Mason Greenwood.

Manchester United 5 Bournemouth 2

Saturday 04 July 2020 17:27

Manchester United’s deadly attacking trio crushed Bournemouth in a clinical Premier League win, after an early shock at Old Trafford.

Our on-fire strikeforce made it 55 goals in all competitions between them this season, and it brutally smashed a heroic effort, at times, from the visitors with Bruno Fernandes also getting in on the act as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side flexed our muscles to rack up 14 goals in 16 days since the restart.

The manager’s front three all scored in a killer comeback in the first half with Mason Greenwood's finish, Marcus Rashford, from the spot, and a spectacular Anthony Martial strike overturning a shock early Bournemouth lead through Junior Stanislas.

Then, when the Cherries threatened their own comeback with a penalty by Joshua King at the start of the second half, the Reds defiantly and devastatingly responded again with two quick responses from Greenwood again and the irrepressible Fernandes.

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Fernandes has been magnificent for the Reds, since arriving in January from Sporting Lisbon, and scored two crackers against Brighton last Tuesday at the Amex Stadium in United’s 3-0 win on the south coast.

And it looked certain the midfielder would have been celebrating his seventh goal of his productive Old Trafford career after just 10 minutes. Rashford played a delightful ball from his own half over the Bournemouth defence for Fernandes to race onto. Ahead of his marker, and with Aaron Ramsdale desperately racing out of his goal, he lobbed the keeper but lifted his great chance over.

His shocked and disappointed reaction said it all. That miss was compounded, five minutes later, when the visitors shook the Reds with an opening goal.

Stanislas picked up the rebound from his own shot in the United box and then nutmegged Harry Maguire on the by-line before cracking his shot home at David De Gea’s near post.

It was against the run of play and a hard one for United to swallow. It was the first Premier League goal conceded since Spurs on the first day of the restart and the first at Old Trafford in 500 minutes of action, since Jay Rodriguez's effort for Burnley back in January.

Rashford tried to conjure up a swift answer from a free-kick but was thwarted by Ramsdale. However, the smelling salts worked after that early punch floored the Reds and we were level after 29 minutes with Greenwood adding number 14 to his goal tally for the season.

It was another assist for Fernandes, who squared to the 18-year-old. Greenwood’s first touch killed the pace on the ball and he drove in emphatically with his left foot, even if Ramsdale did get a hand to it.

United overturned Bournemouth’s early lead five minutes later when Rashford scored his first goal of the restart and first since a double in January against Norwich City at Old Trafford.

His chance came after a handball by Adam Smith was easily spotted by referee Mike Dean. The spot-kick was cool and clinical to make it 2-1 and take his campaign tally to 20 club goals in all competitions.

Martial completed a clinical recovery with a breathtaking goal from the edge of the area, two minutes into added on time, firing home off the underside of the bar to join Rashford on 20 goals in all competitions, and it was yet another assist chalked up for the influential Fernandes.

It was a sloppy start to the second half by United and it cost us. De Gea had to pull off one save in the opening seconds, saw a shot from the rebound by Arnaut Danjuma hit his near post and then substitute Eric Bailly, on at half-time for Victor Lindelof, was guilty of a rash handball in the area, which was eventually confirmed by VAR.

Former Red King scored from the spot to make it 3-2 and the visitors had the ball in the net again, two minutes later, when sub Danjuma toe-poked home but his effort was chalked off for offside.

Anthony Martial salutes his wonder strike.

There was no time to take a breather from the action as Greenwood stepped up to calm the Reds down with his second of the match with a world-class finish. Out of nothing, the teenager produced a ferocious shot in the area to make it 4-2 in the 54th minute.

Five minutes later, Fernandes scored his seventh of his United career with a cracking free-kick, even if there was a delay while VAR checked the legitimacy of the strike due to a possible offside. It was our first free-kick goal of the Premier League season. The action was relentless and Rashford had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside, after one flowing move.

The scoring halted at that point as United cruised to our first home league five-goal win since Sir Alex Ferguson's side beat Wigan at Old Trafford on Boxing Day 2011. That said, Ramsdale was responsible for there not being a sixth as he made top stops to thwart Luke Shaw, Pogba, Fernandes and Fred. 

It has been a long time coming but with the Reds in this free-scoring form, it might not be too long before the next one arrives.

Bruno Fernandes reacts to his goal, United's fifth.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof (Bailly 45), Maguire (C), Shaw, Matic (Fred 66), Pogba, Greenwood (James 75), Fernandes, Rashford (Ighalo 80), Martial (Mata 80).

Subs not used: Romero, Williams, Andreas, McTominay.

Goals: Greenwood 29,54, Rashford 34 (pen), Martial 45, Fernandes 59.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Smith (Stacey 77), Kelly, Ake (C), Rico, Brooks (Danjuma 45), Lerma, L Cook (Billing 66), Stanislas (Wilson 66), Solanke (Solanke 66), King.

Subs not used: Boruc, Travers, Surman, Surridge.

Goals: Stanislav 15, King 49 (pen).

Bookings: Lerma.

We are all United as the Reds go marching on! On sale now, get your 2019/20 kit while stocks last.

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