Brilliant Bournemouth secure famous win against Man Utd

Saying Friday that United will have to get used to losing its status as a European heavyweight will hardly have endeared Van Gaal to the club’s increasingly disillusioned fans. “With Lingard, it is a second occurrence in a short space of time so we will have to see”.

Southampton has failed to win any of its past four games, while Palace is unbeaten in three and is challenging for a top-four place in what could be a breakthrough season in Alan Pardew’s first full campaign back in charge of the team.

City, protecting the best home record in the league, joined Leicester on 32 points, although Claudio Ranieri’s men have the chance to regain the lead in Monday’s game with Chelsea.

When asked if defeat to Bournemouth would shake his confidence for the fight ahead, Van Gaal replied with a firm “no”.

The news was better across town where a late deflected goal by Yaya Toure gave Manchester City a 2-1 win over embattled Swansea, which was playing its first game since sacking manager Garry Monk.

“It’s been a tough one to take, very disappointing week”, says midfielder Carrick.

Josh King was the match-winner for Bournemouth in the 54th minute, finding himself in lots of space to turn in a finish from a pre-planned corner routine.

Even allowing for the injuries, youth and inexperience which were all factors in their 3-2 defeat to Wolfsburg, United can have no complaints about a result which, ultimately, cast a harsh and unforgiving light on the sheer mind-numbing ordinariness of the current side. “I spent five years there (at Old Trafford)”, King said. “I don’t like making excuses, we’ve got the squad, we’re the club that we are because we want to be fighting in the competitions, when you’ve got injuries you’ve got to deal with them so I’m not making excuses”. This goal by Junior Stanislas was the biggest highlight, but far from the only one – the Cherries were tactically superior to United on the day and deserved their win. “Of course I have already spoken but it takes a long time”.

– Manchester United’s starting XI was their sixth youngest in Premier League history (24 years 131 days).

“And then we shall do our job, but it is more hard to prepare a game against Norwich when you have lost twice in a row”.

Those misses did not prove costly, though, as Bournemouth saw out the remaining minutes with little cause for alarm, moving above champions Chelsea and into 14th.

“Manchester United are going backwards again and I don’t see that changing because the manager will not change”.