Lukaku heads United to a narrow win over Bournemouth

Match Description

Man Utd 1 v 0 AFCB

13 December 2017

Attendance: 74,798

Bournemouth leave Old Trafford disappointed.

Eddie Howe may not have been so pleased to see Romelu Lukaku stepping out at Old Trafford knowing what he can do and he duly scored after 25 minutes with a header at the far post. It did not tell the story of Bournemouth having the most shots in the first 45 minutes, but  Bournemouth could not find a way to beat David De Gea. The second half saw no less endeavour by the Cherries and while Defoe and Afobe added energy up front and Lewis Cook was given a few minutes to impress, the Cherries still could not find a shot to beat De Gea. Rashford and Martial came close to extending the lead for United, but Begovic was not over stretched that often. Even in the last minute it was Bournemouth looking to get another shot on target, but they needed something special and Fraser could not quite manage it with the final free kick.

Bournemouth made four changes which was a bit of a shock, at least it was a surprise for Jermain Defoe to be put on the subs bench having scored two at Crystal Palace. Steve Cook, Lewis Cook and Andrew Surman were also dropped to the bench. In came Dan Gosling, Adam Smith and Harry Arter.

Match Description
Lingard had an early attempt at an overhead kick from a cross from Mata but Bournemouth managed to escape the first United attack. Gosling had the first shot for the Cherries but it was blocked. Wilson managed a good break but was kept out by Phil Jones.

The rain is really driving down at Old Trafford. Arter is getting pulled up for fouls, but no cards yet. Mata gets caught offside. Stanislas has a good run towards goal but Fraser loses out in the challenge with Valencia.

United are pressing high up the field now and AFCB don't look comfortable when the Reds do that. Man United are retaining possession well now with 12 minutes gone. Aké does well to find his feet to stop Lukaku getting the ball.

Bournemouth have a corner. Stanislas has his shot blocked. Aké is caught late by Lukaku. A good cross in by Martial but Lukaku can't get to it.

King goes on a strong run and Jones just gets a good tackle in to stop the Bournemouth forward from shooting. Another Bournemouth corner is cleared.

Daniels goes on a run and whips a great low shot in at De Gea who has to dive sharply to his left and another Bournemouth corner, 21 minutes gone. King on the break and Fraser, cross come in and King heads it on, Gosling shoots and it's beaten away by De Gea.

Great tackle on Lingard by Arter, just outside the box. Martial catches Adam Smith in the face - no foul given. Cross from Mata and Lukaku scores with a header at the far post on 25 minutes, got above Aké. It's 1-0 to United. Begovic a bit slow to move to his left for that.

Gosling goes in on Jones and is carded. It was a rash challenge. Adam Smith is caught out by Luke Shaw and Francis gets a foot in and almost gives Begovic a shot to save, corner.

Stanislas has a shot just inside the box and its deflected but saved by De Gea. A break with Wilson. King joins him and Fraser's cross is blocked for a corner. The ball falls to Francis and he volley's it widely over the bar on 34 minutes.

Lukaku runs past loads of Bournemouth players before Arter gets a tackle in. Arter has hurt his back, but he'll be okay. United work the ball well own the right and Valencia gets a shot off that Aké gets a foot on. Luckily Lukaku is offside.

Mata puts in a useful cross to Martial but he loses control to Adam Smith. Lukaku gets booked for a foul on Arter.

Daniels looks for Fraser but it's far too strong a pass. Two minutes of added time go up. Wilson finds Fraser crosses and De Gea scrambles to his near post to keep it out before Fraser makes a foul.

At half time AFCB have had eight shots compared to Man Utd's three and three shots on target compared to one of United's when they scored. The corner count is also five to one in favour of Bournemouth, but the important stat is one-nil to United.

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Second half
Lingard kicks off.  King gives Fraser an early run but as the ball comes back to King he is tackled by Matic.

Daniels comes forward and makes a good move with King but the move comes to nothing. Up the other end Lukaku gets to the byline but Begovic collects. Adam Smith has to watch Martial and despite a shove, the referee gives a goal kick.

Bournemouth are having trouble making the ball stick and getting their passes away. Martial crosses for Lukaku and Matic goes for a shot that is forced wide for a corner. Begovic comes for that and catches.

Adam Smith comes forwards and finds Fraser who goes for an early shot from distance but De Gea has it covered. Arter runs into one of his own players, but they both get up.

Fraser gets caught by Valencia but draws a foul. Lukaku is allowed to recover a ball in the corner despite looking miles offside. Francis gets a defensive header off and Begovic catches the ball before it goes off.

Valencia and Lingard link up. The shot from Lukaku shot is blocked. Matial on to Lukaku and Martial hits it over from six yards! Sixty minutes gone. Fraser is clobbered by McTominay.

Arter makes a poor challenge on Lingard but the referee plays on. The move breaks down. It's end to end now. Arter finally gets his yellow card.

Stanislas slides in on Luke Shaw. Martial comes off and Rashford joins the game on 66 minutes. Arter now wins a free kick. Stanislas now gets a corner off of Phil Jones. Mata clears.

Lingard slips just when Rashford did a nice pull back for him. Arter makes a sloppy pass and Bournemouth need Francis to clear their lines.

Wilson is subbed for Aoibe on 71 minutes and Stanislas is replaced by Defoe. Herrera then replaces Lingard.

United are on the charge and Smith clears. King and McTominay race for the ball. Now Rashford and he has smashed his shot against the cross bar! Arter is doing an enormous amount of running. Fraser to Defoe who shoots but its at De Gea and well saved.

Gosling loses the ball to Herrera. Afobe goes for a near post header and it's cleared for a corner. Man Utd win a free kick as Aké goes in on Phil Jones.

Lewis Cook replaces Dan Gosling on 77 minutes. King in the left over to Smith but it's cleared. Adam Smith puts a cross in but it's too high for Defoe. Lewis Cook find Afobe on the outside and Lewis Cook wins a corner off of Phil Jones. Just 10 minutes to go.

Francis crosses and Aké heads over. Bournemouth counter. King and Fraser, Adam Smith and Defoe's shot is saved by Defoe by the right post.

Luke Shaw is subbed for Ashley Young on 83 minutes. Defoe keeps the ball in and Bournemouth win a throw. Arter comes forward but he over runs it. United win a corner off of Daniels. Begovic makes the catch.

Bournemouth come forward. Daniels loses the ball though. Arter now, and Fraser, King and Daniels gets a corner. Fraser to take Young clears. Francis and Arter to Francis, but Afobe can only head it up into the air and De Gea claims the ball. King drives forward. Fraser to King and Daniels and Smalling clears.

Four minutes of added time for the Cherries. Aké and Fraser. Aké on the wing. Herrera makes the tackle.

Mata pulls the ball back to Lukaku and his shot is deflected by Aké's arm for a corner. Aké wins a free kick right on the edge of the box for a handball off Matic. Arter takes and Daniels passes to Fraser and his shot is straight at De Gea.

Summary
Bournemouth played excellently for large periods of this game and deserved a point, but it just wasn't to be. De Gea made a good number of saves and the Cherries will be disappointed they could not convert just one of their chances. But this will give the team much more confidence for the next match and is surely the best that AFCB have played this season. To not get a point though is tough when the lads played so well.

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 6, A Smith 6, Francis 7, Aké 7, Daniels 6, Stanislas 6, Gosling 6, Arter 7, Fraser 6, King 6, Wilson 6

MOM: Harry Arter

AFCB Subs

Boruc, S Cook, Surman, Afobe, L Cook, Defoe, Ibe

Man Utd
de Gea, A Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Martial, R Lukaku

Man Utd Subs
Romero, Lindelöf, Herrera, Ibrahimovic, Blind, Young, Rashford

Referee Watch Graham Scott 5/10 - Bournemouth are feeling a bit aggrieved the big teams get the decisions, but the referee did okay.