Manchester United vs Bournemouth review

United kicked off their premier league season away to AFC Bournemouth today and gave new boss Jose Mourinho a winning start with an impressive 3-1 win at the Vitality stadium.

Jose Mourinho made his return to the premier league as he guided new club Manchester United to a workmanlike opening day victory. Bournemouth of course enjoyed a decent first season in the top flight and will be keen to avoid the “2nd season curse”

Both sides seemed cagey in the opening stages of the first half and reluctant to make any mistakes. It took 25 minutes for United to carve out any sort of meaningful attack when Captain Wayne Rooney had his first time effort saved by Boruc.

After 30 minutes it was Ander Herrera who started taking control of the game from the midfield with some decisive passes. The Spaniard, celebrating his 27th birthday today was part of a surprise central midfield partnership with Marouane Fellaini. Both played well but with Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin and new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan all fit and waiting on the bench, many were surprised with the new manager’s decision.

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Both sides continued to poke at each other until the 40^th minute when Juan Mata broke the deadlock and gave the away side the lead. It seems almost fateful that Mata should score the first league goal of the Mourinho era and the man let go by “The Special One” 2 and a half years ago couldn’t believe his luck. Bournemouth defender Simon Francis under hit a back pass and Mata was there to pounce, his initial effort saved the ball gleefully ricocheted back to him for the simplest of tap ins.

The second half started with a bit more pace to it. The home fans getting behind their team and making their feelings clear in the 50^th minute as Eric Bailly challenged hard on Joshua King.

One minute later and Zlatan produced a wondrous moment of “Zlatanish-ness”. The Swedish striker feeding Rooney with an outrageous back heel flick over the Bournemouth defense for Wayne Rooney who had his shot saved by the charging Boruc.

In the 53^rd moment Rooney had another chance as Anthony Martial came to life darting down the left and feeding Zlatan who played in Rooney who in turn made a very odd choice and left many Manchester United fans baffled by going down looking for a penalty. There was minimal contact if any and the Manchester United captain went down like a sack of spuds despite the chance still being on.

59^th minute and Rooney would have his redemption. Again it was a series of unlikely events that led to the goal as Antonio Valencia wrestled the ball away from King on the right after appearing to lose possession. His cross was met by Martial whose attempt at a volley goal wards bounced off the ground and onto Rooney’s head. The finish was a decent header as the Englishman climbed to within 3 goals of the on looking Sir Bobby Robson’s all time club record.

4 minutes later and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, not one to be outdone, announced himself to the premier league scoring a laser guided low strike from 30 yards. Martial again was the creator as he teed up the Swede who gleefully celebrated right in front of his new manager on the touchline.

The game seemed to be put to bed with that when Bournemouth full back Adam Smith blasted a rocket of a shot past a previously untested David De Gea.