AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2, MAN UNITED 1
Not for the first time, Manchester United came to grief at Bournemouth.
The latest loss was just as seismic as back in 1984 when the Cherries knocked Ron Atkinson’s Reds out of the FA Cup in one of the biggest upsets of modern times.
This time the newly-promoted Cherries – remember they almost lost their Football League status in 2009 – caused the shock as Eddie Howe got one over on Louis van Gaal.
And despite the Dutchman’s protestations that United dominated the game, though to most the hosts were worthy winners as they beat Chelsea and the Reds back to back.
It also made van Gaal’s comment that the Reds can still win the Premier League title look hollow.
They are now without a win in five games, their worst run since 1998.
To add insult to injury, the winning goal came from former Reds’ player Josh King.
And it was the end of an awful week in which the Reds were also knocked out of the Champions League at Wolfsburg.
United’s mounting injury list meant that Uruguayan Guillermo Varela and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson were both handed their full Premier League debuts.
They took their place in a back line that also contained youngster Paddy McNair.
And United fell behind after only two minutes when they scored a bizarre effort as Junior Stanislas scored direct from a corner that deceived keeper David de Gea.
Marouane Fellaini, McNair and Anthony Martial all had good chances to draw United level, though Bournemouth could have fallen 2-0 down when Stanislas broke clear only for De Gea to save well at his feet.
Fellaini equalised midway through the opening period when he pounced after home keeper Artur Boruc could only parry a shot from Memphis Depay.
United’s injury troubles deepened when Jesse Lingard limped off after half an hour.
United’s defending for the winning goal early in the second half was awful as King was left in acres of space from a Matt Ritchie corner to fire home a low shot.
The Cherries could conceivably have won by a wider margin as later in the game substitute Glenn Murray twice went close