have been looking for, so my main focus this week has been to get everybody performing at their best level again."
Player to watch
Michael Carrick: The 35-year-old Carrick, who was awarded a June 4 testimonial by United on Thursday, has spent 11 years at the club, winning 16 major trophies, including five league titles.
But the veteran midfielder hinted ahead of this match that he could call time on his career if the club do not offer him a new contract. "(Retirement) almost depends on how long I'm here," he told reporters.
"I don't think there's many places I'd want to play, if any, after this anyway. I probably would say yes - that would be it if I left in the summer." Should he be called upon by Mourinho, he will be desperate to impress in order to secure at least another season at the club.
Best stat
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 16 league matches since losing to Chelsea in October (W9 D7 L0) – the longest unbeaten run seen in the Premier League this season.
Odds
Manchester United to win: 4/17
Bournemouth to win: 23/2
Draw: 23/2
13 MINS
Yellow card: Arter receives the first booking of the game, following a late challenge on Carrick.
15 MINS
Pogba is dispossessed in the middle of the park by King, but within seconds he is surrounded by a sea of United shirts. The strength of the Bournemouth lad is sublime and it appears that this could cause Mourinho's men a few issues today.
17 MINS
Valencia threads the ball delicately through to Mata, but he fails to make the most of the goalmouth opportunity. He delivers a weak ball into the box and it's blocked for a corner kick. United look menacing going forward and it's surprising that the score remains level.
20 MINS
Carrick intercepts play form King and sends a sublime pass into the path of Martial. Smith has drifted forwards, which leaves the United lad through on goal, but his shot is blocked by the leg of Boruc. Corner kick to United.
22 MINS
Smith has gone to ground following a crunching tackle with Shaw. It was a fair challenge, with no intentions but the Bournemouth lad did crash to the ground.
23 MINS
GOAL
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 0 BOURNEMOUTH
It comes of no surprise that United have broke the deadlock, but the shock comes with the goalscorer. It's Rojo, with his first ever Premier League goal for United.
Valencia goes for goal from distance and it flies into the path of the scorer, who sticks his left leg out and guides into the bottom left corner. It's shambolic defending from Howe's men, but the home side deserve this lead.
Game on.
26 MINS
The reaction of The Cherries following the opener will be crucial. If they sit back and let United continue with the way that they are playing, then it's going to be a very long afternoon for the visitors. However, already today we have seen their ability going forward, so perhaps we could witness a triumphant comeback. We'll see.
29 MINS
The visitors move forward, with Daniels delivering a ball into the danger zone. However, De Gea comes out and collects possession so the attack deflates.
32 MINS
Yellow card: Surman hacks down Shaw and receives a booking for his efforts. It was a late tackle that deserves the warning.
Shaw is oozing with confidence today, as the long-term absentee continues his quest to impress the boss.
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