JOSE MOURINHO got his Manchester United career off to a flying start, as goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic handed the Special One the simplest of three points.
Shock-inclusion Mata got the game’s first goal as a double-blunder from Cherries defender Simon Francis gifted the Spaniard the simplest of finishes.
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Juan Mata got the game’s first goal after an error from Bournemouth’s Simon Francis
First of all, the right-back’s back-pass was woefully under-hit, before he then rebounded the ball off goalkeeper Artur Boruc giving Mata the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net.
And United were two up early in the second half after Rooney nodded home from a scuffed Anthony Martial volley, with the England man left completely unmarked in the middle of the box.
Moments later, Ibrahimovic proved his class with a stunning solo strike, picking the ball up 40 yards out, driving to the edge of the box and rifling low to Boruc’s right.
SKY SPORTS
Simon Francis’ blunder gifts Juan Mata the first goal of the game in Bournemouth
However, with the game looking to be a done deal, a well-worked move from Eddie Howe’s men resulted in a fine goal for substitute Adam Smith, who rifled home into the top right to pull one back.
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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
JUAN MATA does have a second chance under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. The Spaniard started ahead of stars like Memphis, Michael Carrick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and scored the opener.EDDIE HOWE’S Bournemouth proved their fitness by covering miles in the baking South Coast sun. Their consolation goal was the least they deserved. They will not be fearing relegation on this showing.WAYNE ROONEY is clearly struggling for confidence and was dispossessed easily on too many occasions. Even his first clear chance on 27 minutes was scuffed into Artur Boruc’s hands. And his goal was a fluke that bobbled into his path from an Anthony Martial shot.
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Juan Mata celebrates giving Manchester United the easiest of leads
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Wayne Rooney doubles Manchester United’s lead with a simple header
THE Special One has upped his game in the dug-out fashion stakes. The usually razor-sharp boss had his usual conservative suit on but chose to finish the look off with a trainer-desert boot hybrid.ERIC BAILLY is not here to make friends. The United centre-back looks almost upset he is not at war with the likes of Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson.EDDIE HOWE must be considered for the England job if Sam Allardyce doesn’t win the 2018 World Cup – despite this unflattering scoreline. The way he set his side out, and the unwavering belief his modest team have, make him perfect for the Three Lions role.
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Manchester United celebrate Wayne Rooney’s second-half strike
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic rifles home Man United’s third of the game, his first in the PremANTHONY MARTIAL appears to be the only United player not suffering from a Louis van Gaal hangover. Only the Frenchman, deployed down the left flank, showed any pace and endeavour. He even got an assist, although it was a skewed shot.UNITED’S opener was a gift from the cruel gods of football that Mata greedily accepted. Bournemouth centre-back Simon Francis had kept Ibrahimovic quite all half, only for a terribly blunder to rob him temporarily of his dignity and permanently of his clean sheet.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his first ever Premier League goal
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Adam Smith nets a consolation goal for Bournemouth for 3-1PAUL POGBA better be every penny as good as his £109million price tag would have you believe. With Fellaini and Ander Herrera looking idea-free and Rooney lost in the twilight of midfield and attack, the Frenchman will walk into the team as the main man.TAKE your eyes off Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a second and you will regret it. After 60 slow minutes he smashed home a brilliant strike before saluting the adoring travelling fans who got their money’s worth – eventually.
