Joshua King scored the only goal of the match as Bournemouth recorded a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium.
The former United youngster struck just before the interval as Eddie Howe's side moved into sixth position in the Premier League table, with the Red Devils dropping to eighth.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Manchester United from the Vitality Stadium. Both teams have collected 13 points from their 10 matches this season, although United are seventh while Bournemouth sit ninth. It should be a cracking game of football on the South Coast!
TEAMS!
BOURNEMOUTH: Ramsdale; Smith, S Cook, Ake, Rico; H Wilson, Lerma, Billing, Fraser; C Wilson, King
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Fred; James, Andreas, Rashford; Martial
Bournemouth's team shows just the one change from the side that started last weekend's goalless draw with Watford. The alteration comes in midfield as Harry Wilson is given the nod ahead of Arnaut Groeneveld. Callum Wilson and Josh King will continue as the front two, while it is a special occasion for centre-back Steve Cook as he makes his 150th Premier League appearance.
As for United, it is exactly the same XI that started the win over Norwich City last weekend. Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford were seen as doubts ahead of kickoff but both start, while Ashley Young features at left-back despite Brandon Williams's excellent showing against Chelsea in the EFL Cup. Scott McTominay and Fred, meanwhile, continue their partnership in midfield.
The Red Devils have had their problems this season but will bring a three-game winning run into this match, beating Partizan, Norwich City and Chelsea in their last three fixtures, all away from home. Right, time for a period of reflection ahead of kickoff here...
KICKOFF: United kick things off at the Vitality Stadium...
... it is a windy, wet and rotten early afternoon on the South Coast. Some might say perfect for a game of football, but the pitch is going to be very, very quick, making mistakes likely. Callum Wilson has already made an early run for the hosts but was caught offside.
You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be important this afternoon. It has already been a quick start from both teams, with some poor passing in the middle of the park creating some nervy moments. There should be goals this afternoon.
CHANCE! Big chance for United as James breaks into a dangerous position before finding a low cross into Andreas, but the midfielder get it all wrong and misses the ball!
United are having some joy in these early moments as they continue to pass the ball on this quick surface. Bournemouth do allow teams to play, there is no question about that.
SAVE! Comfortable for Ramsdale to keep out a low strike from Martial.
SHOT! Over the crossbar from Andreas this time after another cute pass from James. Might have done better from that position, but it was a powerful strike from Andreas.
SHOT! Fred misses the post from a James cross on this occasion as another half-chance arrives for the visitors in the early exchanges. Bournemouth are living dangerously here.
The rain continues to fall here, and United are the team dealing with the conditions better at the moment as they continue to move the ball with pace and purpose on the South Coast.
Bournemouth are really struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment as United continue to pass and probe. James, in particular, has been very good for the visitors.
Slightly better from Bournemouth in the last few moments, but the home side are still struggling to fashion a clear chance. Lerma just had the chance to strike one from the edge of the box, but Maguire was on hand to make the block. Still goalless here.
SHOT! Harry Wilson has a shot deflected wide of the United post after a smart piece of play in a central position. Much better from Bournemouth in the last couple of minutes.
CLOSE! Callum Wilson just turns the ball wide of the post following a period of panic inside the United box. There was a penalty shout in there, but nothing for VAR to really consider.
SHOT! Fred sees a long-range strike deflected over the Bournemouth crossbar.
CLOSE! Oh my word! James fires one towards the corner after Bournemouth fail to clear, but the Wales international sees the ball just move wide of the far post!
Better from the home side and Harry Wilson combines with Smith down the right, but Fred gets himself in a good position and manages to clear his lines.
Rashford can race clear down the left for United after a smart challenge from Martial, but the attacker cannot make the most of the space ahead of him. Rashford has been quiet thus far.
Better from Bournemouth as they threaten with a couple of attacks in quick succession, but the home side waste a corner when Fraser delivers straight into the body of Fred.
CHANCE! Fraser breaks into a dangerous position for the home side after smart work from King, but the attacker can only fire into the body of De Gea from a decent area!
The rain continues to fall here!
© Reuters
The pace of the match has just dropped a touch in the last few minutes, which does not really suit either side to be honest. The rain continues to fall at some rate here.
Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment, which is a shame as the game has also slowed down considerably. Not too much happening at the minute.
United have a shout for a penalty as Martial goes down under a challenge...
... Lerma made the challenge and was furious that Martial went down, which led to both sets of players becoming involved in a pushing match. It has all kicked off for the moment!
YELLOW CARD! Lerma (Bournemouth) is booked for his reaction to the incident. It was really over the top from the midfielder, who clearly felt that Martial had hit the deck too easily.
YELLOW CARD! Fred (Man United) is also booked for his role in the scuffle.
United will feel that they have done enough in this first period to deserve to be ahead, but Bournemouth have also had their chances on home soil. It remains goalless here.
Harry Wilson has a strike blocked on the edge of the box before United manage to deal with a cross from Billing as Bournemouth threaten to make the breakthrough here.
Rashford was excellent against Chelsea on Wednesday night but has struggled to make his mark in the opening 41 minutes of this match. James has been the star for the away side, although the Wales international has just given away a free kick for barging into the back of Rico.
Not an awful lot happening here. The pace has dropped so much!
The wind inside the stadium means that the ball is just holding up in the air, making it very difficult to play sweeping passes, which Maguire and Lindelof both like to find. It does appear that the two teams will be heading down the tunnel at 0-0 here.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 MAN UNITED (KING)
GOAL! Well, it isn't goalless now. Bournemouth take the lead on the stroke of the interval as King collects a cross from Smith before chipping the ball over Wan-Bissaka and finding the back of the net from close range. It is desperately poor defending from the visitors.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 MAN UNITED
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Bournemouth leading 1-0 courtesy of that strike from King seconds before the break. United were the better team in the first half, but the hosts have scored the all-important first goal here.
STATISTICS! United had 52% of the possession in the first period, while they managed six attempts, one of which was on target. Bournemouth also had six attempts, but the Cherries have scored the all-important opener. There were also two yellow cards in the first half with Lerma and Fred booked following an altercation between both sets of players.
BENCH WATCH! United have the likes of Greenwood, Lingard and Mata on their bench this afternoon, and it would not be a surprise to see Solskjaer use at least two of those in the second period. As for Bournemouth, Howe has options in the shape of Cook, Groeneveld and Solanke.
KICKOFF: Bournemouth resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, you suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind here.
It has stopped raining, which is good news at least. You do get the feeling that there will be more goals in this match, although Bournemouth's defence has been much better this season.
SAVE! Comfortable for De Gea to keep out a volley from Fraser after a smart move.
United's lack of another option at centre-forward is clear in these type of matches, and it really would not be a surprise to see a striker arrive during the January transfer window. Martial has struggled to make his mark thus far while Rashford has been so, so quiet.
The pitch is opening up for Bournemouth at the moment, which is not exactly great news for United, who are not really getting to grips with the midfield battle here.
YELLOW CARD! Cook (Bournemouth) is booked for a poor challenge on Rashford.
Really, really poor tackle from Cook, who is fortunate to escape a red card. Rashford is fine to continue but the Englishman is really not very pleased about the challenge.
SAVE! Ramsdale has to make a decent save to keep out a strike from Andreas.
Still plenty of time for United to find a goal in this match but not too much is happening at the moment. It is all very slow and ponderous in the final third of the field.
We are just entering the stage of the match where both managers will be thinking about changes. Lingard and Greenwood would be the two under consideration for United, although Mata's clever passing could prove important in this type of match.
YELLOW CARD! Fraser (Bournemouth) is booked for a poor tackle on James.
CHANCE! Two chances in quick succession for Bournemouth, but De Gea manages to deal with the first one from King before blocking an attempt from Harry Wilson!
YELLOW CARD! Lindelof (Man United) is booked for a foul on Harry Wilson.
Bournemouth are on the front foot at the moment, and the away side are going to make a change in response with Lingard getting ready to enter the field here.
Bournemouth have a free kick just outside the box as Young fouls Smith...
YELLOW CARD! ... Young (Man United) picks up a booking for the challenge.
SHOT! ... Wilson misses the crossbar from a good position.
MAN UNITED SUB! Lingard replaces Pereira for the away side.
Half-chance for United as Young delivers a low cross into Lingard, but Ake managers to make the clearance before Bournemouth eventually force the ball down the field.
Much better from United at the moment as they threaten with two dangerous crosses into the home side's box, but Ake is there on two separate occasions to deal with the danger.
SHOT! Lerma misses the United goal with a strike from distance.
SHOT! All United at the moment in terms of possession, and Bournemouth are dropping very deep as they look to defend their lead. Fred eventually hits one from distance, but the ball was always missing the crossbar. Little over 15 minutes remaining here.
SAVE! Super save from De Gea to keep out a low strike from Harry Wilson!
Still more than enough time for United to find a leveller, but the away side are going to have to do something different as Bournemouth are so comfortable at the moment.
Maguire looks to attack a Young corner from the left but Ramsdale does really well to make the clearance. United are about to make their second change of the game.
MAN UNITED SUB! Greenwood and Williams replace James and Wan-Bissaka.
Callum Wilson races clear for Bournemouth but the offside flags is raised.
OFF THE POST! Incredible chance for United as Fred picks out Greenwood with a dream of a pass, but the youngster strikes the ball against the post from close range!
SAVE! Smart save from Ramsdale to keep out a low strike from McTominay!
Little over five minutes of the second period remaining, and Bournemouth still lead courtesy of that strike from King on the stroke of the interval. Another goal to come?
Brilliant defending from Cook to clear ahead of Rashford inside the penalty box.
Maguire heads wide of the post but the flag had also been raised.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! Lewis Cook replaces Harry Wilson for the home side.
Time is just starting to run out for United as they give the ball away again.
Another piece of attacking play from United breaks down with Ake making the clearance. It will be very interesting to see how much time is added at the end of the 90 here.
YELLOW CARD! Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) is booked for a dive.
SAVE! Comfortable for the Bournemouth goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Fred.
SAVE! Comfortable for the Bournemouth goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Fred.
Time almost up for United as we head into the final minute of added time.
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 MAN UNITED
So there we have it, the referee brings the second period to a close with United suffering a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth. King scored the only goal of the match in the first period, and the Cherries have moved up to sixth position in the table.
That is just about it from me this afternoon, but I shall leave you with the match report from what was a poor 90 minutes for United. Thanks for joining us once again!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
