Talking Points: Bournemouth 0 United 1
Manchester United recorded a deserved 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League at Vitality Stadium.
Casemiro’s excellent first-half strike was enough to pip the hosts to the three points, as the Cherries were squeezed out by David De Gea's 17th Premier League clean sheert of the season.
The result means we now require only a draw from our last two games in the division to complete a successful quest for Champions League football next season.
Here are the main talking points we’ve picked out from our trip to the seaside…
QUALIFICATION IS CLOSER
Our victory, coupled with Liverpool's 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa, means we now need just one point from our remaining two matches to be certain of a place in the Champions League in 2023/24. Those two results leave United on 69 points, while Jurgen Klopp’s team are on 66 with just one match to play – although they do have a better goal difference.
GOLDEN DE GEA
David De Gea has had another solid season and today’s clean sheet means his current tally of 17 this term cannot be beaten – confirming him as the recipient of the Premier League Golden Glove award for 2022/23. Earlier in this campaign, the Spaniard surpassed the club's all-time record number of shut-outs and one of his many stops that helped him to win the second Golden Glove of his career was voted Save of the Month for February, from our 3-0 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
KING CASEMIRO
Just as in the reverse fixture against the Cherries at Old Trafford in January, Casemiro opened the scoring and this one was a beauty. Eriksen’s lofted ball into the area initially got a touch from the defender but our Brazilian magician, with his back to goal, converted with a delightful strike over his head and beyond goalkeeper Neto. Our no.18 now has six goals to his name for the Reds this term – including his effort in the Carabao Cup final triumph over Newcastle United.
SUPER SANCHO
Jadon Sancho turned in a hugely impressive performance on the left flank with crisp passing and agile dribbling. In addition, his work to recover the ball helped to starve Bournemouth of possession and put into practise the manager’s philosophy of defending from the front on our way to another victory.
WHAT NEXT?
Our trip to Bournemouth was the first of three Premier League matches in nine days and there’s still plenty to play for, with Champions League football and the chance of finishing third when United host Chelsea on Thursday before our final league match of the season, also at home, against Fulham on Sunday. Attention will then turn to our Emirates FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester City – with the opportunity to complete a domestic silverware double.