Bournemouth 2 - Man Utd 1: Red Devils stunned as Cherries land second shock win in a week

Junior Stanislas was man of the match as Bournemouth secured a famous win

BOURNEMOUTH twice scored from corners to complete a miserable week for Manchester United, and a remarkable one for Eddie Howe's team.

 

If Louis van Gaal was looking for some redemption on the South Coast after United's dismal defeat in Wolfsburg, he was to be found wanting very quickly.

With the wind swirling, a Junior Stanislas corner swung in towards David De Gea's back post, deceiving the Spanish goalkeeper, who was only able to get fingertips to the ball as it crossed the line.

The goal added adrenalin to an already-bouncing Dean Court, and the game took on a feel of a cup tie, Artur Boruc saving from Marouane Fellaini and Paddy McNair in quick succession immediately after the first goal.

And it looked like it might be another one of those days when, his team-mates having responded ebulliently to going behind, Anthony Martial completely missed the target after a gift of a chance from the edge of the box.

 

However, for once this season, United weren't to be denied.

Memphis Depay took the ball down skilfully and squeezed off a shot which was saved, but Fellaini scrambled, scampered, and eventually scored from his knees inside the six-yard box.

The optimism in the away end was short-lived, as United's attacking problems seemingly behind them, their other major worry - injury - reappeared.

Jesse Lingard, a revelation this season at Old Trafford, appeared to pull a hamstring, and was replaced before even half-time.

Anyone who took the break to get their breath back was swiftly robbed of it when Bournemouth once again capitalised on the away side's disorganisation at corners.

 

The ball came in along the ground, and Josh King, an ex-United player himself, was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was scarcely believable, and with still over half an hour to go, the game became almost exclusively end-to-end, with Fellaini proving the most dangerous of Van Gaal's attacking group.

But Boruc, and a few black-and-red flying bodies, held firm and weathered the storm, in a footballing and meteorological sense.

At the other end, set-pieces had become a nightmare for De Gea's defence.

 

Glen Murray hacked another corner which was allowed to travel all the way to the six-yard line over the bar, and Bournemouth several times might have put the game to bed from dead-ball situations.

Van Gaal tried to make a move, to change the game, but it is a sign of his injuries that his move was not to bring on, as he might last year, Juan Mata or Robin van Persie: he threw on Nick Powell, who has just one Premier League goal to his name.

His efforts were in vain and Bournemouth celebrated six points in two points: three from champions Chelsea, and three from Manchester United.