Manchester United bounced back from their derby defeat as they edged Bournemouth 1-0 in trying conditions at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
First Half
The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half without causing Eddie Howe’s men any problems in the opening stages.
The crowd had to wait until the 21st minute for the first goal and it came from Bournemouth as Charlie Daniels advanced towards the area before unleashing a low shot from 19 yards out that De Gea parried away from danger.
The Spain international was in action two minutes later when Dan Gosling picked up the ball inside the box on the right and cut onto his left foot before seeing his shot beaten away.
United’s first attacking foray brought the opener on 25 minutes as good work from Martial on the left saw him feed Mata, whose weighted cross was headed into the top-right corner by Lukaku.
A deflected shot from Junior Stanislas worked De Gea again on the half-hour mark, while Simon Francis blazed over at the back post four minutes later after Lukaku botched a clearance from a corner.
De Gea had to be alert to push away Ryan Fraser’s firm shot from a narrow-angle on the left as the Scot tried to catch out the keeper at his near post on the stroke of half-time.
Second Half
Fraser tested De Gea again 10 minutes into the second half with an effort from a more central position 22 yards out, before Martial squandered a golden opportunity to put the Red Devils firmly in the driving seat on the hour mark.
Lukaku’s initial shot from an angle on the left took a touch off Asmir Begovic and deflected into the path of the Frenchman, who skied his attempt from six yards out.
Substitute Marcus Rashford was a whisker away from doubling United’s lead on 72 minutes with a swerving strike from 19 yards out on the left that cracked against the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.
The visitors finished the match strongly as they looked for an equalizer, with Jermain Defoe shooting tamely at De Gea from inside the box 74 minutes before Nathan Ake steered a header well over from a cross on the left seven minutes later.
De Gea was well placed to deny Defoe with his knees soon afterwards and the United glovemen clutched Fraser’s venomous strike from 20 yards out at the death to keep his clean sheet.
Full Time: Manchester United 1 – 0 Bournemouth
