United's 50 Premier League opponents: Bournemouth
To mark Manchester United facing a 50th different club in the Premier League, following Luton Town's promotion, we're recalling our record against each one and showing the highlights from some classic meetings.
Bournemouth reached the Premier League for the first time in 2015/16 and defied the odds to remain in the top flight for five consecutive campaigns, during which the Reds had numerous entertaining encounters with them - including the first game below, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his league debut for United with a goal.
The clubs have met 12 times in the competition, including twice last season when the Cherries returned after two terms back in the Championship and achieved survival following an early-season change of manager from Scott Parker to Gary O'Neil.
O'Neil's departure has since been announced - today (Monday 19 June) - so we'll face Bournemouth under new management again in 2023/24, in the shape of Andoni Iraola, with our fixtures currently scheduled for 9 December at Old Trafford and 13 April at the Vitality Stadium. In the meantime, scroll down to recall some of our best games against them so far.
AFC Bournemouth 1 United 3
14 August 2016: Jose Mourinho takes charge of his first Premier League game as United boss, away to Bournemouth...
BOURNEMOUTH 1 UNITED 3 (2016/17)
A sunny start to the season by the seaside was the perfect backdrop to Jose Mourinho's first league game in charge of the Reds. Juan Mata's opening goal, in the 40th minute, owed much to a defensive calamity by the home side, with Simon Francis inadvertently teeing up the Spaniard for the easiest of finishes. Some breathing space was secured on the hour mark when Anthony Martial's shot led to Wayne Rooney heading home to double the advantage. The away fans were craving a strike from Zlatan, though, as the charismatic Swede had already made his mark in pre-season. The veteran striker duly obliged by drilling a 25-yarder past keeper Artur Boruc and, with another new boy in Eric Bailly also impressing, this was a perfect opener. Not even Adam Smith's consolation could take any shine off the day.
Mourinho may have been far from happy with his team's performance but there was the elation of an injury-time winner for those who travelled down south to witness a victory that had not looked like arriving for much of the contest. Callum Wilson poked the home side in front and it was difficult to argue that it was not a deserved lead after the Cherries flew out of the traps. Against the run of play, Martial levelled matters, following good approach play by Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez, and United improved after the break. Young hit the woodwork via a free-kick, with Bournemouth scrambling the rebound away, as Rashford and Pogba went close to finding the net. Rashford was to come up trumps, however, in the dying seconds. Pogba stood up a cross from the left and the then-21-year-old appeared to take an age before being able to provide a finish that sparked predictably joyous scenes in the away end.
AFC Bournemouth 1 United 2
3 November 2018: Marcus Rashford was the Reds' hero on the south coast...
UNITED 4 BOURNEMOUTH 1 (2018/19)
The Reds blitzed Bournemouth with three goals in the first half, before Romelu Lukaku added a fourth, to end 2018 on a real high. The late-December clash was only five minutes old when Paul Pogba benefited from some dazzling footwork by Marcus Rashford. The France international then headed home an Ander Herrera cross as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made it three league wins out of three as caretaker manager. Rashford continued to shine and got in on the act by beating Asmir Begovic from a Martial centre. Nathan Ake pulled one back soon afterwards, before the half-time whistle, but Lukaku restored the three-goal lead when converting a pass by Pogba. Bailly was sent off for a foul on Ryan Fraser but the points had long been wrapped up.
United 4 AFC Bournemouth 1
30 December 2018: United were flowing with confidence again in front of an atmospheric Old Trafford crowd....
UNITED 5 BOURNEMOUTH 2 (2019/20)
A game taking place in July and behind closed doors, due to the pandemic, may have lacked any atmosphere but it certainly made up for it in terms of goals and entertainment. Things even got off to a bad start for United when Junior Stanislas handed the relegation-threatened visitors a surprise lead. Mason Greenwood levelled before Rashford punished an Adam Smith handball by firing in from the penalty spot. Martial bagged a real stunner, with a terrific curling drive that dipped just under the bar, but the Cherries responded after the interval. Bailly was adjudged to have handled inches inside the area and ex-Red Joshua King took full advantage from the spot. Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Greenwood added his second and Bruno Fernandes belted a superb free-kick past Aaron Ramsdale to supply the icing on the cake.
United 5 AFC Bournemouth 2
4 July 2020: The Reds stormed to victory with an electrifying attacking display at Old Trafford...
UNITED v BOURNEMOUTH: PL RECORD
Games played: 12
United wins: 9
Draws: 1
Bournemouth wins: 2
United goals: 26
Bournemouth goals: 10
Top scorer: Marcus Rashford (5)